Monday Mashup 6.29.2015

Lychnis chalcedonica 'Rosea'

This unusual, pink form of Maltese Cross has been blooming for a couple of weeks now. It's an early summer favorite of mine; I bought it many years ago from my friend, Kelly Grummons, of Timberline Gardens in Arvada. This wonderful nursery is set to close in a few months, so be sure to stop by soon and shop from their extensive collection of native, xeric and rock garden perennials.

Early July brings some of our hottest weather of the year. Here is my gardener's July check list.

Efficient watering is imperative this time of year. If you are looking to upgrade your irrigation system, consider converting to a HydraWise controller. These are designed for smaller properties (home landscapes) and can auto-adjust your system to weather conditions in your area. Plus, you can operate it from your smartphone --- how cool is that! These controllers are now available in Denver through at CPS Distributors (to the trade only), so talk to your landscape professional. Note: this is not a paid endorsement nor have I tested the product myself.

The Wheat Ridge Garden Tour is celebrating its 5th year now and going strong. Check out the web site for tickets (lunch included!) and info on the bike tour. Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 11th. I'll be volunteering first thing in the morning at Garden A. Be sure to say Hi!

Need to get away? A visit to one of these cool Colorado lakes might be just the ticket!

Have a fun and safe Independence Day!

Wordless Wednesday 6.17.2015

Lillium sp.

Wordless Wednesday 6.10.2015

Lonicera heckrottii 'Goldflame'

Joyous June

Iris germanica

The most anticipated month in the gardening calendar may well be June! Here are a few links to help you stay active and informed:

• Keep up with the demands of a rapidly evolving landscape with my top gardening tips for June.
• Learn some great design tips for low maintenance gardens from my friend Gen at North Coast Gardening.
• Now is the time to plant summer flowering bulbs.
• Pretty but deadly — keep your eyes open and your garden free of these pests.

Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday 6.03.2015

Best Bouquet Ever?

While we wait for the rains to abate and the return of sunshine and warmth to our gardens, we can scheme and dream about what we'll be cooking up with our harvest. How about a fabulous edible bouquet like this one which was the featured centerpiece at a recent graduation party for my lovely niece, Alex.  It was crafted by Kelle Lambert of Lincoln, Nebraska, and featured a huge array of fresh veggies including turnips, beets, fennel and leeks, to name a few. Sharpen your knives and start practicing now!

Peony Time

Peonies are one of those trigger plants that evoke memories of times, places, and people gone by. They are one of only a handful of plants that many of my clients actually know (and often request for their gardens). Peonies are valued by both Western and Eastern cultures — being native to China — and have been cultivated in gardens and featured in many art forms for centuries.

Most folks are familiar with herbaceous peonies that die back to the ground every winter. Today's photos feature a tree peony that I photographed recently at Denver Botanic Gardens.

white tree peony frames a moon gate at DBG

There are peonies suitable for almost any Front Range garden; they're quite durable, once established. For more information on peonies and how to grow them, visit Peony's Envy; they offer a wealth of information and lots of luscious photos. Note: this is not a sponsored link, I just like to share the good stuff when I find it.

Wordless Wednesday 4.29.2015

teaser: my new lawn-free front yard!

Wordless Wednesday 4.22.2015

Admelanchier x grandiflora 'Autumn Brilliance'

Despite last week's winter-like weather, the serviceberry blooms on. Looking forward to plenty of delicious fruit this summer!

Wordless Wednesday 4.15.2015

grape hyacinth with F/X, Muscari spp.

Wordless Wednesday 4.08.2015

Ahhhhh, April!

Malus spp. in bloom April 1, 2015 (photo courtesy Garden Style, LLC)

If the crab apple trees are blooming, then it must be April. Warm days, blue skies, and the occasional snow shower to keep things interesting:

blue skies and snow on the serviceberry April 3, 2015

There are plenty of activities to keep you busy and entertained in the garden this month!

Thinking about planting a tree for Arbor Day (April 24th)? The type of tree you select is important,  and how it is planted is critical for hearty growth and longevity.

Need some new ideas and inspiration for your landscape? Join me at Echter's Garden Center on Saturday, April 11 at 9:00 AM for my presentation Creating Beauty from Chaos.

Wordless Wednesday 4.01.2015

Tulipa spp. (and friend)

Wordless Wednesday 3.25.2015

Emerging...Sedum 'Frosty Morn'

Happy Spring!

colorful crocus, harbinger of Spring

Spring is a new beginning — a great time to assess your current garden and consider some new ideas, too:

Add a New Dimension to Your Landscape
Welcome butterflies, bees and birds into your garden with these tips from the National Federation of Wildlife

It's All About the Tomatoes!
Get this new app from the American Phytopathological Society, TomatoMD, and keep your tomatoes healthy and happy.

Garden Clean Up
Cut back the dead stems and foliage from your ornamental grasses before the new growth gets too tall; once those pretty new tips are snipped they wont grow back, just look awkward all season.

Asses Freeze Damage
A result of the sudden and severe freeze we had November 10, 2014 is tissue damage to many of our landscape plants, but particularly non-native evergreens. Only time will tell if the result will be fatal to the plants or merely disfiguring.

Yew, Taxus spp

Arborvitae, Thuja spp.

An encouraging sign on this young Austrian pine is a green (live!) terminal bud.

Soft, flexible branches are another indicator that your plant is still viable.
Give your plants a chance to emerge from dormancy this Spring and begin actively growing before you commit to any radical pruning or plant removal.


Have a great weekend!

Wordless Wednesday 3.18.2015

Viola!  Aren't those scalloped leaf margins sweet?

Wordless Wednesday 3.11,2015

Crocus!

You Can't Beat Beets

Roasted, pickled, stewed, or raw; hot beets, cold beets, I love them all! The greens are also a tasty treat and super nutritious — high in vitamins A and C, iron and potassium (An heirloom variety, Early Wonder, is considered the best beet for greens).

Beets are a cool season vegetable that can be sewn and harvested early in the season. They're a great choice for garden spaces that don't get full sun, as they'll tolerate part shade. For growing tips check out this article.

For heirloom and /or organic seeds, check out Botanical Interests, and Seeds or Change.

Wordless Wednesday 2.25.2011

Geranium sanguineum

Wordless Wednesday 2.11.2015

New as of 1939, that is!