Plant self-sowing annuals Annuals add color and bloom for weeks or months, but reseeding saves time and money. They reseed where they want, not necessarily where you want. Favorite self-sowers: tall verbena (Verbena bonariensis*), flowering tobacco (Nicotiana sylvestris), purple perilla (Perilla frutescens* cvs.). Mulch, then mulch some more Mulch dresses up beds, conserves moisture, suppresses...
Category: Flower Gardens
Flower gardening in Grand Junction, Colorado, thrives with sun-loving, drought-resistant plants. Gardeners enjoy vibrant blooms, choosing native species to withstand high desert temperatures, varied soils, and occasional dry spells for beautiful resilience.
Calgary Gardeners, Time to Feed the Bees
What kind of insects do you cheer for, where you come from? the Gnat inquired. That playful Lewis Carroll line lands well here, because bees are exactly the sort of insects we want buzzing through our Calgary gardens. Pollinators are essential for the food crops and ornamental plants we enjoy, and native bees are often...
Autumn Garden Prep for our Prairie Winters
If you’re in Calgary, Alberta, you know our climate: dry air, intense sun, high winds, and long, cold winters. Fall is short here, but it’s the perfect time to tidy up, protect vulnerable plants, and set the stage for a strong spring. Use this checklist to tailor your routine to our prairie conditions. Root-prune shrubs...
August Gardening Checklist
Garden chores slow down from spring’s fevered pace, but many of us may be away on vacation. Use this concise checklist to keep things running smoothly. ANNUALS Deadhead spent blooms. Continue feeding weekly with a slow-release fertilizer. Before leaving on vacation, cut annuals back for a second flush of growth and cluster pots in the...
Garden Ornaments for Calgary Gardens: A Prairie-Inspired Look
Calgary’s climate asks a lot of its garden decor. Short growing seasons, bright sun, dry air, and fierce winds mean our ornaments need to be sturdy, weather-ready, and well placed. Beyond mere decoration, the right pieces tell a story about our landscape and become focal points that look right in every season—from snow-dusted winters to...
Leaf Mulch in your Flower Beds
If you’ve got a yard in Calgary, Alberta, you know our springs can be quick and unpredictable, summers can bake, and our soil—often clay or dry and dusty—can use a little help. Leaf mulch is an easy, effective, and almost magical way to boost your soil’s health with materials you already have: fallen leaves. It’s...
Party-Ready Calgary Garden: Quick Tips to Wow Your Guests
If you’re hosting a backyard gathering, a neighborhood walk, or just showing off your space to guests, you don’t need a full weekend to get things photo-ready. Here’s a simple, three-step plan tailored for Calgary’s climate that will make your garden look its best fast. Three-step plan to get your Calgary garden party-ready Step 1:...
Why Focal Points Are Essential for a Stunning Calgary Garden
When it comes to designing a beautiful garden, one element can truly make or break the overall look: the focal point. But what exactly is a focal point, and how do you use it to transform your space? Don’t worry—this might sound like a fancy garden term, but once you get the hang of it,...
Why Snow Crocuses Are Winter’s Hidden Treasure
Unlike the more familiar Dutch crocuses (Crocus vernus), which bloom in early spring, snow crocuses (Crocus tommasinianus and others) bloom much earlier — sometimes even before the last snow melts! These tiny bulbs burst into bright, cheerful blooms on sunny days, adding vibrant color to our winter landscape. What Makes Snow Crocuses Special? Early Bloomers:...
Brighten Your Calgary Garden with the Vibrant Shades of Yellow
Yellow—it’s a color that’s as familiar to Alberta’s prairies as the sweeping blue skies and golden fields of grain. In our local landscape, many native and cultivated plants in the daisy family (Asteraceae) showcase stunning shades of yellow and gold. From cheerful coneflowers (Rudbeckia) and towering sunflowers (Helianthus) to delicate false sunflowers (Heliopsis), tickseeds (Coreopsis),...