Western Gardening Blog

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

The latest flower tips

“Should I Water My Garden in the Fall in Colorado? What About Winter?”

Winter is a marathon for our plants in Colorado. It's an endurance test, and it can take its toll on our landscapes. Typically: Most of us don't get a lot of precipitation during winter in Colorado. We get drying winds that pull the moisture out of plants. We also get...

“How Do I Attract Bees and Butterflies to My Garden?”

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...

Why Bees and Butterflies Are Like Puppies and Kittens

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...

6 Ways to Protect Your Flowers From Frosts and Freezes

You know you've entered the "joys of western gardening club" when... It feels like summer one day... and the next day you're bracing yourself for frosts, freezes and snow. (I'm not crying. I have something in my eye.) If you'd like your summer annuals — your...

What Is a Plant Hardiness Zone? (And How to Find YOUR Zone)

When you buy a flower plant... You may notice a strange phrase on the plant tag that says: "Hardiness zones" or "Zones." If you're wondering, "What is a plant hardiness zone? What does that mean?", you're in the right place. At its most basic, a plant hardiness zone...

A Simple Hack for a Beautiful Western Garden (to Do in Winter)

I’d like to interrupt the depths of winter to bring you visions of summer. And flowers. And things that are green. (Remember the color green?) Let’s say you want to add gorgeous perennials to your yard for this coming summer, so your neighbors stop to look… flowers...

Where to Learn About Waterwise Plants for Colorado, Utah & Similar Western States

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...

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...

VIDEO: Japanese Beetles In Colorado & How to Control Them

What the heck is turning your plants into lace-y skeletons? If it's late June, July or August in the Front Range of Colorado, Japanese beetles may be to blame. "What do Japanese beetles look like?" you may be wondering. Japanese beetles are metallic green insects with...

3 Misconceptions About When to Buy and Plant Flowers That Can Lead to Dead Plants (Ack!)

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...

Is It Better to Empty Your Flowerpots in the Spring or Fall?

I used to leave everything in my flowerpots until spring. The whole shebang. Dead flowers, old potting soil, all of it. And for a few years, everything was fine. But then, I lost a few flowerpots to cracking. (Ugh.) I also learned about some pesky insects that like to...

Flowers That Can Struggle When Planted in the Fall (in Colorado, Wyoming & Similar States)

What NOT to Plant in Fall Gardens Early fall can be a good time to plant perennials in many places in the intermountain West. (Perennials are your flowers that return year after year.) But as I’ve learned the hard way in my Colorado garden… There are some flowers you...