Western Gardening Blog

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

The latest flower tips

Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia): An Easy-to-Grow Flower for Late Summer

Looking for an easy-to-grow flower that gives you big, pretty color in the late summer? I'd like to introduce you to Black-Eyed Susan (officially, Rudbeckia — Rude-bek-ee-uh). It also goes by the name: Gloriosa Daisy. There are MANY reasons to love this flower. In...

Where to Buy Plants That Are Safe for Bees in Colorado and the West

Did you know that flowers and plants from the garden center often have a pesticide in them that can be toxic to bees? "What, whaaaaaaaat?" That pretty much sums up my reaction when I realized that my last impulse purchase was harmful to bees. If you want to create a...

Find a Botanical Garden Near You in Colorado, Utah & the Intermountain West

Walk among the flowers and feel your stress lift away! Visiting a local botanical garden is a wonderful way to relax in nature and find inspiration for your own garden. Many local botanical gardens feature beautiful flowers, shrubs and trees that grow well in our...

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...

11 of the Best Gifts for Flower Lovers 2026 (That Western Gardeners Will Loooove)

Looking for fun gift ideas for flower lovers in the West? You'll find 11 of the best gift ideas for flower lovers below — perfect for holidays, birthdays, Mother's Day, Father's Day and more. And if you’re looking for gardening gift ideas for yourself… well, then,...

3 Garden Supplies to Shop for in March (Yep, March!)

I’ve been feeling conflicted about sharing this week’s gardening tip. I firmly believe that you do not need a lot of stuff to be a successful gardener. When I moved into my home, I was fortunate to inherit a few, basic gardening supplies from the previous owner. She...

VIDEO: 4 Proven Tips to Pick Flowers for Planters (That Last!)

So, you walk into your local garden center ... You're all ready to pick 3-5 flowers for your planters, but suddenly, you see HUNDREDS of flower choices. You're looking at row, after row, after row of flowers. How are you supposed to know which flowers to pick?? No...

“Can I Change the Flowers in My Flowerpots for Fall?”

I used to think that once you planted your flowerpots, that was it. Your flower babies were in there for the long haul. But I’ve come to appreciate that you can swap out the flowers in your pots. It's like changing your wardrobe for the seasons. If you want to change...

What to Do With Outdoor Pots in the Winter, So They Look Good for Many Seasons

The seasons are changing. It's time to figure out what to do with your outdoor pots in the winter. (Good thinking!) Before you start getting winter snow and freezing temps, it helps to: 1) Empty the dead flowers and dirt (or "soil" in garden lingo) from your outdoor...

Will Wind Chill Kill My Plants?

- 20 degrees below zero... -50 degrees below zero... -70 degrees below zero ... Yikes. Every few years, we see some big wind chill numbers across parts of the Rocky Mountain region and high plains during winter, including in Colorado and Wyoming. With these arctic...

What NOT to Do in Your Western Garden in February

The sun is shining its warm rays. Birds are singing. And Costco has started assembling its spring pergola displays. Spring is starting to feel like it's within reach, even if it's still a ways off. It’s enough to make you want to skip through the aisles of Costco. (Go...

How to Sterilize Your Flowerpots

Here are the key items you need to sterilize your flowerpots: Here's how to sterilize your flowerpots: Wear clothes for cleaning. For example, put on rubber gloves. You also may want to put on old clothes. Place your pots in a sink or tub (if you can). Wash your pots...