Western Gardening Blog

Inspiring western gardeners to grow beautiful flowers with less effort in Colorado, Utah & the intermountain west

The latest flower tips

Gardening in a Heat Wave: 5 Ways to Garden Smarter, Not Harder

Many years ago, I cheered on a friend as he ran a local marathon. As my friend began running, he looked like he belonged in a Nike ad: Strong. Healthy. Determined. Just do it, baby! And he set a great pace until about mile 16 … … when heat and exhaustion caught him...

12 Waterwise, Blue Flowers: Perennials for Western Gardens

Confession: I love blue flowers. There’s something about them that makes my heart sing. In Colorado, Utah, and similar states, we’re lucky to have a variety of waterwise, blue flowers available to us as perennials (plants that return for multiple years). Here are 12...

What Plants Struggle in Colorado?

I received the following question from a gardener who moved to Colorado, and I thought, ooooh, that's a good one! "What plants struggle in Colorado?" Here are some popular plants from other parts of the country that are best to skip in Colorado if: You don't want...

VIDEO: How to Clean Your Petunias, So You Aren’t Trimming Off the Wrong Parts

You want to "clean" your petunias, so they look pretty and tidy. But how do you know you're trimming off the right parts? What's a new bud versus a dying flower? In this short video on petunia care, you'll see get simple tips and clear photos on: EXACTLY what to look...

What Plant Hardiness Zone Is Colorado?

Colorado has 5 plant hardiness zones: 7, 6, 5, 4 and 3. If you're new to plant hardiness zones, they tell you whether your flower plants are likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures that are expected in your area and come back next year. (For the full scoop...

Planting a Perennial Garden in Colorado? Here Are 5 Counterintuitive Tips

Let's say you’re thinking about planting a perennial garden in Colorado or a similar western state, so you can enjoy colorful flowers year after year. Yesssss! Before you head to the garden center, here are a few things to know to get your western garden off to an...

“What’s Making Round Holes in My Plant Leaves?”

Let's say you’ve noticed some strange, round holes in your plant leaves. These circular holes have fairly smooth edges. It almost looks like someone took an office hole punch and punched circles along the edges of your leaves. What’s making these round holes in your...

Jupiter’s Beard: A Long-Blooming Perennial That Attracts Butterflies

Would you like a long-blooming perennial... ... that attracts butterflies and interesting moths, gives you color all summer AND is drought tolerant? Yes, pleasssssse! I can’t wait to introduce you to Jupiter’s Beard (aka, Red Valerian). Its botanical name is...

“Why Aren’t My Ornamental Grasses Growing?”

Have you noticed... ... that some of your plants are overachievers in the spring—eager to emerge from the ground in all their leafy glory? Meanwhile, other plants don't seem to be doing much AT ALL. As plant lovers, it’s natural for us to look at the latter and...

9 of the Best Flowers for Late Summer in Colorado

Want to add a splash of color to a late-summer garden? Dig into some of the best flowers for late summer in Colorado—whether you live in Denver, Colorado Springs, Grand Junction or another Colorado town! These late-summer flowers bloom in August, September and some...

5 Western Garden Trends to Inspire Your Garden (in Colorado, Utah & More)

Reader note: I first published this article in January 2022, but the content is still relevant and timely! I feel strange saying, “garden trends,” because it implies a fad. Here today, gone tomorrow—like paint colors in a home or trendy flower colors. I’m not here to...

“My Flowers Look Sick. What Do I Do??”

There is no perfect gardener, no matter what your neighbor up the street with the pristine landscape wants you to think. So, if you have a flower plant that looks sick, is struggling or is dying, take heart. It happens to everyone. (Yes, even to your neighbor. Though,...