by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Gardening for Pollinators, Gardening Tips and Tricks, In-ground garden, Waterwise Gardening in the Intermountain West
I first published this article in 2022. I hope you find it helpful today!
I would love to introduce you to Ann Winslow. (Yep, another Ann!) She spent time creating a native pollinator garden in her Colorado yard during the Covid shutdown in 2020.
She wanted to attract more pollinators—like native bees and hummingbirds—to her yard, so she decided to create a garden using native plants.
If you’re new to native plants…
They are plants that have naturally existed in an area for hundreds of years. They weren’t introduced through the European settlers.
Many of the flower plants we find at the garden center can trace their heritage back to places like the East Coast or Europe, where the climate, local insects and wildlife can be quite different.
Native western plants offer high-quality sources of food and shelter for native bees, butterflies, birds and more. These plants and critters have evolved together and sometimes depend on each other.
Ann kindly agreed to let me interview her and share her story—from her tips on creating a native pollinator garden in Colorado, to the lessons she learned, to what she would do differently next time.
Go West Gardener (GWG): Ann, thanks so much for sharing your garden with me today.
Ann Winslow: My pleasure!
GWG: Why did you decide to create your garden?
Ann W: I wanted to attract and support native pollinators.
I’ve read several books by a man named Doug Tallamy that were life changing for me. His recent book, Nature’s Best Hope, is all about how to create environments in our yard that are supportive to pollinators. He suggests looking at our yards as small national parks that can serve as wildlife habitats.
GWG: When did you create your native pollinator garden?
Ann W: Back in 2020 during the summer of the lockdown. It was a crazy time, but it was wonderful therapy to be creating a garden in Colorado.
GWG: So true! I think a lot of us spent time outside in our yards. Have you ever created a pollinator garden before?
I created a waterwise garden at my last house, but no, this was my first time trying anything like this.
GWG: I understand that some of your yard was lawn before you started. How did you go about getting rid of your grass?
Ann W: We hired a local guy who dug it up with shovels.
The garden bed existed from the previous homeowners, but we changed the shape and took out some grass. We also took out the turf grass on our property next to our neighbor’s house.
And my husband and I removed most of the existing shrubs and an overgrown arborvitae.
GWG: How did you go about figuring out which native plants you wanted to include in your garden?
Ann W: I looked for plants that were native to Colorado first. Then, I branched out to plants that were native to our region of the country.
I started with the plants that the Colorado Native Plant Society and the Colorado State University Extension talk about on their websites. I also looked at the City of Boulder website because they have helpful information for their citizens.
I used Plant Select too.
Plant Select is a non-profit collaboration between Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University. They test and select plants that thrive in the high plains and intermountain west, including native plants.
The main thing I looked for was whether the plant had a simple flower that pollinators could get into. If a flower bloom is too profuse, sometimes the pollinators can’t get in there.
Photo caption: Several of the plants in Ann’s native pollinator garden in Colorado
GWG: What if people don’t have a lot of time to do research on native plants?
Ann W: I got a Garden in a Box from Resource Central for one of my other gardens, and it was a great solution. It’s a pre-planned garden for Colorado, and it comes with a design for your plants. Many of their pre-planned gardens include native plants.
GWG: Did you do anything special to get your garden ready for your plants?
Ann W: The native plants that I planted on the south side of my house like drier conditions. So, the only thing I did was mix about one-third expanded shale into some of the plant holes I was digging. I found the expanded shale at Harlequin’s Gardens in Boulder.
Expanded shale is like a lightweight, porous gravel that can get mixed into the soil [dirt] to help with water drainage and soil oxygen.
I have heavy clay soil. My prairie plants seem to love the clay—I think that may be why my prairie zinnia is doing so well.
But for some of my other plants, they need better drainage and more air around their roots. That’s where the expanded shale helps.
GWG: How did you go about designing your native pollinator garden? Did you hire a landscape designer?
Ann W: No, I didn’t hire a designer. I went online for designs.
I was looking for something similar to what I wanted to do in my garden, which was to extend the bed into a large semi-circle. I looked for similar designs and got some plant ideas from there. I also looked at how they placed plants.
The Colorado Native Plant Society has some simple designs for various regions across Colorado. They have ones for the plains, the foothills, the montane region and more. I looked at their designs for the plains and foothills and worked with those.
The City of Fort Collins had designs online. And Plant Select has garden designs online too.
And I recently saw that Wild Ones Front Range has a native garden design on their website too.
GWG: Knowing what you know now, what would you do differently if you could go back in time?
Ann W: If I could go back, I would take more time with upfront planning.
I’d tell myself to take the time to really get to know my site and what kind of sunlight it gets. Go outside several times per day and at different points in the spring and summer to see how the sunlight is. Be aware of how things may shade the garden, like overhangs from your house or trees that may be 10 feet away.
I thought I knew my sunlight, but I think being more thorough would have been helpful. I have some plants reaching for the sun and others that didn’t make it because they didn’t get enough sun.
GWG: That’s a great tip. What else?
Ann W: I’d also tell myself to buy fewer plants and see how things go.
I think I overbought, and having invested the money, I felt like I needed to get all the plants in the ground. I ended up planting things too close together. The blue flax [flowers] are not as pretty as they could be because the plants are so close together. They’re one large mass. Their lovely shape and ferny look can’t be appreciated.
And I’d pay more attention to how irrigation affects the garden, even if we aren’t directly spraying it with water. Many native plants prefer low water, so you have to be careful with how the irrigation system for your lawn butts up to your garden.
And how does your neighbor’s watering affect your plants? Does their water drift over? We have a few plants that are probably getting more water than they prefer and may not live as long.
GWG: I’ve never thought about how my neighbor’s sprinklers can affect my plants, but I can see how that’s important to consider. On the topic of water, how often do you water?
Ann W: I haven’t watered the entire garden once this season [as of late June 2022], even with the heat and dry periods we’ve had this summer in Colorado.
But I have watered some individual plants—like anything that’s newly planted, the hyssop [Agastache rupestris] so it has plenty of blooms for the hummingbirds, and a native bee balm [Monarda fistulosa] that just showed up.
But even with those plants, I’ve only watered them maybe once a week if we haven’t had a soaking rain.
GWG: Wow, that’s awesome! What about when you first planted your garden?
Ann W: That first summer, I watered the plants by hand just about every day from June to mid-July to help them get established.
After that, I cut back the watering to about twice a week.
GWG: What’s your favorite plant in your native pollinator garden and why?
Ann W: I’d have to say chocolate flower [Berlandiera lyrata]. It’s a profuse bloomer. The pollinators love it. It smells good…
GWG: Like chocolate!
Ann W: Yes!
It’s very hardy, and it spreads.
I also really love the blue flax [Linum lewisii]. You don’t find a lot of flowers that are blue. I like the airiness, and the small bees seem to really like it.
GWG: What are some of the other plants that are thriving in your garden?
Ann W: The prairie zinnia [Zinnia grandiflora] is thriving.
The blue grama grass [Bouteloua gracilis]—it’s given us numerous volunteers.
The Kannah Creek buckwheat [Eriogonum umbellatum var. aureum]. It has a beautiful, mounding shape. It has yellow flowers in the spring, and then the foliage turns burgundy in the fall through winter.
The Sunset hyssop [Agastache rupestris]. I’ve seen hummingbirds visiting it.
The hummingbirds also like the Furman’s Red sage [Salvia greggii] and the red yucca [Hesperaloe parviflora].
And the blanket flower [Gaillardia aristata]. It’s a prolific bloomer, and the bees like it. I’ve seen Spotted Towhees [western birds] scratching around it, looking for insects.
GWG: What do you like most about having a native pollinator garden in Colorado?
Ann W: It’s the pollinators. Because it’s alive, it fills my heart with joy. I feel like I’m helping in some tiny way.
We see a lot of variety in the bees visiting the garden. Big bees. A lot of small, native bees. You can see hundreds of insects buzzing around in the late-day sunlight.
And we get those Spotted Towhees [western birds]. That’s been a bonus we didn’t expect.
GWG: What advice do you have for people who’d like to create a native pollinator garden?
Ann W: I’d say do your research.
Talk to people who are knowledgeable about native plants. I think it would have been helpful if someone had said, ‘You have too many plants in here and it’s going to get really crowded. You need to take some plants out.’
You just want to pop all the plants in the ground and say, “Go do your thing!” but it does take some thinking and planning.
GWG: I can relate to that. It’s tempting to want to jump into buying plants, but planning makes things easier later. What other tips do you have?
Ann W: I’d say write down what your plants are and keep track of what you’re learning. You will make mistakes. That’s been hard for me to acknowledge. I’m a perfectionist—I want to get it right from the start.
The magical thing about it is you see what nature does on its own. You find yourself saying, “Wow, I did nothing to that and look what happened.” That’s another reason it may be a good idea to not buy too many plants in the beginning.
GWG: And you mentioned irrigation earlier…
Ann W: Yes, think about your irrigation.
If you want to remove your grass but you have trees, you need to have a drip irrigation system for your trees, so they can still get water. Group your plants together by their water needs.
And talk to your neighbors upfront and tell them what you’re doing.
Initially, the neighbors next door weren’t very excited about what we were doing. You have to turn your sprinkler system off while you’re creating the garden, and our lawn suffered for a little while. But we talked to them and explained what we were doing, and they were okay.
By mid-summer, the lawn was fine.
GWG: What kind of reaction do you get from neighbors now?
Ann W: People stop by and say, “That’s really pretty!”
GWG: I agree with your neighbors, Ann, and it’s cool to see so many types of bees. Thank you for sharing your great tips for creating a native pollinator garden in Colorado.
Ann W: It’s been a pleasure to talk with you about this!
If you love having a garden…
… that’s buzzing with activity (hummingbirds, butterflies, bees or other pollinators) or you want to create a garden with pollinators in mind (many of whom are losing their natural habitat), put native plants on your radar.
You can start from scratch like Ann did.
Or, you can simply work native plants into your garden as you can, especially if you have an existing garden. These plants are surprisingly adaptable to different garden styles.
And if you’d like to learn more about Ann’s yard transformation…
… she wrote a series of articles about her experiences below:
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: Jan 28, 2026 | Gardening for Pollinators, Gardening Tips and Tricks
I originally published this article in 2022. Enjoy!
Have you ever gotten a puppy or kitten?
Chances are, you did a few things to get your home ready:
Bought special food… Stocked up on toys… Rolled up rugs… Shut bathroom doors, so Buddy (or Mittens) didn’t turn your toilet paper rolls into New Year’s Eve confetti…
The point is, you made a few, small tweaks, so your home was safe and welcoming for your furry friend.
The same is true for pollinators.
You can make your garden MUCH more welcoming for bees and butterflies with just a few, small tweaks.
For example:
- Plant flowers that bloom in the early spring and fall, as well as the summer. You’ll give pollinators nectar and pollen when it’s hard to find.
- Wait to clean up your garden until the spring—yep, put your feet back and relax in the fall. You’ll give your pollinators a safe place to spend the winter.
- Skip using landscape fabrics (aka, weed barriers). They make it hard for bees to nest in the ground. Not to mention, they break down over time, and weed seeds can still get in.
Here are 10 simple ways to make your garden a 5-star destination for bees and butterflies.
Of course, even if you’re diligent, puppies and kittens can leave their mark on your home.
Many of us have chew marks on a coffee table or scratch marks on a sofa to prove it.
Or both.
(Ahem.)
The idea of having a perfect home goes out the window with furry friends.
It helps to have similar expectations with pollinators.
If you want to create a garden where they can thrive (and we’re on Team You if you do!), then know that they may leave their mark.
For example, some bees—known as leafcutter bees—will cut round holes in plant leaves. They use these leaf parts to make little nurseries for their baby bees. The holes typically don’t harm your plants. They’re just cosmetic.
Butterflies have babies—caterpillars—that may chow down on certain plants like hungry-hungry hippos.
Yep, whether you’re welcoming a puppy or kitten… or a bee or a butterfly… there’s often a wee bit of chaos that comes with it.
So, why not let go of flower garden perfection?
Embrace the perfectly imperfect.
And pat yourself on the back that you’re creating an amazing home for pollinators.
Related topics that my interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Best Flowers for Colorado, Utah & Similar States, Gardening for Pollinators
Despite their growing popularity, some native plants can be tricky to find at many garden centers. Here are different places to buy native plants in Colorado.
Plant sales at local botanic gardens
These events are often held at local botanic gardens in the late spring. I’ve had good luck finding native plants that have been difficult to source in garden centers and plant nurseries. Not every botanic garden offers plant sales, but many do.
Native plant sales and swaps with local non-profits
There are a variety of non-profits in Colorado that offer native plant sales, seed swaps and native plant swaps. If you’re new to a seed or plant swap, think of it like a cookie exchange. You bring plants or seeds to share, and you return home with new additions for your own garden. Often times, you don’t even have to take plants or seeds to share. (Though, it’s appreciated if you do!)
Here are just a few examples:
Local, independent garden centers
There are local, independent garden centers that carry native plants and/or seeds. The Rocky Mountain Audubon Society has compiled a list of some standout garden centers in Colorado for native plants (as well as native plant seed companies). On your next visit to your favorite independent garden center, ask about their selection of native plants.
Tip: Native plants often don’t look as showy at the garden center as other flower plants. Don’t let that deter you! Plant Select has put together a quick video with a few helpful buying tips for native plants.
Native seed companies
Native seed companies can be a good place to look for native plants, especially native grasses and plants you can’t find elsewhere. Seeds also can be a cost-effective way to buy plants.
Online retailers
You can find online retailers that sell native plants—for example, High Country Gardens, Prairie Moon Nursery and Prairie Nursery. Worth noting, online retailers are located across the country, and they sell plants to people in different regions. With that in mind, look for plants that are native to our region of the country. And be sure to read the description of the plants to make sure they fit our growing conditions.
Here’s just one reason why: Many plants that are native to places like the upper Midwest and East Coast need a lot more water than we get in Colorado and the semi-arid West.
Gardens in a Box from Resource Central
Resource Central is a Front Range non-profit that offers Gardens in a Box—pre-planned flower gardens that are well adapted for Colorado. The majority of their plants are native plants. Gardens in a Box go on sale mid-winter and mid-summer for pick up in the late spring and early fall.
Related topics that my interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Best Flowers for Colorado, Utah & Similar States, Garden design Ideas, Gardening Tips and Tricks, In-ground garden
No one wants to end up with extra garden chores and sad-looking plants
But that’s what can happen if you accidentally pick plants that are known to struggle in Colorado landscapes — particularly during winter.
So, in this tip, you’ll get the scoop on 3 popular plants to AVOID planting in Colorado and similar western states. These plants can be high maintenance here. (Do you remember the TV show, “What Not to Wear?” Think of this article as: “What Not to Plant.”)
These 3 plants are very popular in other parts of the country, but they don’t like our winters. They tend to struggle in our:
- Dry climate
- Drying winter winds
- Intense winter sun
- Big temperature swings (from above freezing, to below freezing like a kindergarten seesaw)
You’ll probably see these plants at your garden center, so use this article to be a smarter shopper. Let’s dig in!
Boxwoods
Boxwoods are decorative shrubs. They grow well in regions of the country with milder winters. It’s hard to open a garden magazine without seeing a lush, eastern garden that’s lined with boxwoods.
Boxwoods are evergreen. When they’re planted in a place where they’re happy, they typically stay green through the entire winter. I like to think of evergreen plants as staying “forever green.” It also means they don’t go dormant (into hibernation mode), so it’s important to keep them regularly watered through the winter.
Unfortunately, in western states like Colorado and Utah, boxwoods can be temperamental
During the winter, boxwood leaves have a tendency to dry out — often turning brown or orange.
You also may see translucent yellow leaves (like the leaves below in the upper left).
You may hear this called “winter burn,” and it isn’t a pretty look.
When you see boxwoods at the garden center, they’re going to look lush, green and super cute. But save yourself the headaches and skip them!
“But I have my heart set on boxwoods!” In this case, head to a locally-owned garden center. Ask whether they carry types of boxwoods that have a better track record in states like Colorado and Utah.
You may have more luck if you plant boxwoods in sheltered places in your yard that face east, northeast or north.
And just know they’re likely going to need more work and water to keep them looking good.
Manhattan Euonymus
(pronounced: yoo-on-uh-muhs)
These plants are like super-sized boxwoods. When they’re green, they look good.
But this is another shrub that can struggle in Colorado winters
You may be wondering, “Okay, so what does winter damage look like on a Manhattan euonymus?”
The leaves on your Manhattan euonymus will turn yellow. The may become brittle and dried out. The leaves will start dropping off.
As the dead leaves slowly fall off, it’s like bad New Year’s Eve confetti. You may find yourself raking up these leaves for months … and months … and months.
(I’m speaking from personal experience here. I used to have Manhattan euonymus in my yard.)
With good watering, you should get buds for new leaves when temperatures warm up, but it takes time. When these shrubs get winter burn, they don’t look good for much of the year.
If you want shrubs that stay consistently green through our yo-yo temperature swings during winter, this isn’t it. 🙂
Add Manhattan euonymus to your “What NOT to plant in Colorado and similar western states” list.
Arborvitaes
(pronounced: arbor-vie-tees)
Arborvitaes are trees and shrubs that are often used as hedges.
They’re a popular landscape plant in humid regions of the country. They grow quickly, and they’re evergreen. Again, this means typically stay green over the winter. They don’t go dormant.
But arborvitaes are another plant to avoid in Colorado landscapes
Arborvitaes like a lot of moisture, so they may struggle if you aren’t great about winter watering.
Not to mention, our drying winter winds and our harsh freezes can be brutal for them. You may see them turn brown — almost like a rust color.
Some years, your arborvitaes may do fine and make it through the winter without an issue.
Other years?
Not so much.
If you want to save yourself some headaches (and avoid the expense of replacing dead plants), skip arborvitaes in your Colorado landscape.
So, does this mean you CAN’T plant any of these shrubs and trees?
Friends, the beauty of gardening is you can try planting (almost) anything. You may be able to find a protected location in your yard where these plants are less vulnerable to winter damage.
But if you’re planning your landscape in Colorado, Utah or a similar western state, growing plants that are better adapted to our winters will take less effort!
Related tips that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Garden design Ideas, Gardening Tips and Tricks, Western Container Gardening With Flowers
Looking for a design tip to make your flowerpots look prettier this summer?
Combine flowers of different heights!
Planting flowers of different heights can help you create visual interest.
Think of a city skyline or a beautiful mountain range. There are different layers that make things interesting, right?
The same is true for the flowers in your flowerpots.
In gardening lingo, this design concept is known as thrillers, fillers and spillers.
- Thrillers are your tall flowers.
- Fillers are your mid-size flowers.
- Spillers are your flowers that spill out of the flower pot.
if you find these words hard to remember or confusing, then…
Think about this flowerpot design tip in western terms.
You want your flowerpots to have mountains, foothills and waterfalls.
Your mountains are your tall flowers that add height and a strong focal point to your flowerpots.
For example, you could use a tall ornamental grass or a gorgeous red canna lily, like the one pictured below. (Just like the mighty peaks in a mountain range, these tall flowers are your thrillers.)
Your foothills are your mid-size flowers that add interesting textures or pops of color, like the yellow Marguerite daisies below. (These flowers fill your flowerpots.)
And your waterfalls are your flowers that spill out of your flowerpots and cascade down the sides, like the light-green licorice plant and lime-green sweet potato vine in the photo below. (These flowers are your spillers.)
When you go to the garden center, how do you know whether a flower will make a good mountain, foothill or waterfall?
1. Notice which direction the plant is growing.
Even in the garden center, you can usually tell whether a flower is growing upright or growing down.
If you hold up a plant that seems to be trailing from its container, it could be a great flower to spill from your flowerpots like a waterfall. The pink petunias below are a good example.
2. Look at the plant tag to check your flower’s final height.
Often times, the size of the flower in the garden center is only a fraction of how big that flower will grow by the end of the summer.
For example, a flower that’s about 8” tall in the garden center may grow several feet tall over the summer!
When you pick up flowers at the garden center, check their plant tags to see how tall they’ll grow.
If you pick up a flower that grows 14” to 36” tall, it could make a great mountain.
Flowers that aren’t quite as tall — 6” to 14” in height — can make great foothills.
Keep in mind, the height suggestions above are just that: Suggestions! Gardening is personal, so you can do whatever looks good to you.
For this flowerpot design tip to work, do you have to include mountains, foothills AND waterfalls?
This is a matter of personal preference.
Personally, I love all three together.
But you can definitely go with just two.
The flowerpots below are hanging in my neighbor’s yard. The pots are small, so she just used foothills and waterfalls. She didn’t have enough room for all three.
And the flowerpot below is really big, but the gardener made a strong statement with just mountains and foothills.
If you liked this flowerpot design tip, you may also like:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Flower Garden Basics, Western Container Gardening With Flowers
So, you’re dashing into Costco, and what grabs your eye?
Colorful, happy flowers just waiting for you to give them a new home, like a litter of fluffy puppies. Eeek!
You can’t help but walk over and take a closer look. After a long, drab winter, the flowers look so colorful and ALIVE.
But …
Is now even a good time to buy and plant flowers for your summer garden??
When IS a good time?
Those cute, lil’ flowers continue to stare up at you with their puppy dog eyes, and your doubts melt away.
You think, “Screw it, I’m buying them. Who cares about timing anyway?”
So, about that…
If you buy your summer flowers too early, you’ll have to protect your plant babies. Many of them don’t like frosts, snow or chilly temps.
If you don’t protect them, they can struggle and may even die.
(Not exactly the summer vibe you’re going for, right?)
In this tip, you’ll get the scoop on 3 misconceptions about when to buy and plant summer flowers.
You’ll discover how to:
- Be a smarter shopper
- Create less work for yourself
- Get your flower season off to an awesome start (yesss!)
To keep things simple, I’m going to focus on “annuals.”
Annuals are the extroverts at the party.
They’re the showy flowers you often see for sale as you dash into the grocery store. Annuals give you pretty color for one growing season, but then they’re done. They’re popular flowers for flowerpots. You can plant them in the ground too.
Misconception 1:
As soon as you start seeing colorful flowers at the store, you’re in the clear to plant them.
Imagine, for a moment, that you have friends visiting from San Diego.
It’s 50 degrees outside. You’re debating whether to wear shorts… and your friends want to put on parkas.
Many of your summer flowers are like your warm-blooded friends.
These flowers don’t like frosts AT ALL.
And many struggle in chilly temps. They want it to be at least 50 degrees outside — including temperatures at night. There’s a saying that these flowers like to have “warm feet.” They need warm soil to grow.
Yep, these tender flowers like sandals weather. Frosts, chilly temps and cold soils can stunt your flowers, so your flowers don’t grow. (It’s like the poor lil’ dudes are in shock!) Or worse, your new flowers may die.
Instead of using when you see flowers at the store as your signal to start planting, it’s more helpful to consider:
- When are your chances for frost really low?
- When are your temperatures consistently above 50 degrees?
If you buy your summer flowers early, it’s okay! But hold off on planting them. And be ready to protect your flowers from the cold for a while. (Translation: You’ll have a bit more work.)
Misconception 2:
The flowers in your summer pots can grow as long as temperatures are 32 degrees or warmer.
Let me start out by saying, there are some flowers that don’t mind cooler temperatures. Pansies are an awesome example. These cold-hardy flowers are like your relatives from Minnesota. A lil’ cold doesn’t phase them!
If you live someplace with hot summers, these flowers can be awesome for your spring and fall flowerpots because they can handle chilly temps and light frosts — and they don’t like heat.
And if you live someplace with cooler summers and chances for frosts (like in mountain towns), these flowers can be a great choice.
But as I mentioned in Misconception #1, your summer flowers are usually happier with warm air and warm soil.
If you aren’t sure whether a flower prefers warm or cool temperatures, I’d err on the side of caution.
For your summer flowers, 50 degrees can be a more helpful guideline than 32 degrees.
Are you working on your garden lingo? “Tender annuals” are your flowers that prefer warm air and warm soil to grow. “Half-hardy annuals” are usually okay in cooler temps, but typically not frost. “Hardy annuals” are very resistant to chilly temps and can usually tolerate a little frost. They don’t like hot weather.
Misconception 3:
Mother’s Day is the perfect day to buy and plant flowers.
You’ll hear this one A LOT.
I heard it where I grew up in the Midwest, and I hear it where I live in Colorado.
Mother’s Day is the day the squirrels come dancing out of trees, and a chorus of robins starts singing, and gardeners emerge from hibernation like hungry bears. 🙂 I get it. It’s hard to resist planting when we’ve all been cooped up for so long!!
I’m sure there are some places where Mother’s Day works as a reliable planting date. And there may be years when Mother’s Day works where you live too.
But there are a few tricky things about using Mother’s Day as a gardening guideline:
- One, the date for Mother’s Day changes every year, from early-May to mid-May.
- Two, it really depends on your weather, which can be unpredictable in the Intermountain West. In recent years in Colorado, for example, we’ve been getting chilly blasts later and later in the spring. Denver has gotten snow on or after Mother’s Day in 7 of the last 15 years!!
You may be thinking, “But, Ann, I heard Mother’s Day at the store.”
Yep, that happens.
Keep in mind that stores have a pony in the race. If you get flowers on Mother’s Day, those flowers happen to die and you have to buy new flowers, they come out ahead.
The bottom line?
While it depends on where you live, Mother’s Day is often a touch early for planting summer flowers in many parts of the Intermountain West — including much of the Front Range of Colorado.
Rather than using Mother’s Day as your planting guide, it’s more helpful to plant your summer flowers when:
- Your chances for frost are really low
- Your temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees
For example, in the Front Range of Colorado, this is often late May.
Can you buy your summer flowers by Mother’s Day?
Absolutely!
Just keep in mind that you’ll need to protect your plant babies if we get chilly temps, frosts, freezes or snow.
It’s going to take a little more effort.
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Best Flowers for Colorado, Utah & Similar States, Waterwise Gardening in the Intermountain West
Looking for waterwise plants? You don’t have to plant cacti or turn your yard into a desert! There are lots of beautiful, low water plants for Colorado, Utah, Idaho, and the semi-arid West. They just may not be the flowers and shrubs you know from other regions of the country.
If you’d like to learn about waterwise plants for Colorado or a similar western state, here are 7 of my fave websites + books. All of these resources have good photos of waterwise plants, so it’s easier to picture what the plants will look like.
PlantSelect.org
Image credit: PlantSelect.org
Plant Select tests and introduces waterwise plants inspired by the Rocky Mountain region. They’re a nonprofit collaboration between Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and the western green industry.
Their website has several helpful tools. For example, in their Plants section, you can look for plants by perennials, shrubs, trees, etc. There is also a Solutions section where you can find hummingbird plants, butterfly plants, native plants, etc.
Image credit: PlantSelect.org | Find a Plant page
Another helpful tool is their Plant Finder (above). You can search for waterwise plants based on various criteria, including how big the plants will get. On other web pages, you can look up where plants are from (their native origins) and how much irrigation they need, if any.
This is a good website to dig into!
ConservationGardenPark.org
Image credit: ConservationGardenPark.org | Find Waterwise Plants page
Conservation Garden Park is a waterwise demonstration park in northern Utah. Utah residents can visit it to see examples of beautiful landscapes that are low maintenance and low water. And yay for us, Conservation Garden Park has created a big database that showcases the plants in their landscapes.
Utah faces many of the same gardening challenges we have in Colorado: heat, low moisture, tricky soils, etc. This is a great website to explore if you want to learn about waterwise plants.
One of my favorite things about this website is that they include photos of the plants through all the seasons—not just summer. This can be helpful if you want your yard to look good in the fall, winter and spring too!
WaterwisePlants.org
Image credit: Colorado Springs Utilities (WaterwisePlants.org) | Find a Plant page
Colorado Springs Utilities has created waterwise demonstration landscapes that are open to the public. Similar to Conservation Garden Park above, they have a website that showcases the plants in their demonstration landscapes. You can search for waterwise plants using different criteria. Here are a few of their website features I find helpful:
- You can search for plants by height. I like this feature when looking for shrubs. It’s a good way to make sure you aren’t picking a plant that will outgrow your space.
- They have “performance” notes for each plant. Be sure to look at those! They contain practical tips. For example, I was looking at a native grass called Prairie Dropseed. They noted that Prairie Dropseed has performed very well in their landscapes. However, it’s a favorite among rabbits. So, if you have rabbits, plan accordingly or skip this grass. (Helpful!)
HighCountryGardens.com
Image credit: HighCountryGardens.com | Plant Finder page
High Country Gardens is an online retailer of sustainable and waterwise plants. Many of their plants are well suited for Colorado and the semi-arid West. They have a Plant Finder tool that can help you discover plants you like, including categories called “Colorado Plants,” “High Elevation Plants” and “Western Plants.”
When I visit their website, I often use their search bar at the top of their website. I use it to look up specific waterwise plants.
If you’re a visual person, their website has great plant photos.
“Waterwise Plants for Sustainable Gardens” (Book)
This is one of my go-to books for waterwise plants in Colorado and the semi-arid West. It’s filled with photos and helpful tips that can be used whether you’re a beginner, intermediate or advanced gardener.
Pro tip: This book contains waterwise plants for different parts of the West, including the West Coast. As you go through the book, make sure the flowers you like match your plant hardiness zone. A plant hardiness zone tells you whether a plant is likely to survive the coldest winter temperatures that are expected in your area. Some of the plants in the book are better suited for parts of the West with warmer winters.
Native Plant Society Websites
Native plants are plants that have evolved naturally in a region. (The European settlers didn’t introduce them.) Native plants provide great habitats and food sources for birds, insects and wildlife. Many western native plants can tolerate drought and/or don’t need much water. (Though, not all!)
To find native plants for your state, here is a list of native plant societies for the intermountain region. Many have plant databases on their websites:
“Pretty Tough Plants” (Book)
In addition to having a website, Plant Select has a great book called “Pretty Tough Plants.” I refer to this book all the time. It’s another book that is user-friendly for gardeners of different levels.
This book is no longer in print, so if you can find a copy on Amazon, snag it.
I hope these websites and books help you learn about waterwise plants, so you can create big beauty for less effort. And cheers to using less water!
Related tips that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Gardening Tips and Tricks
Have you ever had trouble finding the flowers you want at the store?
You aren’t alone!
Figuring out which flowers to plant and tracking them down in a garden center can get overwhelming quickly. And if even if you don’t feel overwhelmed, it can be frustrating to want a certain plant and not be able to find it.
So, if this sounds like you, please know, this is normal.
In this tip, let’s chat about how to make it easier to find the flowers you want.
What can you do if you have ideas for flowers, but you can’t find them at your garden center?
First, I’ll say that some western plants ARE hard to find.
Often, though, it can be a matter of where you’re looking for them.
The big box stores are convenient for buying flowers, no question.
But they tend to have a limited selection of flowers. Plus, they often carry plants that are better suited for other regions of the country.
Yep, let me say that again: A lot of their selection isn’t a great fit for gardens in the semi-arid, tricky soils West.
So instead, my suggestion is to look up local, independent garden centers in your area.
These are local stores that only sell plants, flowers, gardening tools and related products.
If you’ve only shopped at the big box stores for your flowers and you don’t know where to find local, independent garden center, no worries!
Search for:
“Garden center in [your town or metro area]”
“Plant nursery in [your town or metro area]”
You can call these local garden centers on the phone to ask if they have certain flowers OR you can visit in person.
These local stores are more likely to have a wider selection of flower plants that grow better in our region.
Fair warning, because these garden centers usually have a lot of plants, they can be a little intimidating on your first visit.
(Just being honest with you.)
But every time you go, you’ll get more comfortable.
And the great news is, they typically have knowledgeable staff members who can help you.
It’s 100% okay to ask questions.
When you arrive at your garden center, ask if they carry the flower you’re looking for. If they don’t have it, feel free to ask:
“Can you recommend a similar flower?”
Share what you’re trying to do.
For example, let them know if you want to attract butterflies … or if you’d like plants that deer are less likely to eat.
If the person you’re talking to doesn’t know the answer, ask if there’s someone available who may know the answer.
(There’s always a wise and scrappy gardener tucked away somewhere.)
To better help you, they may ask you a little about your garden.
Don’t worry! You don’t have to be a master gardener to have a conversation with them. They just want to help.
You may want to snap a few photos of your garden or yard on your phone before you go to the store. This makes it easier for them to picture your space and your existing flowers.
Okay, so that’s option one.
But it’s possible you may not find what you want locally because not every store carries every plant.
In that case, you have a second option.
There are online plant and seed companies too… like Zappos for flower plants.
You may be able to buy the flower plant you want online, and they’ll send it to you.
Some get shoes in the mail, others get flower plants… 🙂
Want a few examples of online garden stores?
- High Country Gardens is an example of an online garden store that specializes in flower plants for the intermountain west.
- Botanical Interests is an example of a seed company that offers many western flower seeds. They’re based in Colorado. Depending on the flower (or veggie) you want to grow, you may plant seeds in the spring, in the fall or even during the winter.
Often times, these online retailers have unusual flowers that are tricky to find in stores.
Another option: You can choose a “pre-planned garden.”
Would you like to create a beautiful, western-friendly garden WITHOUT having to figure out which flowers work best and find them in a store?
If yes, you may want to check out pre-planned flowers gardens.
They’re an awesome way to create a beautiful flower garden without all the research and hunting for plants.
And bonus, many of these flower gardens don’t need a lot of water.
Related topics that may interest you:
by Ann at Go West Gardener | Updated: May 20, 2026 | Gardening for Pollinators, Gardening Tips and Tricks
10 tips to create a pollinator garden in Colorado, Utah and similar states
Do you want to attract bees and butterflies to your garden? Me too!
These wonderful pollinators need just a few, basic survival elements:
- Food (from nectar-rich flowers)
- Water sources
- Cover (shelter)
- Places to raise and feed their young
- Protection from pesticides
Here are 10 tips to create a pollinator garden that not only attracts bees and butterflies, but also offers an environment where they can thrive.
1) Plant a variety of flowers that bloom at different times—from spring to fall.
That way, you’ll give your bees and butterflies a constant source of food and shelter.
Typically, pollinators can find food sources during the summer. (It’s easy to find flowers that bloom in June and July!) So, if you’re prioritizing, focus on adding flowers, flowering shrubs or flowering trees that bloom in the spring, late summer or fall. This is when food can be scarce for bees.
At the end of this article, you’ll find good plant lists for butterflies and bees.
2) Include native plants in your garden, when possible.
There are approximately 1000 native bee species in Colorado and about 1000 native bee species in Utah.
Native bees tend to like native plants.
Native plants have been around for a long time—since before Europeans settled in North America. They’re “ecologically adapted” to your area, just like your native bees are. They’ve evolved together. These plants are very appealing to pollinators, especially bees and butterflies that have had their habitat destroyed by urban development.
Some bees will only gather nectar and pollen from specific native plants—like Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosa), Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea munroana) or Sunflowers (Helianthus).
Butterflies can prefer specific plants too.
For example, Monarch butterflies will only use milkweed plant as a “host” for their young. A host plant is where they lay their eggs and the young caterpillars feed. Other butterflies have their own preferences for plants to host their babies.
Despite their growing popularity, native plants can be tricky to find at some garden centers.
The best places to look for native plants are typically: local independent garden centers, online retailers, native plant sales from nonprofit organizations, and native seed companies.
3) Plant flowers with different bloom shapes, sizes and heights.
If you want to attract bees and butterflies to your garden, make sure you have variety in your flowers!
Butterflies:
Butterflies tend to like coneflower-shaped flower heads and ice cream-shaped flower heads.
Butterflies won’t climb into a flower. Instead, they prefer flowers where they can perch with a 360-degree view—ideally, in an open spot with a lot of sunlight.
Bees:
Bees’ favorite flower colors are blue, yellow, bright white or ultra-violet. They’re drawn to nectar-rich flowers with an easy-to-access supply of nectar and pollen.
As my ecology instructor used to say, bees like flowers “with landing platforms.” They also like tubular flowers.
Single-bloom flowers are best.
Avoid “double-bloom flowers” (aka, double flowers). What the heck is a double-bloom flower? It’s a flower with extra flower petals. Here are examples with Zinnias and Dahlias:
Double-bloom flowers may look beautiful, but they make it harder for bees to get to the nectar and pollen. (And sometimes, these flowers don’t even have nectar and pollen!)
As far as flower size goes, there is no one-size-fits-all for bees. It depends on the bee. Some larger, native bees prefer larger flower heads. Other bees are drawn to very small flower heads.
Again, variety is key!
4) Plant flowers in groups (clumps of 3+ flowers), rather than individual plants.
For one thing, this can look natural and attractive.
But it also can be helpful for bees like honeybees. They like to gather nectar and pollen from the same flowers at one time. When you plant in groups, you’re more likely to attract honeybees—and keep them happy. You’ll help them focus their energy on gathering food.
5) Include a shallow water source in your garden.
Bees need water. To give your bees a safe place to drink:
- Create a shallow pool with an old plate, flowerpot saucer, upside-down frisbee or shallow bird bath.
- Place objects—like pebbles, rocks and twigs—in the water, so your pollinators have a place to stand without drowning.
Bees also will drink water from your sprinkler heads or your drip system heads.
So, what about butterflies?
Adult butterflies like sweet liquids. They’re drawn to nectar, rotting fruit and other sweet liquids.
Male butterflies do like shallow mud puddles, though. While the reason isn’t fully known, it’s believed that dissolved minerals in the water may be good for butterflies.
Caterpillars primarily get their liquids from the plants they feed upon.
6) Make sure you have a sunny area that’s protected from the wind.
In western states like Colorado and Utah, we can get wind gusts that make it feel like our houses are coming apart at the seams!
Adult butterflies like to feed in sunny spots that are open… but also protected from the wind. So, if you can create a wind break in your garden, that’s ideal for your pollinators, particularly your butterflies.
7) Cut your flower garden back in the spring, rather than in the fall.
If possible, this means leaving some natural debris—like fallen leaves and plant stems—in your flower garden over winter.
Around 70% of Colorado’s native bees nest in the ground, and the other 30% nest in cavities, like hollow plant stems. When you wait until spring to trim back your flower garden, you provide good, undisturbed nesting grounds for bees.
You keep their nests safe and protected.
I know we’re chatting about bees and butterflies in this article, but it’s worth noting that your winter garden also can be a big hit with birds. Dried flower heads offer good food sources for them. And they can take shelter in your garden.
8) Gives bees shelter in your soil (dirt).
Did you know that 90% of native bees are solitary bees? They live alone, rather than in a colony.
And as I mentioned earlier, most native bees nest in the ground. To create a bee-friendly environment in your soil:
- Avoid using landscape fabrics. They keep bees from being able to tunnel into the ground.
- Avoid thick mulch in select places in your garden. Mulch is a material you put on top of your soil—like bark or wood chips. It offers a lot of benefits for plants, but deep layers of mulch can make it difficult for bees to nest in the ground. You may want to selectively choose a few spots where you use a thin layer of mulch or no mulch at all.
- Avoid tilling. Tilling is when you extensively turn your soil over until it’s all broken up. There was a time when tilling was a popular garden practice. However, it’s fallen out of favor in home gardens because it can create soil structure problems and destroy beneficial organisms. (It messes up the health of your soil, which can lead to problems in your plants.) In this case, avoid tilling because it can destroy your bees’ nests and/or kill bees or their young.
- Avoid using overhead sprinklers during the day. Instead, use drip irrigation (small irrigation lines that run to the plants). This way, the mama bee will be able to find her nest after a day of foraging. Overhead sprinklers can accidentally destroy the entrances with mud when the bees are away, says the Utah State University Extension.
9) Don’t use pesticides in your landscape.
If you want to attract bees and butterflies to your garden, avoid using chemicals to treat your lawn or plants.
And yep, this means you wouldn’t use pesticides for:
- Treating the weeds in your lawn or garden
- Fertilizing your lawn or your garden plants
- Battling Japanese beetles
The chemicals can transfer to bees and other pollinators when they land on the plants or feed from them.
(If you have no other alternative, use the mildest treatment you can. And spray when bees and butterflies are less active, like at dusk. Don’t spray during the day when pollinators are gathering food!)
10) Buy from bee-safe garden centers and growers.
Many plants sold at garden centers have been treated with “neonicotinoids”—a type of pesticide—early in their life cycle. This pesticide use is very common.
This pesticide is toxic to insects, including bees. It can stay inside plant tissues for a long time, leading to problems for pollinators that visit those plants, from impairment to death.
Some garden centers have pledged not to sell plants that have been grown with these chemicals. Here’s where to buy plants that are safe for bees in Colorado and the West.
Want more info on how to attract bees and butterflies?
Check out these resources:
Related topics that may interest you:
