Designing a hummingbird garden really isn’t rocket science. But over the years, my gardens have evolved as I’ve learned how to draw in more regular patrons to the buffet I set out for our local hummingbirds. I’ve come to recognize some critical components that every hummingbird garden should include to create a space attractive to both hummingbirds and humans.
…Tips on Designing an Attractive Hummingbird GardenRead More »
Agastache, August’s Practically Perfect Plant, was nominated by the hummingbirds that visit (and claim) my garden. I have a lot of hummingbird favorites in my yard, such as Monarda and Orange Carpet Hummingbird Trumpet, but the Agastache (or Hyssop) is hands-down their favorite! It is the plant they battle over! And the Agastache is what made me realize that I should select plants not just for my enjoyment, but to create habitat for the wildlife that I wish to draw to my garden. It’s the plant that started my whole “gardening for wildlife” mindset!
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My sons and I have spent the last several summers raising Monarch butterflies. The catalyst was a sad experience we had back in October of 2016. Of course, we had heard about the plight of Monarchs and their population decline years earlier, so we were sure to allow some milkweed to grow in our garden each year, but we had never spotted any takers on it. Then, finally, one mid-summer day in 2016 we found a young caterpillar munching away on a milkweed. Boy, were we excited! We watched it for a day or two, and then suddenly it was gone. Hopefully it just crawled off to another plant. At that point we started inspecting our plants regularly, hoping to find another caterpillar.
…Does Raising Monarch Butterflies Help or Hurt the Species?Read More »
Annabelle Hydrangea – Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’ USDA Zones 3-9. Part shade to part sun. 3-5’ tall and wide. Moderate water needs. Handles harsh Colorado sun and heat better than most hydrangeas!
Who doesn’t love hydrangeas? The neat, rounded shrubs come in sizes small enough to fit into any garden, and their large, gorgeous clusters of flowers stand out across even the most spacious gardens! They’re almost required in a shade garden. No other shade plant gives that wow factor from large blossoms that last so many months.
But in Colorado, hydrangeas that will bloom well are not synonymous with the varieties that are hardy here. That’s why it’s important to pick carefully. There are four types of hydrangeas: macrophylla (big leaf or mophead), paniculata (panicle), quercifolia (oakleaf) and arborescens (smooth or wild). For good bloom performance in Colorado, you can weed out the oakleafs and most macrophylla.
…Annabelle Hydrangea – Hydrangea arborescens ‘Annabelle’Read More »
USDA Zones 4 – 9. Full sun to part sun. Likes well drained, moist soil, but can handle drier soils once established. 5 – 6 feet tall, around 5 feet wide but slowly spreads over the years.
The Giant Fleeceflower definitely deserves Practically Perfect Plant status! It is stunning, very low maintenance, and well behaved!
…Now that spring has sprung, are you eager to invite warm weather wildlife back to your garden? Try out these top ten early spring blooming plants for pollinators. These plants don’t just look beautiful in the garden, they are especially valuable because they provide nectar for bees and other hungry pollinators when next to nothing else has started blooming. They all begin to bloom before May, so they’re not just nice for the bees, they’re a treat for the spring giddy gardener as well!
USDA Zones 3-8. Sun to part sun. Glory-of-the-Snow bulbs produce plants that are about 6” tall.
Glory-of-the-Snow are early bloomers and are absolutely beautiful! The picture above just doesn’t do them justice! They are one of the very earliest spring blooming plants for pollinators. They start to bloom by the beginning of April, if not a bit earlier when planted in warm, sunny spots. Bees LOVE these flowers. As soon as mine start blooming, I consistently have bees in my yard for the rest of the season, because by the time these stop blooming, many other plants have started their flower show. They spread reliably over the years. The foliage dies back and the plants go into dormancy around the start of the summer. These bulbs are a great way to please both bees and gardeners!
…Top Ten Early Spring Blooming Plants for PollinatorsRead More »
