Gardenig in state Colorado. Tips & Guides

I’M UP TO MY NECK in “stuff,” which means my filter for any purchases these days—whether for myself or for holiday gifting, even—is all about their utility factor. Does the item in question really do something for me, and do it really well? The things on my 2017 holiday-shopping list meet that mandate.

The miracle of bird migration is a subject of much intensive study, especially in this age of rapid climate change. Migration actually originally evolved in large part as a response to changing climate, but of a far more gradual nature over the millennia and longer. Now scientists wonder how species will adapt–or if they can–to current faster shifts.At the end of 2019, Colorado State University, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, and the University of Massachusetts published research based on analysis of 24 years of weather radar data, showing that the timing of spring bird migration across North

Dr. David Shetlar (below left) is a professor of urban landscape entomology at Ohio State. With Dr. Whitney Cranshaw of Colorado State (below right), author of the original 2004 edition of “Garden Insects,” he created the second volume, and joined me to explain who’s in the updated version and why, and how we can get to know them better.Plus: Enter to win a copy of the new “Garden Insects of North America” by commenting in the box at the very bottom of the page.garden insects, with dr. david shetlarQ. What an undertaking this must have been. How long was this collaboration?A. Well, it was kind of interesting, Whitney and

Before Laura Parker founded High Desert Seed, she had many other seed adventures, including working in India with activist and seed saver Vandana Shiva, and later back in the U.S., becoming Executive Director of the Organic Seed Growers and Trade Association. We talked about the importance of regionally adapted seed, and she showcased some goodies she’s working on—and also dropped some names of other companies whose catalogs we ought to be browsing.Read along as you listen to the January 25, 2021 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on Apple Podcasts (iTunes) or Spotify or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).a q&a with laura parker of high desert seedMargaret: Hi, Laura. So I have to say, I love that quote on your homepage, the Mexican proverb. It says, “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.”Laura: [Laughter.]

Colorado-based Kenton Seth and Paul Spriggs from British Columbia are garden designers with a particular specialty in rock gardens. We did a “New York Times” garden column together not long ago, and I wanted to learn more.When they appeared this spring on the popular Garden Masterclass webinar series, British host Noel Kingsbury said this in the way of introducing them: “Rock gardening will no longer elicit a yawn because this is the future.”I was so glad to talk with them to give us a peek into this brave new world. (Above, from the book, part of a

Long before central North America was settled and developed, large swathes of verdant prairies teeming with diverse flora and fauna thrived there. Expansive grasslands existed from Canada south to Texas, and from Indiana west to Colorado. Though few original prairies still exist, gardeners across America have begun to take action to restore prairie plantings right in their own backyards.Why grow prairie plants?Prairie gardens, especially more expansive and interconnected ones, offer habitat, food and refuge for vital pollinator and wildlife populations. Also, compared to turf grass, mature prairi

Most of us gardeners have a good read on which plants in our gardens are problematic—which we often refer to as weeds. Typically these plants make seasonal appearances, like the common mallow ( Malva neglecta ) that germinates in my home meadow with an impressive, if troubling, degree of tenacity. Each year I weed all that I can, digging their fibrous, white taproots from the backyard clay. And each year as soil temperatures approach those appropriate for tomato planting, a fresh crop springs anew from the seed bank left before I began weeding the space. Occasionally, however, a new undesirable plant makes its debut on our horticultural stage. 

You will never go back to a boring sidewalk after seeing what I do with a stencil and my power washer! You can see more of my crazy creations here

If you ever grew potatoes, then you must have seen the infestation of small, extraterrestrial insects crawling on the surface of leaves and near the roots. They can be quite a mess for your potato plants. They are known as potato bugs, and if you have questions hovering in your mind, like What do Potato Bugs Eat and How to Get Rid of Potato Bugs, then you are at the right place!

This post may contain affiliate links, which means that I may receive a commission if you make a purchase using these links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Each gardening location has unique en

If you’ve always dreamed of a beautiful hayrack planter dripping with flowers under your window but weren’t sure how to execute it, Tera Boaeuf of Tera’s Gardens in Colorado can help. She has the secrets to planting and maintaining hayracks and is willing to share them with us! How to design a hayrack planterTera uses the same principles for hayracks that she uses in other container designs: Position trailing plants at the front to billow over the edge,

Rhubarb jam is quick and easy to make with my recipe, and it is the best. It’s seriously delicious, and you can make your own at home with just 3 ingredients.

Across the West, apocalyptic-like hordes of Mormon crickets are swarming towns—causing traffic hazards, emitting a horrible stench, and making people's skin crawl. According to reporting by the Associated Press, tens of thousands of Mormon cricket eggs began to hatch in late May and early June, and for weeks, they have been intensely invading northern Nevada—and bringing mayhem with them.

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When Stephanie Waddell, founder of Colorado-based Istoria Interior Design, moved from Chicago to Boulder with her husband, Greg, and her young son, Ames, she was looking for the kind of mountain-adjacent life that makes people fall in love with the West. She wanted a home with room for her family to grow, with great views of the surrounding landscape, a layout designed for entertaining friends in the close-knit community, and the expansive feeling of open space that fosters a connection with nature. They found a 1970s-era modern house on a double lot in a great neighborhood, with a Japanese-influenced garden that had been written up in the local press when it was first designed. 

Colorado potato beetles pose such a grave threat to potato crops that flamethrowers have been used to control them. However, you do not have to go to such extremes in your garden.We at Gardener’s Path provide a number of natural control methods to use ag

Dame’s rocket, Hesperis matronalis, is a fragrant, edible member of the Brassicaceae family of plants, which includes arugula, broccoli, and mustard.Native to Europe and Asia, it was originally brought to

Garlic, with its active sulfur compounds, is an effective organic way to get rid of pests naturally. It is easy to use and keeps the soil free from harmful chemicals. Keep reading to know in detail about How to Make and Use Garlic Water Pesticide for Plants.