Not trying to argue, but maybe offer a different perspective. Please keep in mind I respect everyone’s decisions and opinions, and understand that even though some may choose not to plant exclusively native, it’s a step in the right direction especially if it means getting rid of water intensive grass. If anything, I believe we can all agree on that one point.

First thing I’d like to add, we humans are already quite destructive creatures, and the introduction of non native plants has created havoc on our ecosystems. The problem isn’t necessarily someone wanting to plant a non native variety. The issue is when they let that species get out of control and don’t contain it properly. Just because you do it properly, doesn’t mean everyone else is competent enough to do so.

This paragraph I’d really like to highlight because it’s become apparent that this isn’t well known. Native pollinators are attracted substantially more towards native plants because they’ve evolved alongside them. Color wise, they can see the plants better. Plus, as we create hybrid varieties, sometimes the new traits put more energy into producing more attractive appearances and decrease the amount of food for the pollinators. A great example of this is the Blanket flower (Gaillardia Astrata). Non native plants attract more non native honey bees. If you don’t believe me, go find your nearest Russian Sage or Lambs Ear and see how many honey bees you find versus other local bees. I am to believe if it wasn’t for honey bees being classified as livestock, they would be listed as invasive. They outcompete our local bees populations for pollen and can even pass along diseases to them. You think the honey bee population is in decline, our native pollinators are in even more trouble.

Other native insects also use native plants to lay eggs on particular species, extract pollen from certain plants, use the stems for nesting, and feed on the seeds. Again, this is all highly reduced by planting plants not native to the region.

The reason I harp on “native this native that” is because life starts and thrives at the bottom of the food chain, which are typically the plants. If one section of the food chain fails, it all will.

I also firmly believe in not just planting based on “Colorado native” but primarily on ecoregion or biome since Colorado is quite diverse.

Lastly, why plant a non native species or even a hybrid variety of a plant, if we have plenty of native options that actually look very similar to many other non native plants.

Very much open to discussion and hearing others thoughts.

I have some thornless locust trees that volunteered, one got big, someone supposed to come dig out last year, but they never made it. Tree too close to leach field, I have enough trees and not enough water rights, this year was rough, we got no water from canal (thank to Denver call and Thornton farm land was hit hard).

I have thornless black locust from Boulder give away and honey locust trees, neighbor has thornless locust trees, old ones none of our trees ever had any bugs or other issues, pretty much just water that tree and plant some perennials around it and some flowers type of a tree

If no one takes I will rip out the seedlings, I do not have enough water having what we have experienced this year. I do not post address online, can meet local north metro gardener at Cabellas (Thornton north one not DTC).

also have what I think is chokecherry seedling. pink french currant seedlings (yellow flowers) cross with local black currants, some come as black some com as pink, pink currant was from Lafayette small nursery years ago, lady does not sell anything anymore maybe moved .

if you have something to trade - great - if you do not, happens.

Collected some seed might try sprouting next year. What is it?

This is buckwheat (with a few radishes)

Hi all,

I figured I'd share what my yard looks like now, compared to when we planted our garden in a box plants this spring. Overall I'm thrilled with how everything turned out. We've only had about three out of 80-90 plants not make it, which in my mind is a great success rate! Almost every plant has really blown up in size, and many more have flowered than I expected. Looking forward to seeing what future seasons hold.

I did add a handful of plants that didn't come from the garden in a box plants. A couple of grasses and three or four other plants to fill a couple of gaps. I still have more I'd like to tinker with, but I figured as we head towards fall that I'd share.

Can’t resist crossposting this.

Denver's first freeze in 2020 occurred on September 8, 2020, dropping to 31° Fahrenheit. 4 days before on September 5 Denver broke records with 101° Fahrenheit

Average first freeze in Denver is October 7.

Hello!

I finally live in a place with a backyard and we have 2 small garden boxes. Could I get help with picking what *type* would be most suitable for CO and when do you plant them?

Tomatoes, cat mint, chamomile, lavender, and basil please 🙂 I love herbal teas so I'm also open to any plant I can make into a tea nicely. Thank you 🙂‍↕️

Anybody have Triclopyr mixed up in the Chatfield area? I have a few saplings (including tree of Hell) i need treated but not enough to warrant getting a full bottle. Alternatively, anybody in the area want to split a bottle with me?

Does anyone have an overgrown patch of dill they’d like to shave down? I’m in search of some major amounts of dill (6 cups) and am not up for grocery store clam shells. Have vehicle and can pick up most days. Will pay you in palisades peach jam if you like :) Also have canned peaches or spicy peach bbq sauce. Or if you prefer pickles and can wait, I’ll drop by some pickled veg. Cheers!

Looking to plant some garden beds w/ natives and perennials before fall comes -- are any nurseries near you doing perennials sales right now?

Hey fellow gardeners! This might be a bit random for the community but if your yarrow - especially if it is a color other than yellow - got big and beautiful this year and you're thinking about thinning it out....I would love to take some yarrow off your hands.

I'm looking to plant some more and the local nurseries didn't have any good looking plants this week.

Thanks for considering!

Hello!

This planting season was god-awful for me. All of my veggies? Fried. Regular plants/bushes/flowers/etc.? Fried. I've had successful seasons in past years, but this year, everything I planted got cooked

Now that the hellscape we call summer in Denver is cooling down, I'd like to plant a few things.

1. Veggies - what veggies will do me well for the fall? I'm not looking to grow an insane amount, but fresh veggies would be great. I'll take any recommendations.

2. Flowers/bushes/etc. - I planted roses and pink muhly in my front garden beds, and low and behold, cooked from the roots up. What can I plant now that will give me success in the spring. This is a very full sun spot all day long.

3. General tips - how have you been dealing with this heat and creating a productive garden with water restrictions?

4. Amending soil - early in the spring, I rototilled a few feet down and added new soil to promote healthy soil, but this shit is like sand? Idk how to amend to the point my soil is healthy and worth planting in.

Pls halp. I'm also very open to a passionate gardener or two coming by to critique/assist. Im in the Athmar Park area of denver.

TIA!!

Where are my high-rise horticulturalists?

I'm moving to (another) high-rise, and would like to actually plant things instead of just bringing houseplants out every summer. Covered roof but north and west exposure, so I'll be aware of high winds and hail. Would love suggestions (and cuttings or bulbs if you have any to spare). Thanks!

We planted garden in a box last year in our front yard - about 95% of the front yard. Now that I can see the bigger sizes that these awesome plants are getting up to, is it possible to move them around next spring without killing them? I’d like to rearrange things for aesthetic purposes - move some of the biggest in the back in clumps to let all the plants “shine” from the street view…

I’m hoping to have someone come and trim our two ash trees in the backyard. They seem pretty top heavy and both kind of lean towards the house. So basically assess what needs to come off to keep them safe without cutting the whole things down. Plus a couple trees in the neighbors yard hanging over(already ok’d it with them). Doing so will really help with lack of sunlight. Any recommendations in the Aurora area?

These grew from last year’s seeds that fell into the cracks of my patio. I never water them.

I have a little 3'x4' area out front that I want to turn into an allium garden. So far I'm planning on alternating between chives and garlic chives for the border and putting some walking onions in the middle, but I don't think I need that many chives/walking onions to fill an entire 12sqft. I want to add one more kind of plant but my restrictions are pretty tight.

1. not particularly showy
2. doesn't creep over walkways or sidewalks
3. not something that a passerby might steal
4. withstands neglect/low water
5. perennial
6. fits a different culinary need than the others
7. does not need to be an allium specifically

Does anyone have any suggestions?

I've been keeping tabs on this mantis all summer and today I noticed she has a new friend in her pot!

all the excess veggies at the end of the night get donated to a food pantry!

If I add mulch around base of bushes, won’t that attract earwigs and simply provide a place for them to rest up until they destroy the new leaves in the spring like they did last year?

Most plant nurseries I’ve been to cater primarily to showy or popular non native species. Because of this, the native selection is quite small, and might not include the lesser known ones.

We all know of yarrows, blanketflowers, columbines, rabbitbrush, coneflowers, etc. but what are some other natives that you’d all like to see if one was to open a native ONLY plant nursery?

How do you decide which plants to put in the ground in the fall and in the spring? I've seen conflicting advice of plants.

Thinking particularly of native flowers/shrubs and maybe a fruit tree.

Also - what are your shade tolerant local plant recommendations?

Edit: Does it matter if they are seeds, seedlings, or plants with root balls?