Actaea rubra – Baneberry (Sp,M,CL,N) Blooms Spring (Sp) Soil moisture is medium to wet (M) Grows in loamy soils (CL) Native – feeds birds and mammals Poisonous to humans A nice plant for the woodland garden it has white flowers in late spring and fruits in red or white. Actaea rubra is an understory herbaceous… Continue reading Actaea rubra – baneberry
Cotinus coggyria – European Smoke Bush
Purple Smoke bush or Purple smoke tree – This is a variety from Europe that is from the Anacardiaceae (Sumac) family. This large bush / small tree can be pollarded to produce a multi-trunked specimen.
A new gardening club
2021 keeps bearing gifts with the formation of a new gardening club in my neighborhood. With so many lovely gardens, I was excited to see what wonders lie behind privacy fences. Unfortunately I missed the first day of tours. Maybe next year. Nothing is more fun than sharing your garden with friends. Like all artistic… Continue reading A new gardening club
Nicotiana sylvestris – Annual
Nicotiana sylvestris (Su,M,LC,XA) Night-scented tobacco 24″ tall x 12 – 36″ spread, mounded with bright leaves and white summer blooms from June to October. An annual in Colorado, it’s native to the Andes region in Argentina and Bolivia, in South America. Blooms: Summer (Su) Moisture: Medium (M) Soil Type: Loam and Clay (LC) Range: Non-Native… Continue reading Nicotiana sylvestris – Annual
Ever see a tan mantis?
Mantids are known to change color to match their environment. This one matched my yellow/tan house perfectly… reminds me of a wax bean! He hung out at the front door for a couple days. I never knew there were over 2400 species of mantid across the world. This one I guessed to be a praying… Continue reading Ever see a tan mantis?
Cleaning up teasel in the Meadows
Cutleaf Teasel is a tall, (6-10 foot), spiky single stemmed large leafed herbaceous perennial from Europe. Its composite flowers form a sausage shaped head on long multiple stems growing from leaf nodes. Cutleaf teasel An escapee from gardens, it is now considered invasive in Colorado due to its prolific reseeding in open areas. To help… Continue reading Cleaning up teasel in the Meadows
Hummingbird visits the Monarda
I have a love-hate relationship with hummingbirds. They are brilliant and quick, tiny and bold. They are also territorial, dive-bombing murderers. Yes they have chased birds into windows. So it was with this new that I told my neighbor the cheery demons were all hers. Sho she great plants and feeders. But today I happened… Continue reading Hummingbird visits the Monarda
Natural barriers for keeping insects at bay
Below are alternatives to pulling out the bug spray when you encounter a garden pest. Below are ideas I’ve tested. Kaolin Clay Coats leaves and fruit to repel pests by creating an irritating barrier between insects and the plant. Spray the leaves, goes on wet and dries. Japanese beetles damage is lessened by using this… Continue reading Natural barriers for keeping insects at bay
Monarch nursery in my garden
A few years ago I received milkweed seed from a plant nursery giving it away for free. I spread some of the seed in various areas of my yard with no luck. But a year later – up pops one where none were spread in a place outside any garden bed. Nature is funny that… Continue reading Monarch nursery in my garden
Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot
Monarda fistulosa Wild Bergamot, Beebalm (Sf,DM,A,N) 2 – 4 ft H x 2 – 3 ft W. Spider-like lavender blooms in late summer on single flowering stocks. Great plant to bring in wildlife. Blooms: Late Summer to early fall (Sf) Moisture: Dry to Medium (DM) Soil Type: All soil types when local ecotype is available… Continue reading Monarda fistulosa – Wild Bergamot