Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay

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One of my favorite and most selfish reasons for attracting wildlife to my yard is because during the winters, when my plants are dormant or have died back, and I am going into gardening withdrawal, I still enjoy my yard and because I have plenty of entertainment just outside my window! My winter visitors are often quite beautiful, but can also be pretty amusing! One of my yard mates that is almost always around is the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay – also known as the Western Scrub-Jay. They are medium sized birds with blue heads, wings and tails, and gray bellies. Like Blue Jays, these birds are perfectly comfortable hanging out in back yards, dining at bird feeders and drinking from bird baths. They are common on the west side of metro Denver and along the foothills, and are very easy to attract to yards in these areas.

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Top Ten Ways to Draw Winter Wildlife to Your Yard

Got the winter blahs? Draw winter wildlife to your yard to wipe away the gloom! You may already know this, but I am a huge proponent of gardening for wildlife. For one thing, I believe that I owe it to the wildlife living in this area. After all, we only paid off humans when we bought our property – the wildlife was left out of the negotiations. But gardening for wildlife is also a selfish act on my part. Having wildlife in my yard makes those long winter months so much more entertaining. Instead of seeing an empty garden, with nothing to look at but dormant plants, my garden is full of life, making the season so much more bearable for an eager gardener. And a yard that is robust with wildlife tends to be a healthy yard. A diverse wildlife community within your garden will keep the ecosystem in better harmony than a garden that is constantly struggling for balance by use of pesticides and herbicides (and you won’t be introducing toxins into the food chain!)

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Dwarf ‘Nana’ Serbian Spruce

March’s Practically Perfect Plant –

Winter is when the true value of evergreens is most apparent and appreciated! That’s why I chose to write about one of my all-time favorite evergreens for March’s Practically Perfect Plant – the Dwarf Serbian Spruce (Picea Omorika “Nana’). I love this shrub!! Hardy in Zones 4-7, it supposedly needs part to full sun. However, mine get very little direct sun, even in the summer, and they still look healthy, dense and gorgeous! It is so hard to find evergreens that live happily in Colorado that can handle little direct sun. Dwarf Serbian Spruces do! That is one reason why I love them so much. But on top of being an evergreen that tolerates part shade, they are also stunning!!

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How to Help Plants Survive Colorado’s Winters

Are you ever swept off your feet by some unique, beautiful plant you spot while browsing at a nursery? You confirm that it is hardy in your zone and even thrives in your soil type! Of course, you have to buy it. You plant it in just the right spot for its sunlight and moisture needs, and baby it throughout the summer as it flourishes in your loving care. Everything seems just perfect for providing this plant with a long, happy and healthy life, right? But even though everything seems ideal, your prized purchase doesn’t make it through the following winter. Confused? You are not alone. Colorado has unique weather that can be really challenging for plants and is one of the main reasons why some plants that are hardy for our zones still struggle to survive here. Luckily, there are ways to help plants survive Colorado’s Winters.

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