Western Gardening Blog

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

The latest flower tips

“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...

Columbine Flowers: An Early Summer Flower to Attract Hummingbirds

Who else loves Columbine flowers? (I have both my hands up.) You’ll see Columbine flowers growing along alpine hiking trails in the Rocky Mountains… and in western gardens. When I see them on mountain trails, I want to turn into Julie Andrews at the start of The Sound...

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...

How Frosts and Freezes Affect Your Flowers

When I was first learning how to garden... I used to think that 32 degrees was the temperature I needed to keep an eye on for my flower plants. 32 degrees is when water freezes, so that must be the point when my flowers will freeze too, right? But over time, I've...

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia): How to Tell a Biennial vs Perennial (Short-Lived vs Long-Lived Plant)

Black-eyed Susan (officially, Rudbeckia — Rude-bek-ee-uh) is an easy-to-grow flower that can add big color to your western garden, particularly in the late summer. But often, gardeners plant Black-Eyed Susan... and it doesn't come back If this happens to you, you may...

“Should I Buy Big or Small Flower Pots?”

If I could go back in time and tell myself one thing as a new gardener... I would say it's worth finding pretty flower pots. They're like a good pair of shoes or a nice piece of jewelry. They can really elevate the look of your container garden. But how do you choose?...

When’s the Best Time to Plant Perennials in the Spring in Colorado & Similar States?

Spring can be one of the best times to plant perennials — the flowers that come back. "Cool temps are ideal for planting perennials..." wrote David Salman, respected western plantsman of Waterwise Gardening LLC, in 2022. "Perennials thrive in cool weather, putting...

5 Helpful Things to Know About Garden Centers in Colorado, Utah & Similar States

So, you walk into your local western garden center... And you see row after row of flowers. You may find yourself thinking one of two things: "Ahhhh, I'm in my happy place." You feel like a kid in a candy store. Or ... "HOLY. CRAP." There are sooooo many choices. You...

PODCAST: Find Your Confidence With Flowerpot Gardening

Wondering how to get started with flowerpot gardening? Pop in your ear buds, find a comfy spot and listen to this 30-minute episode of the @liveblissedout podcast! I was honored to be a guest and chat about flowerpot gardening in Colorado, Utah and the West. Click the...

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...

“Will Snow Kill My Spring Flowers Like Tulips? Should I Protect Them?”

Your spring flowers look as happy as kids on the first day of vacation... and then, you see the weather forecast: SNOW. Ugh. The good news is... Spring flowering bulbs — like tulips and daffodils (pictured below) — are surprisingly resilient. Snow can be a good...

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...