Would you like a long-blooming perennial... ... that attracts butterflies and interesting moths, gives you color all summer AND is drought tolerant? Yes, pleasssssse! I can’t wait to introduce you to Jupiter’s Beard (aka, Red Valerian). Its botanical name is...
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...
Think low-water gardens have to look dull, desert-like, or weedy? Nope! Waterwise landscapes can be lush, vibrant, and pollinator friendly. Plus, they’re often a lot less work. If you’re looking for ways to save water and get more blooms for your buck, here are a...
When you live in states like Colorado, Wyoming and Texas, you may not get hail every year, but some years, you’ll get it 2 … 3 … 7 times. (I’m not crying. I have something in my eye.) It’s like playing the lottery, except hail is a prize you DON’T want to win. In this...
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....
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...
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...
If you've been wondering, "Where can I learn about plants for waterwise flower gardening?", you're in the right place. It's dry in the West, which means we need to be strategic about the flowers we grow in our gardens. Where I live in Colorado, we're lucky if we get...
This cutie is known as Lantana. This colorful flower reminds me of a delicious bowl of sherbet. It isn’t a flower you want to eat, though — no matter how yummy it looks. It's actually a little poisonous. Be careful where you plant it if you have wee ones or dogs. The...