By Deborah Lebow Aal Ah, yes, water. It IS the weather in Colorado. We are constantly talking about water. Skiers are obsessed with the snowpack; anglers are obsessed with river flow; farmers talk about the drought that seems to be omni-present. But, is it really a drought if it’s the normal condition? Denver gets an average of about 15 […] Continue reading "Let’s Talk Water and Yes, Native Plants Too"
By Tom Swihart An important goal for the Front Range Chapter of Wild Ones is for members to move their own yard toward native landscaping – and then move their neighbors in the same direction. The example you set can show your neighbors and friends how native landscaping is both possible and desirable. Upgrading yards, […] Continue reading "Can You Get Your Community to Act? Town of Erie Example"
by Deb Lebow Aal What have you done, or will you do, this month, or this year, to inspire and empower people to plant native plants? Wild Ones was established to… “promote environmentally sound landscaping practices to preserve biodiversity through the preservation, restoration, and establishment of native plant communities.” That is our mission statement. The more […] Continue reading "A Call To Action"
By Cynthia Reiners Rocky Mountain penstemon, Penstemon strictus, is an attractive Colorado native perennial that meets several important objectives for a suburban native plant gardener. This species of penstemon is often commercially available, easily grown in a variety of micro-climates and ordinary soil, and visibly supports the local web of life. A less well- known […] Continue reading "Rocky Mountain penstemon: An excellent choice for a native plant garden"
By Deborah Lebow Aal This is the time of year when gardeners put their feet up and happily look through catalogues, thinking about next year’s garden. Because let’s face it, every gardener’s best garden is next year. Next year, my plants will all be in the right place, just the way I want them…. It’s […] Continue reading "Why Native Plants?"
By Deborah Lebow Aal Okay, first, what is a hellstrip? It’s that strip of land in front of your house between the street and the sidewalk, so named because any living thing that thrives there has to be tough. Also known as the parking strip or public easement, the homeowner does not own it, but […] Continue reading "Landscaping your Hellstrip"
By: Deborah Lebow Aal Why Oaks? I mentioned in my article, Native Trees for Colorado’s Front Range, that tree experts on Colorado’s Front Range feel that Oak trees should fill that gap between true natives and non-natives. They do really well here on the Front Range, provide ample opportunity for hosting many insects, and, contrary […] Continue reading "Oak Trees on the Front Range"
By: Deborah Lebow Aal Despite their standardized curb appeal, are lawns really all they’re cracked up to be? With all of their harmful impacts on the environment from carbon emissions to over fertilization, pesticide treatments, and water consumption, the answer is likely, not so much!!! You might be able to get away with a lawn […] Continue reading "A Lawn on the Front Range or Colorado Native Plants?"
By Deborah Lebow Aal, with assistance from Nevin Bebee and Diane Stahl As we’ve mentioned in our Native Plant Landscaping Statement, we recognize that many people don’t have access to a yard but perhaps have a porch or terrace, and would like to do something for the environment, the food web, and wildlife, i.e., plant […] Continue reading "Container Gardening with Colorado Native Plants"