Any seed packet that says to start your plants indoors 8 weeks before last frost should be started in March in Colorado. Sowing vegetables in Colorado usually requires you be ready come March to get your grow on. If you want to know a less expensive way to start seeds indoors, check out, 3 essentials… Continue reading March Propagation
Category: Bees
Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower
Echinacea purpurea Eastern purple coneflower (Su,M,A,N) 2 – 3 ft H x 1 – 2ft W. Pinkish purple daisy-like blooms in mid summer on single flowering stocks. Flower center is burnt orange spikes that become dark seed heads in fall. Dark green leaves and stems have course hair. Stems remain upright throughout winter and seed… Continue reading Echinacea purpurea Purple coneflower
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
Prunus americana Wild Plum
Prunus americana American Plum / Wild Plum On sale in 2021 at Tagawa Gardens – this most intoxicatingly scented spring bloomer is a hardy, woody tall shrub or flowering tree. Blooming in March, this is early food source for native bees waking up in Spring. https://tagawagardens.com/documents/2021_Nursery_Trees_Shrubs_List.pdf This year we had a large wet snowstorm on… Continue reading Prunus americana Wild Plum
Asclepias tuberosa
Asclepias tuberosa- common butterflyweed is an essential part of the Colorado Garden. So lovely and bright, it also is a workhorse for providing to our natural food web. I am planting this in both a sandy site and a heavy clay – two different varieties. I have seeds from Plants from Prairie Nursery
2021 Plant planning homestead
Silo Garden and Entry Lane Imagine a place to hang out under the shade of the trees, a silo bar offering up cold beverages while people play cornhole. This is the silo garden. To its north end lies a patio with benches and bar stools. To its south a rounded garden of wildflowers and path… Continue reading 2021 Plant planning homestead
Short Prairie Mixes for CO neighbors of habitat
As you live in this world you begin to know what makes for happy neighbors. For some its a natural part of life. For others, we have to work at being amongst the world. The older I get the more introverted my tendency. Luckily I have outgoing neighbors to draw me out. And over the… Continue reading Short Prairie Mixes for CO neighbors of habitat
Sandy Soil Natives
This is my first foray into sandy / loose soils. Up until this year, most of my gardening has taken place in mature suburban yards. Places with some pretty ugly clay when you dig down. Thank goodness for the class I’m taking. I have learned about sand as a soil and how to work with… Continue reading Sandy Soil Natives
Dalea Purpurea
Dalea Purpurea – Purple Prairie Clover (Su,D,S,N) 24-36″ Tall x 12″ Spread, Purple flowers from late June to early August. deep tap root forage for bees Blooms: Summer (Su) Moisture: Dry (D) Soil Type: Sand (S) Range: Native (N) Started as: Seed 14 – 30 days Propagation via seed Best planted is soils with excellent… Continue reading Dalea Purpurea
Habitat Assessment Guide for Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks
Though not a book with hefty covers, Xerces Societies’ downloadable pamphlet, Habitat Assessment Guide for Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks is a MUST have reference for the neighbor of habitat. It gives as much information as any on what to plant to be a part of the new garden phenomenon. The booklet also describes how… Continue reading Habitat Assessment Guide for Pollinators in Yards, Gardens, and Parks