Seed Collecting Pop Ups!

Posted & filed under Colorado Native Plants, Native Plant & Seed Swaps.

Our Swaps Committee is hosting multiple seed collection and cleaning events to prepare for the fall swaps. Email Swaps Chair Peggy Hanson if you are interested in participating!

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Colorado Native Plant Landscaping | Southeast Denver Member Garden Crawl

Posted & filed under Colorado Native Plants, Garden and Yard Tours, Member Meetups.

Thanks to members Deb, Donna, Vicki, Rick and Kristin for hosting tours of their southeast Denver gardens. Each host shared their successes, challenges, and learnings from their experiences (so far!) with native plant landscaping.

Our Denver garden tour hosts from L to R: Kristin Laux (WOFR Board Secretary), Deb Lebow Aal, (WOFR Vice President & Denver Regional Co-Coordinator), Vicki Saragoussi Phillips (WOFR Programming Chair & Zoom Co-Host), Rick Phillips (WOFR Webmaster & Zoom Co-Host), and Donna Baker Brenningstall (WOFR Denver Regional Co-Coordinator).
Our garden tour hosts from L to R: Kristin Laux (WOFR Board Secretary), Deb Lebow Aal, (WOFR Vice President & Denver Regional Co-Coordinator), Vicki Saragoussi Phillips (WOFR Programming Chair & Zoom Co-Host), Rick Phillips (WOFR Webmaster & Zoom Co-Host), and Donna Baker-Breningstall (WOFR Denver Regional Co-Coordinator).

Nearly 30 people came out to learn from the tour. Our last stop included light refreshments, Colorado native plant seedlings, and some time to get to know each other better.

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Colorado Native Shrubs for Bird Habitat

Posted & filed under Birds and Pollinators, Colorado Native Shrubs, Ecological Services.

By Jenifer Heath

A cedar waxwing feeds on the fruit of the Colorado native Amelanchier alnifolia/Saskatoon Serviceberry.
A cedar waxwing feeds on the fruit of the native Amelanchier alnifolia/Saskatoon Serviceberry. Photo: Doris Dumrauf.

I have spent several years transforming my yard and specifically building low-water (xeric) and mostly native plant habitat for pollinating insects, and only incidentally for birds and other creatures. This winter I decided that I’d like to make a bigger effort to support birds specifically. Bird habitat should provide water, food, shelter and a place to reproduce and raise young. An adjacent neighbor has a pond (water source) and most of my neighbors have mature evergreens (as old as 60 years) and I’ve been told that many of these are native.   

This article focuses on food and cover/shelter.  As we know, native plants are the best way to improve habitat, so I’ve been reading about native shrubs. I felt that what was really missing in my yard for birds is shrubs to serve as an understory where I have taller trees, and to provide fruit and shelter and safety from the neighborhood outdoor cats and other predators.  So over recent months I’ve done some research and reading and planning and replanning and ordering  (too many) shrubs.  

Many people are much more specific and precise about what they consider native for their yard, but my own guideline is a strong preference for plants native in Colorado (or to a lesser extend adjacent states) and that I hope will thrive with a variety of moisture and sun conditions in different parts of my yard, not to mention my soil type.  

Based on my reading, I decided to follow the guideline that a grouping of shrubs is of greater value to birds than are those same shrubs scattered singly around the yard. I found a “recipe” for a native wildlife hedgerow in a National Wildlife Federation article. It could be a hedgerow, implying linearity, as to provide privacy or define a space, but could also be shaped differently. Neat clean pruning and generous spacing are less beneficial to birds than is a more natural plant shape and significant overlap between shrubs.   

We can think of native shrubs not only as smorgasbords of nutritious foods, but also as safe passageways through our yards for birds and other wildlife.  Consider using native shrubs to connect islands of native plants and the shrubs will provide cover as animals move from one island to another.   

The National Wildlife Federation suggests diversity in the shrubs we include (rather than planting a uniform row of a single species) to support a wider variety of wildlife.  Their “recipe” is “… one evergreen species, two nectar-producing species, two berry-producing species and one thorny species.” I’m not arranging my shrubs as a hedge, but I took this mix as a good guideline for my yard overall.  

Rosa woodsii's thorns provide secure cover and its rose hips provide winter food for birds.  Photo from Steemit.com.
Rosa woodsii’s thorns provide secure cover and its rose hips provide winter food for birds. Photo: steemit.com.

I have learned that rose hips are a powerful and important winter food for many birds.  As mentioned above, sharp shrubs protect birds (and other prey) from predators.  Although I despise dealing with sharp shrubs, my lifelong reaction was overpowered by the importance to me of providing habitat. Also, I don’t have children playing in my yard and I can put sharp plants in places that are not accessible to my pets. Many people use sharp shrubs to discourage trespassing on their property.  I’m going to plant some native roses and near native roses, Rosa woodsii and Rosa blanda, in livestock troughs with the hope that the trough bottom and walls will control suckering and crazy lateral growth of these thorny, thicket-forming native roses.  

Like most of us I am limited in terms of space and types of space that I have in my yard for shrubs. There are many, many different shrubs that are native to whatever your definition of native is and will thrive in different moisture and sun/shade and soil conditions. Some are quite short (yet still can be part of a cover pathway through your yard) and others may become small trees.  You may have realized that some shrubs fall into more than one of the NWF’s categories, such as evergreen and berry-producing, or thorny/sharp and nectar-producing, so we can check off two “ingredients” with one plant.  And, of course, any plant that attracts insects (and especially larval host plants) is by definition attracting food (insects) for birds.  

My shrub wish list includes: Ribes aureum (currant), Rubus deliciousus (Boulder raspberry), Ericameria nauseosa (rabbitbrush), Cercocarpus ledifolius and Cercocarpus intricatus (curl leaf mountain mahogany and little leaf mountain mahogany), Cornus sericea or stolonifera (red twig dogwood), Symphoricarpos orbiculatus (coral berry) (shorter and thicket forming),  Prunus besseyi (Pawnee Buttes sand cherry), Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnik kinnik), Mahonia (or Berberis) repens (creeping Oregon grape), Falluja paradoxa (Apache plume), Rubus parviflorus (thimbleberry), Berberis fendlerii (fendler’s barberry), Rhus trilobata (skunkbush), Prunus andersonii (desert peach – not native to Colorado), Sambucas canadensis (elderberry), and Chamaebatiaria millefolium (fernbush – not native to Colorado).  Some of these may have fruit that is great for birds, but may be toxic to small humans or some other mammals.  

Read more about the benefits of incorporating Colorado Native Shrubs in your landscape in this article: Plant Colorado Native Shrubs – They are Ecological Powerhouses.

The author’s favorite sources of information related to creating habitat for birds:

Attracting birds, butterflies and other backyard wildlife.  David Mizejewski (National Wildlife Federation).  2019.  (This was my very favorite/most useful.)

National Wildlife Federation, including its Native Plant Finder, where you may enter your zip code and see how many species various native flowers, grasses, trees and shrubs support.

Native plant gardening for birds, bees, and butterflies. (Southwestern US).  George Oxford Miller.  2021.

Native Plants for Birds handout by Audubon Rockies, Denver Audubon, Colorado State University Extension, and Colorado Native Plant Society.

Various webpages from Cheyenne-High Plains Audubon Society, Denver Audubon, Audubon Rockies and American Bird Conservancy.

The websites of plant sellers Prairie Nursery and Prairie Moon along with their native range maps.  

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Colorado Native Plant Propagation | Propagation Committee Gathering

Posted & filed under Colorado Native Plants, Member Meetups, Propagation.

Members of the Propagation Committee gathered at Brian & Eileen’s property to explore their land adjacent to Roosevelt National Forest and swap native plant seedlings that weren’t quite ready for the June swaps. It was a great day spending the day together, particularly since our Propagation Committee members are spread out along the Front Range.

This past year, the Propagation Committee experimented with various propagation methods, from sowing seed in trays outdoors to milk jugs. Committee Co-Chair Jan Midgley hosted multiple Zoom sessions to demonstrate germination techniques. Committee Co-Chair Pam Schulz organized multiple virtual and in person meetups to keep us motivated, connected, and on-track. A huge thanks to everyone who participated.

If you are a WOFR member who is interested in participating and/or helping to organize the Propagation Committee, please email us.

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Colorado Native Plant Landscaping | Jefferson County Xeriscape, Native & Plant Select Demonstration Gardens

Posted & filed under Colorado Native Plants, Garden and Yard Tours.

During our hot Colorado summer, twenty-five Wild Ones participants were gifted with a wonderfully cool and comfortable morning to explore two public gardens in Jefferson County: Jefferson County Fairgrounds CSU Extension Native Plant & Plant Select Demonstration Gardens, and Lakewood’s Kendrick Lake Park Xeriscape Demonstration Gardens. The native gardens are easily accessible and worth visiting for a dose of xeric native and exotic plant specimens along with garden design inspiration!

Whether exploring the grounds in small clusters or wandering solo, both beginner and experienced gardeners took notes of “what’s growing,” “what’s blooming,” and “who’s buzzing around getting a sweet drink of nectar!” Laurel Starr, tour host and Wild Ones Jeffco Regional Coordinator, happily responded to attedees’ questions, suggested useful native plant gardening resources and shared her ideas for future programming. Thanks for volunteering your time and knowledge Laurel!

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Colorado Native Plants | 2023 Plant Swaps Recap

Posted & filed under Colorado Native Plants, Native Plant & Seed Swaps.

Once again, Wild Ones Front Range partnered with several other like-minded organizations and individuals to host our annual plant swaps in June.  One was held in Fort Collins on June 17th and the other was held at Denver’s Earthlinks on June 24th.  Happily, word is getting out and both swaps are growing!  More attendees are bringing acceptable plants and labeling well so the offerings are even better! 

As a result of these swaps, more than 7,500 regionally native plants now have new homes along the Front Range!

Below are some additional stats that demonstrate the wonderful volunteerism and positive reception to these outreach events that educate, empower and provide resources to get more native plants in the Front Range landscape.

Fort Collins

  • ~3,200 plants
    • 3,100 plants propagated by swap committee at a local greenhouse, One Canopy, that gave them space and access.
    •  ~100 day-of plant donations from attendees
  • 290 volunteer hours!
  • 286 attendees
  • Only 4 flats of leftover plants, which were donated to One-Canopy’s pollinator gardens
  • $500 in donations split between hosting partners

 Denver

  • ~4,500 plants
    • 3,000 plants propagated by a few amazing Wild Ones propagators
    • 940 plants from 9 gardens at “dig & donate” pop up events
    •  ~650 plant donations from attendees at the event
    • ~50 plants leftover which are finding homes.
  • 300+ volunteer hours! (dig & donate, bump-up, labeling and staffing the swap event)
  • 380 attendees (6 times the number from our first plant swap 3 years ago!)
  • $630 in donations split between hosting partners

A final note from Peggy Hanson, the Wild Ones Front Range Plant Swap Chair

“The swaps are highlights that would not happen but for the magnificent volunteers that give their time so generously.  We made some improvements this year that added to the experience; better species signage, “dig & donate” pop up events that materially added nice-size plants to Denver’s base inventory, and more “bump up” and labeling events to support some of our propagators.  Volunteers accomplished it all while fortifying our native plant community—it’s amazing the bonds made while getting your hands dirty in pursuit of providing ecologically meaningful plants to our Front Range.  It was an honor to work with all of you! “

The Fort Collins swap planning committee is looking for new members.  Fort Collins has a solid group of organizations and people to learn from.  

If anyone from the Pikes Peak region would like to initiate a plant swap in or around Colorado Springs, there are the Denver and Fort Collins swaps to model from and mentors too. 

Please email us with your interest in helping with these future swaps.

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Pollinator Yard Tour in Fort Collins

Posted & filed under Garden and Yard Tours.

Thanks to Ruth Inglis-Widrick for hosting a tour of her Fort Collins pollinator paradise garden. Attendees were charmed by the abundance of bumblebees, flowers and trees. Ruth also shared how she grew from a novice gardener into a passionate advocate for native bees by transforming her home landscape and connecting to her local community.

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Colorado Native Plant Demonstration Garden | Tour of Denver’s Greenverein “Hell Strip” @ Turnverein

Posted & filed under Garden and Yard Tours, Garden design.

We had a great group come out to tour the Greenverein Garden, which was started in 2019 as a collaboration between Denver Turnverein, Uptown on the Hill, and Front Range Wild Ones on a former Denver hell strip located on Clarkson Street!

The garden is 100′ long and 11′ wide and uses berms, swales, check dams, urbanite, passive water catchment and other creative techniques to establish a garden highlighting native plants.

This tour was hosted by Judy Trompeter “The Initiator”, Marilyn Bernier “The Weed Czar”, Wild Ones members, Christine Gust “The Link”, Lisa Olsen “The Architect”, Judy Hopper “The Financier” and Julie Nordstrom “The Hydrator”.

If you are interested in volunteering with us to maintain the garden (e.g. weed, collect seeds, prune), please email Christine at [email protected].

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Colorado Native Plant Landscaping | Visit to Jan Midgley’s Lakewood Garden

Posted & filed under Garden and Yard Tours, Member Meetups.

Wild Ones Front Range members were treated to a tour of Jan Midgley’s garden in Lakewood. Jan grew most of her native plants from seed and so attendees were excited to see the possibilities. We are also grateful that Jan has been documenting Colorado native plant propagation protocols in her Germination Guide so that anyone may begin growing their own plants!

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!

Denver Member Meet & Greet

Posted & filed under Member Meetups.

We had a fabulous Meet & Greet at the Wild Ones Front Range Colorado native plant demonstration garden at EKAR Farms. Thanks to all who came out!

Curious to learn more about transforming your garden into a habitat with Colorado native wildflowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees? Check out our native gardening toolkit, register for an upcoming eventsubscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already!