by Peggy Hanson Under the great leadership and organization of Wild Ones member, Pam Schulz, the Propagation Committee has had an amazing inaugural year. Pam has set up monthly workshops since the inception meeting in November 2021. Members have benefitted from the technical guidance of member Jan Midgley and Harlequin nursery staff in learning methods of propagating […] Continue reading "WOFR Propagation Work"
by Deborah Lebow Aal The ‘Gardening Myths’ article I wrote last year was our most popular article ever. It has been reprinted in several other newsletters, including Denver Audubon (linked here), and we received many comments. Following up with ‘Gardening Myths #2’ was inevitable. In most cases, there is no right or wrong ‘answer’ to […] Continue reading "Garden Myths #2"
By Deb Lebow Aal; Updated October 2023 by Jen Smith Here we are again, talking about grass. I mean the Kentucky Blue Grass (KBG) and other non-native expanses we use as our default landscape. We wrote articles on this in past Wild Ones Front Range chapter newsletters (That Non Native Turf Grass Has Got to […] Continue reading "So Many Alternatives to Non Native Turf"
by Kenton Seth Editor’s note: This article is abridged from the original for use in this newsletter. To read the full article, originally published in The Blazing Star (the quarterly publication of the North American Native Plant Society, nanps.org) For those who have long been supporters of native plants and their supported creatures, the recent fad […] Continue reading "Crevice Gardens"
by Jody Gardiner 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 event, subscribe to our newsletter, and/or become a member – if you’re not one already! Continue reading "Native Garden “Before and After”"
by Aaron Michael One great Colorado native plant to landscape with is Red-Twig Dogwood. This shrub, also called Red Osier Dogwood, with the Latin name Cornus sericea, can be found in the wild in areas such as wetlands and riparian zones where the soil is rich and poorly drains. It also can be found in areas that […] Continue reading "Red-Twig Dogwoods"
by Suzanne Wuerthele We all need more color in our world now. And Gaillardia is a superb choice for the native plant garden. It’s showy, easy to grow and propagate, and it attracts multiple pollinators. Growing gaillardia isn’t hard. It’s not a picky plant. It has a wide distribution – from southern Canada through Utah, […] Continue reading "Gaillardia in the Garden"
Duration: Perennial (short lived)Habit: HerbLeaf: GreenSize Class: 3-6 ft.Bloom Color: Red, YellowBloom Time: Jul, Aug, SepWater Use: MediumLight Requirement: SunSoil Moisture: DrySoil pH: Acidic (pH<6.8)CaCO3 Tolerance: MediumSoil Description: Well-drained, infertile soil We will publish a much longer article on Gaillardia by Suzanne Wuerthele next month. This native plant is worth a longer review. Curious to […] Continue reading "Plant Spotlight: Gaillardia"
By Alex Bruce Looking for a new way to start seeds without having to use plastic pots that only last a few seasons? Soil blocking may be the best alternative you’ve never heard of. The concept is simple – using a mold, compress soil into durable blocks that are the perfect home for starting seeds. […] Continue reading "Soil Blocking: Seed Starting Without Plastic"
By Ayn Schmit If you happen to find yourself on a summer Sunday along East Alameda Avenue in Denver, you might hear the happy hubbub of people working in the gardens at Ekar Farms. Ekar Farms, located on land belonging to the Denver Academy of Torah, is a non-profit organization that fosters community and connection […] Continue reading "Native Plant Demonstration Garden at Ekar Farms: A New Partnership"