Category: Outdoor Living

I take great pleasure in maintaining my garden, as it brings me closer to the flowers and gives me creative ideas.  Watching the evolution of tiny seeds blossoming into magnificent spectacles of nature never gets old and this year is no exception.  While attempting to rid my garden of a well known garden pest called “Creeping Charlie”, I happened to stumble upon a tiny delicate flower (Forget Me Not’s), within a wild flower mix I purchased this year.  Obviously this flower is well suited to be added to any portion of your garden.  In my mind I am picturing “Forget Me Not’s” as gentle border flowers surrounded by “Baby’s Breath for next year.  Plant seeds in rich well draining soil after the last frost.  Cheers

One of the first perennial plants to bloom in spring is Coreopis.  It is a member of the Asteraceae plant family and is commonly called “Tickseed”.  Its nectar attracts pollinating insects and its daisy like flowers are popular with butterflies.  Coreopis has 80 species and is native to North, Central and South America.  I plant Coreopis in sunny areas throughout my garden adding bright colors during the first weeks of spring.  Cheers

Our featured flower of the month is Delphinium. It is a member of the Ranunculaceae plant family and is native to the Northern Hemisphere.  Its neon blue color is a highlight in any perennial garden setting. Delphinium excels in zones 3 through 9, is full sun and drought tolerant. It is capable of growing in heights of up to 6 ft.  However, Butterfly Blue Delphinium will grow into a bush and will only grow 12 to 18 inches tall and wide.  Delphinium should be planted in rich well draining soil for electric blue blossoms that will bloom from June through September. Cheers

Have you secured your gardening plans?  Weather allowing, Mother’s Day weekend marks the traditional time to plant annual flowers and vegetables and here in zone 4, freezing temperatures seem unlikely.  I have exposed my indoor seedlings to sun and cool temperatures from time to time and now it’s time to transfer these hardened young plants to their new home in my gardens landscape.  I take great pleasure in planting my annual flower beds during this time of season in great expectation of the beauty ahead.

Perennial plants rule during the early months of spring, the unseasonably warm weather in zone 4 has ignited a frenzy of early blooms.  Aquilegia, commonly known as Columbine is one of the most reliable perennial plants to bloom early.  The Columbine thrives in high altitude regions, capable of surviving late spring snow showers and able to lure butterflies and humming birds in the months ahead.  To initiate an early kick off to your unique garden setting, I suggest planting Aquilegia during the early spring months for many seasons of early blooms.  Cheers

Spring is here and it has sparked the arrival of some of my favorite flowering perennials. Lilac (Syringa Vulgaris) is a large tree like shrub that is a member of the olive family Oleaceae, they are native to the Balkan Peninsula and are widely cultivated for ornamental purposes. This free flowering shrub is one of the first to bloom in early spring, producing fragrant deep lavender-purple floral clusters making it the perfect selection to add to your gardens landscape for early spring blooms.

Water conservation efforts are needed in zone 4, the lack of inadequate snow and rainfall has triggered drought like conditions and we are in need of creative measures to keep our gardening schedule on course. Installing a drip irrigation system is one way to keep a garden green during a drought season.  This type of watering system will reduce the evaporation of spray unlike an overhead watering style system and discourage the spread of disease while watering your soil with pin point accuracy. A drip system keeps soil moist with the least amount of water waste. The system is affordable and adaptable to any garden scenario.  Cheers

In zone 4 we are experiencing an unusually dry end to the winter season, and with spring just around the corner, the lack of precipitation in the rocky mountain region has everyone concerned.  While areas at higher elevations appear to have adequate snow fall, the plains are suffering with drought like conditions. If these weather patterns persist it will lead to high fire danger and water restrictions for the summer months ahead. During these types of weather phases it is crucial to select drought tolerant plant varieties when you are planning for your next gardening season.  Cheers

Begonia Oblique is a member of the Begoniaceae plant family. Although it has perennial origins, I prefer to list them as an annual. They produce delicate floral sepals that can bloom in numerous types of conditions and perform marvelously in full sun but will exceed your expectations when planted in partially shaded areas. I take great pleasure in using them in a border setting or indoors for my container gardens.  Plant begonia’s after the last frost in well draining soil.  Cheers