This section of the Toolkit is new and will be expanded to include more seeds collection tips and recommendations for seeds cleaning. Collecting Native Plant Seeds Planting native plants from seeds is the cheapest and simplest way to get a good variety of native plants in your landscape. Some say that the plants you grow […] Continue reading "Collecting & Cleaning Native Seeds"
Primary Author: Deb Lebow Aal One of the biggest challenges we face as native plant gardeners is how to design a garden with native plants. After all, we are challenging the norm. We are not planting the default landscape of an expanse of turf with a few bushes around the foundation of the house, and […] Continue reading "How to Approach Designing Your Colorado Native Plant Landscape"
This question and answer are part of our Ask CSU Extension Anything (About Native Plants) series. We appreciate CSU Extension for answering these questions to expand our community’s knowledge of native plant landscaping. Send us your questions to the Ask CSU email account. ANSWER: While at least one study has found that in extremely degraded […] Continue reading "Should I add mycorrhizae to the soil when I plant native plants?"
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 […] Continue reading "Seed Collecting Pop Ups!"
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. Nearly 30 people came out to learn from the tour. Our last stop included light refreshments, Colorado native plant seedlings, and […] Continue reading "Colorado Native Plant Landscaping | Southeast Denver Member Garden Crawl"
By Jenifer Heath 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 […] Continue reading "Colorado Native Shrubs for Bird Habitat"
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. […] Continue reading "Colorado Native Plant Propagation | Propagation Committee Gathering"
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 […] Continue reading "Colorado Native Plant Landscaping | Jefferson County Xeriscape, Native & Plant Select Demonstration Gardens"
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 […] Continue reading "Colorado Native Plants | 2023 Plant Swaps Recap"
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 […] Continue reading "Pollinator Yard Tour in Fort Collins"