Gardening for Nature

Wordless Wednesday: NWF and Scotts Miracle Gro - Just Say NO!

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 02:19:00 +0000

This is not a wordless post, but important just the same, so please forgive me if it's not my normal photo heavy Wordless Wednesday type of post.

This week the National Wildlife Federation and The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company announced a new partnership in this press release. This will never be a match made in heaven, but a disaster for our wildlife and our environment. Please join in the protest of this new partnership by adding your comments to one of the following places:

www.nwf.org

www.facebook.com/NationalWildlife

www.twitter.com/nwf

or add the #nwf hash tag to your tweet.

Come and read the discussions at the following websites:

Beautiful Wildlife Garden:

http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/should-the-sign-come-down.html

http://www.beautifulwildlifegarden.com/mizejewski-defends-nwf-partnership-with-scotts.html

Safelawns.org: http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2012/01/as-wildlife-federation-defends-its-greed-scotts-continues-to-assault-our-sensibilities

http://www.safelawns.org/blog/index.php/2012/01/miracle-gro-deal-with-wildlife-federation-outrages-environmental-community

Native Plants and Wildlife Gardens:

http://nativeplantwildlifegarden.com/nwf-teams-up-with-scotts-miracle-gro/

And finally, if you'd like to hear the CEO of NWF talk to all of the supporters that was held today, here is the video feed:

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/presidential-response-01-25-12

You don't have to be a gardener, wildlife lover, environmentalist or even get into nature. You just need to be a human to see that this will never be a good idea for us, our children or our planet.

Thanks for listening.

Kathy

Oh, and the Certified Wildlife Habitat Logo I've had on this blog for so many years - it's gone and will not be back. I'm too embarrassed to say I ever had one.

Photo Attributions: Images of logos of NWF and Scotts are owned by their respective companies.

*****************Update to this Post, as of January 29th, 2012 *****************

I am happy to report that NWFwill be terminating the partnership with Scotts. Their joint press release is listed in part below.

"The National Wildlife Federation has worked together with ScottsMiracle-Gro over the past two years on programs to educate gardeners about global warming, connect children to the outdoors and help restore habitat following the Gulf oil disaster. Both parties recently announced plans for an even broader partnership that was based on our common interests.

Since that time, Scotts announced a pending legal settlement related to events in 2008 that predate our partnership, which has made it clear that the partnership is not viable. Therefore, NWF and Scotts will work together to end the partnership in a friendly and mutually beneficial way."

To read the entire press release, please visit the NWF.org link here: http://www.nwf.org/About/Corporate-Relationships/Scotts-Miracle-Gro-Company.aspx

********************************************************************

Reflections on 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:09:00 +0000

Ponderosa's frosty needles dazzle as always.

My birthday hike was especially beautiful,

even with the snow.

Aspen leaves through the skylight paint a striking portrait in the sky.

Minnesota is so green in late summer. How I miss the water

but not the mosquitos or humidity.

There are always interesting plants to photograph

at the Como Park Conservatory.

Driving to Rice University to drop my freshman son

into his new life far from home.

Trees in Texas are oh so much different

than the Pine forest I live in.

My favorite wildlife visitor of 2011.

What a privilege to see.

I was home enough this year to see

so much beauty and wonder in my gardens.

These cactus were thriving this year

even with little rain.

Attending the Colorado Lavender Festival in Palisade,

with my good friend Patty, was the highlight of July.

So many good smells, great gardens

and wonderful people.

Taos in June was magical.

Going to the top of the mountains and bottom of Rio Grande River,

enjoying the magic and wonder of Mother Nature with my husband.

Sometimes the nature close to home is as breathtaking

as that in far away places.

Looking up during a hike is as important as looking ahead.

May you look to many directions to see the beauty of nature!!

2011 was a whirlwind year of travel, transitions and too many events. Over 6000 miles driven, 1000's of photos taken, and many articles written. Sadly, I was very bad at updating this gardening blog and I apologize for my absence. I did not stop my writing nor my support of wildlife, nature and gardening. My weekly posts at Beautiful Wildlife Garden have been many and I encourage you to visit and join in our conversations. I'm so honored to be part of the Wildlife Garden team of writers and especially grateful to Carole Brown of Ecosystem Gardening for the chance to have my voice heard. I'm hopeful that the new year will provide me with a push to be more consistent in posting to Gardening for Nature for all of you. I'm looking forward to experiencing the ever changing wonders of nature and our planet, sharing my photos and reading your comments.

Earth Day Musings from Mother Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 12:19:00 +0000

Today is Earth Day 2011, and it's time once again to give thanks to this planet that we call our home. Although Mother Nature speaks to us in many ways, I think we sometimes forget to listen. Awhile back I wrote a post on Mother Nature, and I think its message is especially appropriate today. I hope you will ponder these Earth Day musings from Mother Nature, and take to heart a few when making your choices everyday:

1. Please don't try to second guess me - if you took the age of every living thing on earth, and added them up, I would be millions of years older then the total. So, I think I might know a thing or two about how the earth is supposed to function and grow, and will teach you if you only stop and listen.

2. I live everywhere - from the tallest mountain to the lowest valley, from the hottest desert to the coldest oceans. Please be a nice guest in my house, or it could soon become inhospitable. I may have to ask you (not so politely) to leave.

3. I am happy to share my bounty with you, but I ask that you don't take advantage of my generosity. Rather, only take as much as you need, and leave some for the rest of the world and its offspring.

4. I love creepy crawlies, including snakes, spiders, beetles, and all of the other things that most people are afraid of. So the next time you think about squishing, poisoning, or otherwise getting rid of them please remember they are dear to my heart.

5. Although it is said that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, nothing artificial can compare to the magnificent sunsets, flowers, mountains, streams and animals that I have given you, so please treat them with care.

6. I am the original creator of diversity. Meadows, forests, oceans, and plains have thousands of inhabitants who all are part of a complex ecosystem working together. Monocultures have no place in my plans. You can learn a lot about diversity simply by studying them.

7. The soil of the earth is made up of trillions of living, breathing organisms. Pick up a handful of nice, crumbly soil, and you are holding billions of bacteria, fungi, protozoa and nematodes. Not to mention worms, centipedes, ants, beetles, and other scavengers of the soil. Do you really want to destroy all that just by tilling?

8. I am a peace lover. There is nothing as peaceful as the sound of the waves, the silence of the star filled night sky, the breath of the cool breeze, or the sight of a flower slowly opening.

9. I am quick to cause destruction. Volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, drought, wildfires all come quickly and many times without warning.

10. I am a lover of all living things. Please help all things live to their fullest potential. I will be forever thankful to you and reward you with beauty and bounty.

So there you have it, right from Mother Nature herself!

If you want to find Earth Day Events in your area, or to pledge your "Act of Green" go to Earth Day 2011's "A Billion Acts of Green" website and also check my "Acts of Green" post at Wildlife Garden.

For many more wonderful posts on what gardeners from around the globe are doing to help our planet earth, please visit Jan Huston Doble's website "Thanks for today" and see the Sustainable Living Project 2011.

May your Earth Day (and year) be filled with the beauty and bounty of nature. Every Day should be Earth Day and every little bit we can do helps!

The Journey to Native Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sat, 09 Apr 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Finding this native beauty out in the wild

makes you want to plant it in your yard.

But will it grow there, and is it beneficial to your area?

There's so much talk about native plants versus ornamentals these days. Which is better, why we should care, how do we plant them, where do we get them? These are all questions asked by gardeners all around the globe, and in many cases there are no easy answers. Sometimes, it's so overwhelming that the easiest way to deal with it is not to deal with it at all. But if we step back and think about all of the good reasons for natives, many of us will see that stepping into that new realm is well worth the journey. The trip doesn't have to happen overnight either, it can be a long, slow stroll from the ornamental "park" to the native "wilderness". Once you get to the wilderness, you'll wonder why you took so long to get there.

This cactus is native to my area and grows nicely in my gardens.

It needs more care though than other non-native plants,

and provides little for pollinators. It's also prickly and somewhat

dangerous to work around. So, is it the best choice?

This bed of Creeping Phlox is also in my gardens. It's not native

to my area, but provides food for many types of pollinators, cover

for beetles, roly-poly bugs and other insects, shades the ground,

and conserves moisture. Should I remove it because it's not

a native? Good question, sure to bring on discussions!

There are many "tour guides" to help you on your journey. Books, societies, presentations, classes and websites all have enormous amounts of information to map out your route. Not to mention your neighbors, friends and family who already have done some of the legwork for you. I fall into several of these categories, and write with a wonderful group of nature loving, wildlife gardeners at Beautiful Wildlife Garden. We love natives, but at the same time recognize that it is in fact a journey, not a 100 yard dash to get there.

Taking a hike among native plants usually brings about a strong

reaction one way or another. It's helpful to remember to take away

images of what you see, and then apply some of them to your garden

So what are some of the day trips to take before you make the long journey to native land? Many of them are easy and help you glimpse what's possible in your own yard:

Visit an open space near your house. This can be a formal open space with trails, signs and helpful maps, or simply a uninhabited area that's wild. When you get there, notice what grows where and how the different plants support pollinators, birds and animals. What types of soils do you see? How much sun is there? Does this resemble your yard?
Take a class. There are many classes available that give you an introduction to native plants and natural ecosystems. You don't need a formal education in horticulture or botany to enjoy learning about the basics. Who knows, you might enjoy it so much you want to learn more.
Visit a yard near you that has something other than lawn and ornamentals. Depending on where you live, this might take a bit of time to find, but you'll be surprised at how gracious most gardeners are when asked about their gardens. The most they can say is "no" and then you move on to the next one.
Get a group of your friends together and visit a park. Take lots of pictures and bring them back to have a discussion on what it would take to implement some of the wonders of nature in your yards. Group gardening makes tasks go quicker, you can purchase things in bulk, and bouncing ideas off others helps you with creativity.
Most importantly, don't beat yourself up about not having native plants in your gardens. Just thinking about planting more of them is a start. Planting for pollinators, wildlife and nature doesn't mean an all or nothing commitment. I have many ornamentals in my gardens which happily thrive side-by-side with my natives. Both types are chosen for their positive contributions to pollinators, their non-aggressive nature, and their ability to grow in a sustainable gardening environment.

These rose hips come from a Morden Centennial Rose, not native but it

provides food for animals, flowers for pollinators, and beauty for me.

The clincher is that it's hardy to -30 degrees F, important at 7300'.

Now that I've given you a few ideas, I hope you will take the first steps on your journey into the land of native plants, and if you need a guide I would be honored to help you get there! Because just like you, my native plant journey is far from over. I just need to find more room in my gardens, or get rid of some ornamentals.

If you'd like to join in some discussions between native and non-native fans, please join my good friend Carole Browne over at Ecosystem Gardening. She explains the plusses so much better than I ever could and I look to her expertise as much as I can.

Should it Stay or Should it Go?

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 21:12:00 +0000

It's hard to imagine just by looking at the picture

that this garden area in winter

is a beautiful place in the summer and fall.

In mid-summer, this same area is filled with flowers,

insects, birds, and other wildlife.

In the fall, the garden is filled with beautiful shades

of golds, oranges, yellows and greens

Early March is hard on a mountain gardener like myself. The weather is usually teasing me with its 50 to 60 degree days, lots of clear blue skies and warming sunshine. The snow melts, the ground looks nice and moist, and sometimes even a few plants show some new signs of life. March is that time of year when I look at the gardens and think about how to make them better. Not only from a design standpoint, but from a wildlife, ecological and sustainable standpoint as well. As I look at the various areas and plants in the gardens, I ask myself the question "Should it stay or should it go?"

All of the Vinca in this area under the deck will be removed

this spring. The soil will be enriched with compost and manure,

and the area replanted with a few herbs for my

Dragonfly Dew botanicals and blends.

I have a hard time getting rid of plants, even those that might not be doing all that well in their current locations. Unless it's dead, a plant living in my gardens usually gets a year or two to try and improve its performance before it's given a one-way ticket to the compost heap. Sometimes I try a new location in the yard or occasionally I'll divide the plant to see if the poor thing needs rejuvenating. I know that to most people they're "just plants", but I feel a sense of guilt if I don't at least try a few things first before uprooting them from their home.

This is another area that will get re-worked in the spring.

It's filled with Lavender, Agastaches, Lilies, Russian Sage,

Ribbon Grass and a few other things. Most of it will stay,

but the "Wine & Roses"Weigela is definitely out of here

as well as the Ribbon Grass.

In the summer this same garden is filled with color

and hummingbirds and requires almost no supplemental watering.

So how can you make it easier on yourself when deciding what to ditch and what to keep? Some of the things to think about include:

Does the plant still do what you want it to do in terms of color, form and texture, growing requirements and ecosystem benefits?
Does the plant require too much upkeep in exchange for looking pretty?
Could you replace the plant with a native that has the same form, color or texture?
If you redo an area, what will you do with the plants that you remove? Can they be used somewhere else in your yard, or given away to another gardener? If they're invasive just get rid of them!
What types of wildlife do you want to attract to your yard? Considering this before buying new plants will help you attract what you want. Visit us at Wildlife Garden where we have hundreds of posts with information to help you make informed choices.

Now that I've shown you some examples and given you some ideas, start thinking about what should stay and what should go in your nature loving gardens!

What Gardening for Nature Teaches Me

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 20:40:00 +0000

Everything's idea of a perfect house is not the same.

I've been gardening for a very long time now, and although many people consider me to be an "expert" I still think of my time in the gardens as new experiences. Each time a garden is visited, something has changed, no matter if it's been 1 hour, 1 day or 1 season since I've been there. Gardens and nature are so alive and although some might think they're stagnant or boring without their pretty blooms I relish seeing them for all they give to us. Thinking about this, I've asked myself "What does Gardening for Nature Teach Me?" There are so many things, but I think the images below give you the best answers:

All visitors are welcome, even the scary ones. By learning about them,

they are seen for what wonderful benefits they bring to the gardens.

That just like humans, all living beings are so dependent on

clean, fresh water for drinking, cleaning and health.

That gardens and yards can be beautiful without using artificial fertilizers,

herbicides or pesticides, and that nature takes great care of itself.

That clean, fresh air should be a right for all living things,

people, plants, insects, animals and the planet.

That native plants as well as ornamentals provide food for pollinators

at the same time as being beautiful in the gardens.

That choosing the right plant for the right place means

less water used, no fertilizer needed, and strong

healthy plants for the gardens.

That Mother Nature teaches her children well, showing them

how to recycle, reuse and repurpose. We can learn so much

just by observing.

That creating places to grow doesn't mean we have to plant in rows,

as this Vegetable Garden at one of

my client's house shows so beautifully.

That nature is beautiful in all stages of it's life,

even when it's returning to the earth.

That so many events in nature are fleeting, so we are

privileged to experience them. Enjoy each and every one!

That I love being out in nature and teaching others how to garden.

I wouldn't give this opportunity up for anything!

Happy Holidays 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 19:22:00 +0000

The beauty of nature and the wonders of the Holidays can both blend together into fond memories, grateful hearts and cherished moments. May you have lots of each!

Kathy

The Top of the World in Colorado

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 00:29:00 +0000

The "top of the world" in Rocky Mountain National Park

is a wondrous sight.

Rocky Mountain National Park is about 2 hours from our house. Looking through my pictures from last summer, I found some from a visit that I'd meant to put in a post so many months ago! So, even though the park is now covered in feet of snow, I thought you'd like to see RMNP in all it's summer glory. There are so many beautiful views, creatures, and plants. The largest and the smallest of creatures make this high mountain playground their home.

Even in at the end of June there's still snow and glaciers.

This high tundra is home to a few lucky species.

Elk seem to be too used to people here.

They don't even acknowledge that we're watching them.

This one's still shedding last year's winter coat.

This beautiful alpine flower (sorry I don't know its name) is such a cheery sight.

If you look closely, you'll see the tiny visitor to its nectar.

I love finding these special portraits in nature

and feel so fortunate to capture them with my lens.

The end of a gorgeous day in the mountains.

If you ever get the chance to make the trip to this wonderful national park, try to go in mid to end of July. Then you can take Old Fall River Road, which is a one way dirt road that traverses the mountains along some of the old Native American trails. Winter in the park is breathtaking as well, although not all roads remain open. RMNP is one of my favorite parks and I hope it will be one of yours as well.

Sometimes Plants get so Confused

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 15:01:00 +0000

This Orange Globe Mallow (Sphaeralcea munroana)

is putting out new leaves close to the ground.

This has been a very confusing year for plants in our area. The calendar says it's almost December, but herbs and perennials in my gardens are still sporting green leaves and in some cases, even new growth. So what's going on? Has my yard suddenly been transported to a warmer state? Or maybe just has a warmer state of mind? Or maybe Mother Nature is just making up for how early winter came here last year. Whatever the reason, this year Fall has lasted a very wonderfully long time. We haven't even had a "real snow" yet, which is unheard of at our elevation, usually by now we've have more than a foot or more.

Although the Blue Mist Spirea (Caryopteris) has gone dormant for the year,

the Red Rocks Penstemon next to it is still green and growing.

If you've read any of my posts in the past about how I "clean up" the gardens in the fall, you know I leave most of my plants standing till spring, the leaves stay on the gardens, and many of the pine needles stay where they land. I also tend to wait till things are really going dormant before adding organic slow release fertilizer or compost to work its way down into the soil. So, I've been waiting, and waiting to get these few chores done, but with temps in the 50s and 60s for most of October and November it just hasn't seemed like the right time. Yesterday I decided I should get out there and do it anyway. The veggie garden hoops and netting came down and the quick connect ends of the soaker hoses were removed. Wagons and carts got put away, and the last of the ceramic pots moved to safer places.

Garlic, Chives, and Parsley are all still growing but in much need of moisture.

The hoops and nets come down for the winter.

My garden "helper" Yukon would rather be playing fetch.

The messy leftovers will get to be eaten by the wildlife,

then pulled out in the spring

What does it mean for the plants if they grow longer than usual, ignoring the human calendar? Does it weaken them the next spring, or do they just go with the flow? For perennials and herbs it just means you get to enjoy them longer and benefit next spring from additional root growth and stronger plants. By allowing plants to set their own schedule, instead of being put to bed on yours, the plants use nature as their guide to tell them when it's time to "go to sleep". Perennials, shrubs, trees, ornamental grasses (native or not), and herbs all put extra energy into growing root systems in the fall. They don't have to worry about putting on a show of flowers or pretty leaves, they just want to grow their feet. The nice cool days and even cooler evenings put far less stress on their systems and the insects that may have been bothering them in the summertime are long gone.

Dormant plants can still paint a beautiful picture

if you leave them untouched until spring.

So if your weather is still warm, and you haven't gotten out to the garden yet to do all of your "chores", maybe you should just wait a little, put up your feet, and watch your garden keep growing. Spend the day reading some great gardening blogs, or come visit us at Wildlife Gardening to join in more discussions about fall cleanup and plants that provide winter interest. The snow will be flying soon enough, so until then enjoy what's still growing!

Sowing the Seeds of a New Business

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sun, 21 Nov 2010 16:26:00 +0000

Getting ready to plant new seeds while still nurturing

completed gardens is always scary but satisfying.

Starting a new business is so much like creating a new garden. Every choice you make can be a plus or a minus in how successful your creation turns out. When creating a new business from the ground level up, there are so many things to think about. Things like what to name it, what the business structure should be, what it's mandate or mission is, how to finance, and even the really big question of "should I really be doing this or not?"

Some seeds sprout more quickly than the others,

but often times are overshadowed at the end of the growing

season by the slow starters.

Planning a new business, like planting a new garden, takes faith, courage, and usually a bit of self-doubt. "What if the seeds don't grow?" "What if the garden gets hailed out or eaten by animals?" "What if all of my hard work gets stomped on, shrivels up, or washes away?" These are all very valid, but negative thoughts, yet all gardeners that I know, myself included, think about them. It's the same with starting a new business or learning a new skill. The questions become: "What if I'm not good enough?" "What if people don't like my products?" "What if no one comes?", "What if I run out of money?" or the ultimate "What if I Fail?"

These lettuce starts are ready to go into the garden,

but garden's not quite ready for them yet.

For the past several months I've been working on starting a new micro-business that's very different than the service type businesses I've had in the past. While I absolutely love designing gardens and teaching people about gardening, nature and the environment, I realized that I also needed something more. I wanted to take this love of plants, nature and our planet and create something that would help people by giving them better choices for their skin. Just as I firmly believe that everything we do in our gardens makes a difference to our planet, I believe that what we use and how we take care of our skin also affects the world of nature. My solution to this desire has been to create a new line of body products, under the name "Dragonfly Dew". These botanicals and blends are made with only natural plant oils & butters, herbs, clays, waxes and essential oils. Mother Nature gives us many things and has wonderful ways to help us with our skin, just like she helps us with our gardens. So please join me on this new journey and I'll try my best to teach you as much about botanicals as I do about gardening for nature.

www.dragonflydew.com - the start of a beautiful new "garden"

As the "seeds" of my new business start sprouting and the "garden" is planted with new and exciting additions it will be exciting to see how it matures and changes. For as in any garden or business, nurturing, evaluation, and faith are all needed to create beautiful results.

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from the Sky is Best for Plants

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:30:00 +0000

The water in this beautiful alpine lake comes from the sky and

the snow pack, yet still needs some processing before

it's drinkable by humans. Plants on the other hand think

this water is wonderful.

Pure, clean drinking water is something that most of us take for granted, yet almost 1 billion people around the world would love to have just one cup. This year's Blog Action Day theme is Water, and we as gardeners can do our part to help everyone on the planet have a bit more of it. It's much simpler than you might think to use more of what comes from the sky and less of the water that comes out of the tap. Best of all, rainwater is much better for your gardens then tap water, as it contains no chlorine, fluoride or other chemicals used to make our drinking water pure. One of my post's from last year, Waste Not, Want Not: Creating Gardens and Landscapes that Make Best Use of Rainwater, can give you more ideas to help you help save this precious resource.

All of the rain water that flows down our driveway is

filtered through this dry stream bed as

it seeps into the gardens around it.

So how much water does an average family use on their yards in a season? Well, the number of gallons are all over the board, but the percentage of water used for landscaping versus overall household use is fairly constant, at between 50% - 65%. That's a huge amount of processed, purified drinking water to use just to satisfy our need to have green lawns, lush flowers, and a nice yard. Just think if much of that water could be saved for other things or not have to be processed at all. Our resources would not be depleted so quickly, far less chemicals would be used and put back into the water supply, and our gardens and yards would be much healthier.

How can you make a difference? Try these simple things to get started:

water your gardens and landscapes one less day per week or month,
water only when and where your plants need it,
use soaker hoses or drip irrigation instead of sprinklers,
check your irrigation system for leaks and/or bad timers,
use the rain that falls naturally from the sky to water your gardens instead of sending it down the sewers and into the streets,
choose water wise and/or native plants that naturally use less water,
use rain barrels to harvest water from your roof if your state allows it,
replace some (or all) of your lawn with ground covers, perennials and ornamental grasses.

There are almost as many gardeners in the world as there are people without clean drinking water. If each of us helped just one person somewhere on the planet by changing our watering habits, think of the positive change we would make!

To follow Blog Action Day 2010 on Twitter, check out @blogactionday, or #BAD10. Or, if you want to see the live feed, check out http://blogactionday.change.org/ and pledge your support or add your blog post.

Wordless Wenesday - A Light in the Forest

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 00:22:00 +0000

A single Aspen shows its beautiful light at the end of our property,

surrounded by Ponderosa Pines, Gambel Oak and lots of wildlife.

Grasses Steal the Glory in the Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 16:58:00 +0000

The Rocky Mountains make a beautiful backdrop for this public garden

Fall is my favorite time of year, as I love all the rich colors it brings. Golden aspen leaves, orange and red oak leaves, and various shades of native shrub leaves all work to make a tapestry of color. But my favorite plants for beautiful fall color are not trees or shrubs, rather the many types of ornamental and native grasses putting on their finest for the fall show. Many native grasses are so beautiful in all seasons, and are welcome in the gardens as well as in the wild. One of the best places in my area to check out ornamental and native grasses is the public garden at the Colorado Springs Utilities Conservation & Environmental Center. This Xeriscape Garden is free to walk through anytime of year, and provides residents with plenty of ideas for waterwise gardening in the high desert environment where the mountains meet the plains.

Ornamental and Native Grasses are used throughout the gardens

in both irrigated and non-irrigated areas.

Ornamental grasses provide foundation plantings

with color, texture and movement.

Giant Sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii) is a Southwestern native,

low water replacement for Miscanthus.

The delicate seed heads of Switch Grass (Panicum) sway with the

slightest winds while the its leaves shimmer in the sun.

Both native and cultivated varieties are available from many nurseries.

Some grasses turn brilliant red in the fall, while others stay golden or blue.

Isn't this a gorgeous shade of red?

Seed heads are one of the best features of grasses.

Schizachyrium scoparium - Little Bluestem is native to much of North America

Now, if the photos above aren't enough to convince you about the wonderful properties of grasses for your gardens, think about this:

Native and ornamental grasses provide four seasons of interest with color, sound, texture, and movement.
They need very little fertilizer.
They're mostly free from pests and diseases.
They give food for wildlife especially birds.
Most need much less water than other plants in your landscape.
The only thing you need to do to them is give them a nice haircut early in the springtime when new growth begins.

So this fall or next spring, try to add a few grasses to your gardens and watch the show begin!

Ode to Summer

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 01:58:00 +0000

As summer fades to fall,

it's nice to look back into the gardens at some of the beautiful blooms.

Snow in the Summer gets no water yet

still provides a wonderful white carpet

Not all plants have to have flowers to be beautiful -

this Hosta made it all the way until the 4th of July

this year before a hailstorm turned it to tatters.

The Hummingbirds are still here this year even though it's now fall.

Soon they will be flying south, and the garden

will be a much quieter and lonelier place.

How NOT to Attract Wildlife to your Garden

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:41:00 +0000

Trash cans left outside instead of in the garage

become bear food and a mess to cleanup

Bear Country. We live in it, respect it and are happy to be a part of it. But, some people just don't seem to be able to follow the rules about living with wildlife. It's not like people aren't aware of where they live. We are living where the Black Bear have been for hundreds of years so it's not like they just showed up one day. We have signs throughout the area that say "Living in Bear Country", are constantly reminded through the newspapers, local papers, HOA newsletters and the media about what NOT to do when you live with bears, and even see stories about how bears are killed because of human carelessness. We have fines for not keeping your trash in your garage or for purposely feeding bears.

Last week in Colorado Springs six black bears were tranquilized and then euthanized because they ventured into people's houses looking for food to get ready for winter hibernation. Six bears, in each case a mom and 2 cubs, learned how to find human food in their own territory and were subsequently put to sleep just because they were hungry. It's not the Bear's fault. Once a bear eats human food it's hard to get them to eat anything else. Just yesterday I looked out my window to the west and saw the neighbor's trash cans left outside, tipped over and trash strewn about. The bear had been there in the middle of the night again. They've had this happen more than once, and each time I try to explain to them where they live and what the rules are. I have to ask myself "How hard can it be?"

Garden Bloggers Bloom Day August 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 18:00:00 +0000

Some of the Hummingbirds favorite flowers are in full bloom now,

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

and Red Birds in a Tree (Scrophularia macrantha)

They really do look like Red Birds!

Many types of Daylilies are blooming now,

none of which I know the names of.

This red daylily is part of a large group of unnamed types,

any suggestions for a name?

Beautiful blooms that were not munched by the deer

I have hundreds of these Bread Seed Poppies in various parts of the yard.

This Mallow just kind of showed up here last year.

The Blue Mist Spirea is just getting its flowers, soon it will be covered.

These are just some of the blooms in the high altitude gardens for August. I don't normally participate in the Garden Blogger Bloom Day posts but this month the blooms are looking nice, so I gave it a shot. By the end of the month the Agastaches and Russian Sage will be in full bloom and will give me something to photograph for September. Now that you've taken a look at these flowers, what's blooming in your gardens?

For a look at other gardens around the country, visit Carol's garden blog and her May Dreams Gardens Bloom Day post.

Sublime Lime Design

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 20:18:00 +0000

Shenandoah Switch Grass (Panicum virgatum 'Shenandoah')

Various Tender Succulents

Golden Oregano (Origanum vulgare 'Aureum' )

Golden Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia 'Aurea' )

Sedum Angelina (Sedum rupestre)

Yellow Ice Plant (Delosperma nubigerum)

Sedum Autumn Joy

Red Mountain Ice Plant (Delosperma dyeri 'Psdold')

Hens and Chicks (Sempervivum tectorum)

Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris) unfurling

Want to lighten up an area in your gardens? Choosing a lime or golden version of a plant brings an instant glow, drawing the eye to the planting. Using lime colored plants with contrasting colors makes a great statement at any time of the season.

What do all of the above plants have in common in addition to their great color? For the most part they are all pest free, waterwise, disease free, and low maintenance plant choices. Most of them are undesirable to rabbits or deer. They are all growing in my Zone 4/5 yard where they get little supplemental water, very little additional fertilizer, and are all very happy. So, next time you're looking for a dose of "wow" in the garden, try some lime!

Take a Walk on the Wild Side

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 21:33:00 +0000

A wonderful and exciting thing happened to me this week. I was invited to join a group of bloggers dedicated to wildlife gardens and redefining beauty in the garden. Of course I jumped at the chance, and am truly honored to be in their company.

Helen Yoest, author at Gardening with Confidence and Carole Brown, blogging at Ecosystem Gardening, decided to come up with a way to get people to rethink what a beautiful garden should be, and why wildlife is so important in our lives. As a result of their brainstorming, Wildlife Garden was born and in just 2 days has a Facebook page with over 500 followers, a beautiful website called Wildlife Garden, and a twitter account @WildlifeGarden. The team members' bios are impressive, as is their enthusiasm for gardening, nature, and wildlife.

Now we can interact with all of you who want to learn more about wildlife in the garden, and you can show us your stuff! We welcome pictures, comments, experiences and discussions So, come join in the conversation, and take a walk on the wild side! See how beautiful wildlife can be.

Wordless Wednesday - Replenishing Rain

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Wed, 07 Jul 2010 23:27:00 +0000

Wordless Wednesday - Strength in Numbers

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Thu, 27 May 2010 00:51:00 +0000

Here is the movie if you would like to see them in action. Kind of gross but effective!

The bee is still alive and was eventually carried away by the ants.

Not Quite Springtime

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 21:59:00 +0000

The robins came and then came the snow

Springtime at 7300 feet is always a rollercoaster ride weather wise. We get 70 degree days followed by 2 feet of snow at least once every April and even most Mays. This year is no exception. My blogging friend Jean at Dig, Grow, Compost, Blog left a comment for me today on my Hoping for Hummingbirds post. She wanted to know if the hummingbirds have made it here yet, and how my spring is progressing. So this post is for you Jean, and several others who have been asking about my posts and what I've been up to.

The outside dining is put on hold for another week or two

The patio furniture went out on the deck two weeks ago,

now it's covered with 20 inches of snow

As far as my gardens, well they have been mostly cleaned out. For me this means taking out all the long pine needles that fell over the winter, cutting down the dead plants left standing last fall, and lighting raking with my hands or rubber rake. The pine needles are going to a client's house to use as mulch, and the rest went on the compost pile. I don't have any pictures at the moment, hopefully next week the snow will be gone and the perennials will be glad for the moisture.

The hummingbird feeder will soon be here instead of the snow!

And for all of you wondering about the hummingbirds, last year they arrived a week early which was around May 1st. I will surely let you know as soon as they arrive as they are my favorite part of spring.

Wordless Wednesday - Hoping for Hummingbirds

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 17:48:00 +0000

2010 Ruby-throated Hummingbird Migration map from Hummingbirds.net - Join in and help out!

The Lonely Onlies

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 21:33:00 +0000

April in my gardens is looking pretty lonely. A few tufts of green here and there, a couple of chives thinking about growing, and some creeping thyme turning green.

Not much happening here at all this year, April Fool's is not a pretty sight

Solitary crocus popping their heads up for the sun

Compared to the gorgeous flowers photos from much of the garden blogging world, the four tiny flowers growing in the garden are really quite pathetic. But, they're a sign to me that spring is indeed coming, and I just need to be patient.

Even the cats are waiting for plants to grow so they can eat their catnip

Underground it's another story. Ants are venturing out of their winter nests, worms are starting to wiggle their way to the warmer top soils, and microscopic insects are munching on decomposing plant debris. So, while it's lonely at the top, the minions down below are working on creating beautiful gardens for the coming year. Working their magic one day at a time.

Spring Cleaning in the Garden is not always what you think

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 17:59:00 +0000

Springtime 2010 has officially come, and now it's time to get out in the yard to get ready for gardening season. Before you get ready to rake out the gardens, throw down the fertilizer, and get the new plants in the beds, take a moment to stop and think about what spring cleaning should really mean for your yard. Last fall I wrote a post Maintaining Composure while Decomposing, that discussed how leaving many plants in the garden to decompose naturally helps the soil and our gardens. In another post, Earthworms are Nature's Best Rototillers, I gave you many reasons to let Mother Nature and her workers till the soil for you and get it ready for springtime. Both are worth reading now that it's time to get out there.

No fertilizers, herbicides or pesticides are used in this client's gardens

And if like mine your gardens are still covered in snow or sleeping peacefully, take this time to read up on alternatives to pesticides, herbicides and artificial fertilizers. Make a new checklist of things to do in the garden. Visit awesome blogs and websites devoted to ecosystem, organic, nature or wildlife gardening to learn more about "spring cleaning" your gardening choices and style.

Native Lady bugs are just one of many "good bugs"

that are great for natural pest control

You'll end up with less work, better soil, and a healthier environment for you, your plants and the creatures that visit your gardens. After all, isn't that what you really want in a garden?

Water for birds, flowers for pollinators, pesticide free and

WaterWise practices all help to create gardens that need

little maintenance and help the ecosystem.

Gardening on Small Budget sometimes misses Big Picture

noreply@blogger.com (Kathy Green) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 04:57:00 +0000

It seems that everyone is interested in saving money these days and with the economy the way it is, who can blame them? Family budgets, State and Local budgets, and the USA's government budgets have all taken a beating. Gardening funds have shrunk as well. So, what's a gardener to do? "The Small Budget Gardener" written by Maureen Gilmer (Cool Springs Press, 2009) has many answers to that question. It contains a plethora of tips, ideas and examples of how to have a great garden while still watching the bottom line.

A few weeks ago I was given the book to review by Cool Springs Press and I took it upon myself to not only review the book for the money it might save a gardener, but also how the choices made to save a buck could affect the bottom line of garden's ecosystem. For the most part, the tips and ideas Maureen writes about definitely fall into the eco-friendly category and I commend her on educating her readers on the values of composting ("Free Dirt"), watering wisely ("Never Thirsty"), reusing materials ("Don't Throw it Away: Recycle & Reuse Everything"), and taking care of the environment. Her detailed accounts of designing to save energy ("Nature's Climate Control"), and propagation ("Making Babies: How to Propagate Free Plants") are very well thought out and will certainly help gardeners of all experience levels create better gardens.

Through out the book Ms. Gilmore has two recurring themes called "Tightwad Gardening Tips" and "Green Choices". "Tightwad Gardening Tips" are great, simple ideas to refer to again and again and will definitely help the new or experienced gardener. However, after reading many of the "Green Choices" I got the feeling that being "green" and "organic" was something that was great to do if you could afford it but if you're strapped for cash it's okay to choose an alternative, not-so-friendly to the environment solution. That seems to me to be taking the easy way out. Shouldn't all of our choices be "green choices" when it comes to designing, building and maintaining our gardens? Using railroad ties seems to be all right if you can't afford something else, using lawn fertilizers with herbicides is ok if it costs less than hiring someone to weed your lawn, and buying the over-fertilized, GMO'd plants at the big box stores are fine because they are so much cheaper.

So, when is saving some "green" not really being "green"? I guess for me "The Small Budget Gardener" misses the big picture when saving gardening dollars for short term gains - in my "book" ecosystem sustainability is a long term investment.