Stephanie's Garden Blog

Have you ever watched your neighbors in their garden and wondered what are they doing? And why are they doing that!? You might not be my literal neighbor, but I invite you to peek into my garden and see what I’m doing. In my blog I will answer those questions!

I consider myself a plant collector. My son calls me a “plant hoarder” but I think that’s a bit extreme! He might be right when I consider these symptoms:

  1. I sometimes sneak plants home from the nursery and hide them in my work area until I have time to plant them.
  2. I’ve been known to put a stem trimming from a public garden in my pocket and then try to root it myself at home. (You should keep an eye on me if I’m visiting your garden!)
  3. I’ve never passed up a packet of free seeds.
  4. When my perennials need dividing, I have a very hard time parting with any of the divisions. I usually find someone who will take them (Iris rhizomes, Daffodil bulbs, pieces of Salvia or Catmint) but I’m not sure I trust they’ll take care of my plants.
  5. I have literally cried and cursed when a plant died.
  6. Each year in mid- to late-summer, I realize that I have more yard work than my aching back can handle and that some of my plants are truly neglected.

Whether I’m collecting plants or hoarding them, I spend a lot of time in my yard and garden. Follow my blog and decide for yourself! I’ll tell you what I’m doing and why and I’ll also honestly tell you what I should be doing and try to come up with good excuses for not getting those tasks done!

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Dianthus Header

What’s in a Name: Dianthus

Continuing this year’s theme of how various flowers got their names, this month I’ll be sharing information about Dianthus.There are over 300 species of annuals, biennials and perennials of Dianthus. The common names for Dianthus include Pinks, (also Hardy Pinks, Maiden Pink, Grass Pink, Chinese Pink and Clove Pink) Carnation and Sweet William. The name Dianthus was recorded by the…
Read More
Whats-in-a-name-Marigolds

What’s in a Name: Marigold

In late summer, Marigolds are flourishing in the intense sun and heat. Their bright orange and yellow flowers seem to resemble the sun they love. Some types of Marigolds will open and close their flowers with the sun and many will turn their blooms to follow the sun as it progresses across the sky each…
Read More

What’s in a Name: Geranium

In the past two months, I’ve shared with you information about Narcissus and Lilies and how they got their names. This month, I’ll be sharing information about Geraniums and Pelargoniums. Geraniums grow wild throughout the temperate regions of the world and are commonly known as “Cranesbill” or “True Geraniums.” Geranium flowers have five petals, often…
Read More

What’s in a Name: Daffodils

Daffodils are extremely reliable and long-lived. Daffodil bulbs are best planted in the fall; be sure to plant the bulb at the proper depth as indicated on the label. However, they are often sold as flowering potted plants in the spring. After the flowers pass, a potted plant can be planted in the garden. It has a pretty good chance of coming up and blooming again the following spring.

Read More
pretty xeriscape

Gardening Wisdom from DaVinci

Water is the driving force of all nature.” –Leonardo Da Vinci I’m sure I don’t need to remind you that we’ve had a very dry winter here in Northern Colorado! Now, we’re having a very warm – actually HOT – spring. Part of the reason for the heat this spring is because of the dry…
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newsletter placard

The Effects of Pruning

When pruning, we remove the growing tips, changing the ratio of auxins to cytokinins. The cytokinins then cause the buds lower on the branch to open, so the plant is fuller or bushier than it would be without pruning. Over the course of the year, auxins again concentrate in the shoot tip and again suppress lower bud break the following spring.

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Agastache Plant

Garden Self-Evaluation: September

♥Love this!♥ My Hyssop (Agastache cana) has already been blooming for a couple of weeks and is still going strong. I love it because it feeds the bees and butterflies and hummingbirds, too. I believe this plant is the straight species, not a named cultivar. It’s a little floppy, but for scale, it is only…
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hanging baskets with peonies and creeping jenny

Garden Self-evaluation: July

♥Love this!♥ Back in May, my hanging baskets were in the “growing up” box. Now, I’m absolutely in love them! This is my favorite recipe for hanging baskets: 4 Sunpatiens Impatiens in 2 colors (qt size or 4″ pots) plus a 4-pack of Creeping Jenny (Lysimachia). I provide them with water and fertilizer and these hanging baskets…
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Japanese Beetles on Rose

August Yard Work

Hopefully your yard and garden are flourishing! Here’s a few jobs to tackle now: Monitor your water use. Instead of relying on your irrigation timer, take cues from the plants for the water needs. Plants can be tricky though! They will wilt when they need water and also when they have too much water. Check the…
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rose needing pruning

June Yard Work

It’s still early in the gardening season; it’s an ideal planting time! Plant! Don’t forget to amend the soil with organic material and/or gravel when you plant.Pull weeds. You especially want to watch for weeds that are in bloom or setting seed. At the minimum, remove the flowers and seed pods to slow the spread…
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planting Juniper

Spring Gardening Tasks

It’s still early in the gardening season, it’s an ideal planting time! Enjoy the free water coming down as rain. If you’ve already set your sprinklers to water, be sure to delay watering for several days.Get ready to plant annual flowers and plants in containers. Planting flowers on Mother’s Day is traditional for many people,…
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Is This Really Spring?

As I was preparing this newsletter, it occurred to me just how often gardening includes waiting… waiting for the rain; waiting for the seeds to sprout; waiting for the plants to mature. In our world of instant-downloads and instant-access, gardening provides a fresh respite of quiet, patient waiting. As the perennial plants poke up through the soil and the…
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newsletter plaque

5 Methods to Fertilize

Annual plants in container gardens are “heavy feeders.” They’ll need fertilizer now (mid-July). Landscape plants, on the other hand, should not be fertilized unless you’re sure they need it. Over fertilizing in the landscape can pollute the ground water – even if what you’re using is organic. Don’t fertilize landscape plants unless they look stressed…
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thermometer

Handling the Heat

The thermometer reached up above 90 degrees for 11 days of the past 2 weeks and looks to be in that same range for the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, we’ve received only 1/2 an inch of precipitation over the past month (according to the weather station at CSU). Bottom line: it’s HOT and DRY but then,…
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5 things plaque
5 things plaque

5 Great Things Plants Do For You

Trees, flowers and grass are more than just pretty. Plants do great things for our well-being – both personally and on a global scale. According to a study published by CSU, here are 5 benefits of landscaping. Improved air quality. This includes carbon sequestration, reduced airborne pollution and oxygen creation. Lower surface temperatures. It’s obviously cooler…
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bagged leaves

It’s Not Easy Bein’ Green

When those leaves fall from the trees, though, they will need to be raked up and removed. Perennial and annual debris from beds and container gardens will also need to be cleaned up either in the next few weeks or in the early spring. So what’s the “green” thing to do with all that waste?

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Frosted Marigold

WARNING: Frost/Freeze this week

We’ve been enjoying some very pleasant (although dry) fall weather, but colder temperatures are coming. Overnight on Thursday, temperatures are expected to dip into the 20s. Here’s a short list of what to-do ahead of the cold front: Bring in any potted plants you especially love, if you haven’t already.If you have an irrigation system with a hose-end…
Read More
Dianthus Header

What’s in a Name: Dianthus

Continuing this year’s theme of how various flowers got their names, this month I’ll be sharing information about Dianthus.There are over 300 species of annuals, biennials and perennials of Dianthus. The common names for Dianthus include Pinks, (also Hardy Pinks, Maiden Pink, Grass Pink, Chinese Pink and Clove Pink) Carnation and Sweet William. The name Dianthus was recorded by the…
Read More
pretty autumn trees

How Do Trees Know It’s Autumn?

The evenings are cooler and mornings are downright chilly. It gets dark soon after dinner and the calendar says it’s the first day of autumn!  We can tell the seasons are changing, but trees and shrubs don’t keep calendars. How do they know when it’s time to change color and drop their leaves?     Although plants…
Read More
Whats-in-a-name-Marigolds

What’s in a Name: Marigold

In late summer, Marigolds are flourishing in the intense sun and heat. Their bright orange and yellow flowers seem to resemble the sun they love. Some types of Marigolds will open and close their flowers with the sun and many will turn their blooms to follow the sun as it progresses across the sky each…
Read More
Calibrachoa hanging basket

Fertilizer Now = More Flowers Later

I am often asked what brand of fertilizer I like best, and the answer is “it depends.” It depends on what I’m fertilizing! For container gardens of annual flowers, which are heavy feeders, I always sprinkle in a slow-release fertilizer granule when planting and I prefer Osmocote Plus “Outdoor & Indoor.” Four to six weeks…
Read More

What’s in a Name: Geranium

In the past two months, I’ve shared with you information about Narcissus and Lilies and how they got their names. This month, I’ll be sharing information about Geraniums and Pelargoniums. Geraniums grow wild throughout the temperate regions of the world and are commonly known as “Cranesbill” or “True Geraniums.” Geranium flowers have five petals, often…
Read More

What’s in a Name: Daffodils

Daffodils are extremely reliable and long-lived. Daffodil bulbs are best planted in the fall; be sure to plant the bulb at the proper depth as indicated on the label. However, they are often sold as flowering potted plants in the spring. After the flowers pass, a potted plant can be planted in the garden. It has a pretty good chance of coming up and blooming again the following spring.

Read More

Cause of Death: Unknown

Sometimes plants just die. In my conversations, I frequently hear some rendition of this question: why did my tree/shrub/rose/houseplant/whatever plant die? This is not a bad question, and sometimes the answer can be succinct and very educational. At times I can answer that the Maple tree died of an iron deficiency; that the houseplant was overtaken by spider mites; or…
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Guest Contributor

Beatrice Comments on Bee Stings

Last month I mentioned that honey bees can sting — a comment which generated some very sad comments and even some honey bee hate mail. I’d like to clear up some misunderstandings about bee stings and some cases of mistaken identities. First, you have to understand that when one of my sisters stings, it is fatal…
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Bee on Dandelion

Creating a Pollinator Garden

You can be helpful to pollinator insects such as honey bees (like Beatrice), butterflies, carpenter bees and hoverflies and enjoy a lovely floral display at the same time. The trouble with attracting pollinators, and any kind of wildlife actually, is that you don’t get to choose what comes into your yard and what doesn’t. In…
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Guest Contributor

Beatrice Explains Swarming

This month I would like to alert you to a particular bee behavior called swarming. Sometimes the queen bee is really productive and a hive starts to get cramped and over-crowded. When that happens, the mother queen bee, together with about half of her daughters and sons, leaves the hive in search of a new…
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Guest Contributor

Beatrice’s Job: Foraging

Happy Spring! As the weather warms up, everyone in my hive becomes more active. Each of my sisters who live with me in Stephanie’s back yard has a specialized job. When I first emerged as a bee, I worked as a nurse bee. Now my job is as a forager bee; I gather pollen, nectar,…
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Trumpet Vine

Our Favorites in September

Even if the dog hasn’t bitten and the bee hasn’t stung (as the song goes), it’s always nice to think on your favorite things. Here are a few of our favorites. Stephanie’s Favorite Flower: Trumpet vine / Campsis radica ns: Right now, I am loving my Trumpet Vine because it is covered with tubular, orange flowers that…
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hose bib with scrunchie

Gardening Life-Hack

lifehack or life-hack, life hack [lahyf-hak] noun. Informal. a tip, trick, or efficient method for doing or managing a day-to-day task or activity; a hack Have you ever woken up at night and worried that you left the water running in the garden? I have had to get up out of bed and go check because I couldn’t get back to…
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Our Favorites for August

Even if the dog hasn’t bitten and the bee hasn’t stung (as the song goes), it’s always nice to think on your favorite things. Here are a few of our favorites. Stephanie’s Favorite Flower: Shrub Rose / Rosa spp.  If you have been led to believe that Roses are high-maintenance and delicate, I’d like to introduce…
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Time to Take Some Notes

The growing season is starting to wind down, but before we get too involved with the fall clean-up, it’s good to pause and take some notes. Start with the positive: which plants do you love and which ones love growing in your yard? When a plant is in the right spot, it performs well. Which plants…
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Powdery Mildew on Peonies

If you have noticed a white or grayish powder on your peonies (or any of your other plants) this summer, it’s probably powdering mildew.  And don’t worry! Your peonies are not the only ones; we have seen powdery mildew on peonies (including mine) all over town. Powdery mildew is a type of fungus that can…
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Our Favorites for July

Even if the dog hasn’t bitten and the bee hasn’t stung (as the song goes), it’s always nice to think on your favorite things. Here are a few of our favorites. Stephanie’s Favorite Flower: Pincushion Flower/Scabiosa  If I had to choose one flower to be my all-time favorite, I think it would be Pincushion Flower. I…
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Watering Strategies for Hot Weather

It’s HOT out there! You’ve probably noticed it’s really hot and have heard some dire warnings about the heat index. Your plants have noticed, too. The most obvious need when dealing with heat is WATER. However, getting the water right for your plants can be tricky. Watch out for these deceptions: Wilting. Chances are your plants…
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sundrops

Our Favorites in June

Even if the dog hasn’t bitten and the bee hasn’t stung (as the song goes), it’s always nice to think on your favorite things. Here are a few of our favorites. Stephanie’s Favorite Flower: Sundrops/Oenothera This flower is part of the business’s namesake, so I must love it! Also known as Evening Primrose, Oenothera plants have…
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Calibrachoa hanging basket

Our Favorites in May

Even if the dog hasn’t bitten and the bee hasn’t stung (as the song goes), it’s always nice to think on your favorite things. Here are a few of our favorites. Stephanie’s Favorite Flower: Million Bells/ Calibrachoa  One of my favorite plants to use in hanging baskets and container gardens is Calibrachoa. Calibrachoa look very much…
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Our Favorites in April

Even if the dog hasn’t bitten and the bee hasn’t stung (as the song goes), it’s always nice to think on your favorite things. Our “favorites” change with the season! Here are our current fav’s. Stephanie’s Favorite Flower: Bleeding Heart/Dicentra spectablis If ever a plant was named appropriately for what it looks like, it would be…
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Our Favorites in March

Even if the dog hasn’t bitten and the bee hasn’t stung (as the song goes), it’s always nice to think on your favorite things. Here are our favorites at the moment. Stephanie’s Favorite Flower: Netted Iris/Iris Reticulata I get ridiculously excited each year when these little baby Iris pop-up. They look just like Tall Bearded Iris, but…
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blooming-butterfly-bush

Rejuvenating a Butterfly Bush

If you’ve never done a rejuvenation pruning, you are sure to think it is harsh or a good way to kill a shrub. Actually, some shrubs respond to this type of pruning very well and produce even more flowers when cut back regularly. “Rejuvenation pruning” really means cutting the plant down to its base. It…
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Planning My Vegetable Garden

It’s not really time to start seeds for my vegetable garden yet, but that doesn’t stop me from thinking about it! I have been tempted many times to start some seeds indoors this early, thinking that they will get a head start and be that much bigger and more robust over the summer. To be…
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Poinsettias… Poisonous or Not?

Blogroll
Poinsettias are beautiful and one of those statement Christmas items right up there with Santa Claus, Christmas trees, and gingerbread houses. That being said, many people avoid them in fear of accidentally poisoning their pets and/or children.  This idea that Poinsettias will kill your child or your pet is totally FALSE! Here are some Poinsettia…
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frosted marigold

Winterizing Your Container Garden Irrigation System

Blogroll, How To
When the weather turns cold, here’s a short to-do list before the freeze: Bring in any potted plants you especially love, if you haven’t already. If you have an irrigation system with a hose-end timer, bring in your controller as a safety precaution. For instructions to disconnect the controller from your hose bib scroll down to “Winterizing.” Disconnect your…
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front walk

More Than Just a Pretty Face, Landscaping Does Great Things! — Newsletter August 2018

Certainly we all enjoy looking at pretty flowers, sitting under the shade tree, or playing catch on the grass but your landscaping provides more than just aesthetics and comfort. Your landscaping also has numerous health and environmental benefits! According to a recent article printed in Colorado Green NOW and written by the staff at Associated…
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Peony with stake

Stake Peonies Early in the Spring

Peonies are some of my favorite spring plants. They’re not blooming yet, but you can practically watch them grow which is so fun. The shoots come up out of the ground in tightly curled stalks and every day you can see they’ve grown by inches. In short order, the leaves uncurl from around the stalk…
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How-to Install Drip Irrigation

Blogroll, How To
If you feel nervous, say to yourself “Goof plug, goof plug, goof plug.” Plan Measure your tubing needs and get at least an idea of your parts list. Decide on your watering strategy—point-source (using dripper buttons/emitters) or broadcast (using micro-sprayers). Do not mix the two types on the same watering zone. Start at the Water…
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Finished-pruning

Pruning Shrub Roses

Shrub Roses, a.k.a. Floribunda Roses or Bush Roses, need to be trimmed back in the spring. Technically, I should have trimmed back my roses a month ago, but it’s May 1st and it’s not too late. Most of my roses were non-judiciously pruned during the winter by browsing deer. I don’t understand how deer can…
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Setting Peas Out

Time to move the peas outside and into the garden soil. I’ve been monitoring the pea seedlings in their little egg carton pots. The egg cartons are working OK – I like that I can put them in the sink and they wick the water up into the soil fairly quickly. The draw back that…
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sprouting peas

Starting Pea Seeds

Technically, pea seeds can be sown directly in the garden, but I like to start mine inside. I’ll only give them a week or so inside on the warming mat and under the grow lights and then I’ll move them out to the garden. This year, I’m going to try starting the seeds in paper…
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Cutting Back the Ornamental Grasses

I cut back my Blue Oat Grass, but the same procedure works for Feather Reed Grass, Maiden Grass and Pampas Grass. I’m a little late getting this job done, I really wanted to get last year’s growth cut down BEFORE the plant sent up new blades, but… Anyway, I will be trimming off some of the…
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dig-9001-header-image

How-to: Program a Hose-end Timer

Blogroll, How To
First, start with a fresh 9V battery! It’s a good idea to label the battery with the year you installed it, but if you plan to install a new battery each year, don’t bother. One fresh 9V battery usually lasts the entire season. If your hose end timer is the DIG9001, is an aqua-green color,…
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sprinkler-head-project-featured-image

How-to: Move a Sprinkler Head

Blogroll, How To
As you start this job, be comforted that there is no piece here which cannot be repaired or replaced if you break it. Sprinkler heads are really not all that expensive. Couplers and funny pipe are cheap. The basic construction method for sprinkler systems has not changed in at least 20 years. It doesn’t matter…
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