I received the following question from a gardener who moved to Colorado from New England, 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:...
Best Flowers for Colorado, Utah & Similar States
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...
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...
Pre-Planned Gardens for Colorado and the West: Beautiful Gardens for Less Work
Buying flowers for western gardens can feel like a lot of work. Especially when you live in the semi-arid, gotta-have-some-moxie West — like Colorado and Utah! This isn’t a place where you a dig a few holes, plop in some flowers and watch them grow into a lush jungle....
5 Drought-Tolerant Spring Flowers for Sunny, Dry Gardens (You Plant in the Fall)
Most of these spring flowers are low maintenance too! Let’s say you want to add a splash of color to your spring garden, but you live someplace dry, like Colorado or Utah. It would be nice to find spring flowers that don’t need a lot of watering, right? (Less work for...
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...
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...
6 Popular Ornamental Grasses for a Prettier Winter Garden
Put your hand up if want a pretty winter garden! Ornamental grasses can make your winter garden look good. They add visual interest to your winter landscape (aka, "winter interest"), and they're easy to grow. But how are you supposed to know which grasses to pick? A...
Red Birds in a Tree: A Drought-Tolerant Flower That’s a MAGNET for Hummingbirds
During the spring of 2020, my husband and I re-worked part of our yard with new garden beds. (Any other weekend warriors out there?) I wanted to include drought-tolerant red flowers that would grow well in Colorado’s poor soils and hot, dry climate. And that’s when I...








