Happy New Year!

Wishing you a Happy New Year!

May your Garden bring you hope and joy in the New Year!

Thank you for Blogging with me!

susanne@nativegardentextures.com

Photo @ Denver Botanical Gardens Blossoms of Light!

Pantone Color of the Year 2013

Emerald Green

For us, in the West, the plants and the landscape work hard to evoke the color Emerald Green.

Here in Moab, Utah a lone bush stands and graces us with a form of green. In this arid and dry climate this bush radiates with full power as it stretches into the sky.

In 2013 the following words support the Emerald Green Color of Design.

Growth, Renewal, Prosperity, Regeneration, Healing, Unity,

 while Promoting Balance and Harmony.

How will you find Emerald Green in your Landscape?

Nurture the plants and they will grow!

Photo courtesy John A. Wood

NATIVES IN WINTER

Light Textures in the Garden

This is the reason Native Plants look so nice in the Garden, here in Colorado.  After the last snow, which finally gave us a bit of moisture, the contrast of Grasses and Native Plants against the snow look stunning!  Here the early afternoon sun really makes these plants become dramatic.

All I can say is plant more Natives! Thy will delight your eyes during all seasons!

Holiday Garden Reindeer

Merry Christmas!

Can you find Rudolph in the plants?

This wonderful indoor animal was all decked out at Echter's Nursery in Arvada.  
So much attention to detail & so full of plant life in the deep dark moments of December.

Happy Holidays to all of you Gardeners!

La Flor de la Noche Buena

Mexico's Flower of the Holy Night

Did you know?

Their name derives from Joel Roberts Pointsett, US Minister to Mexico in 1825, who was a botanist and helped import the plant to the United States. 

For move 100 years, the Paul Ecke Ranch in California produces over 70% of poinsettias in the world, creating a 60 million dollar plant business world wide.

The bracts, or red leaves, are actually leaves not flowers.  They belonge to the spurge family of plants. They require abundant light during day to produce the  brightest color.  

The star shape is said to symbolize the Star of Bethlehem.

Add a bit of tradition to your home this Holiday Season.  Ring in some cheer!

Black Days and Nights

Long Darkness!

Once you learn how the garden grows 

you beginning to understand

the darkness of Winter.

You wake to darkness and come home to darkness!

Life cycles in the dark!

Plants become dormant!

Their cycle hibernates!

We adapt and find solaces in 

Candle light, Christmas lights, 

Warm Food, & Comfort under the Covers.

Our sense of smell becomes 

more important  as we find ourselves

adapting the the dark side of our Earth.

As the Earth opens up again the plants find life again.

No wonder we love Spring so much!

Bird Feeder Heaven

Visits from the Colorado Blue Jays

The excitement that comes into my garden, in the winter, is created by my Bird Feeders.

The activity is programmed by my filling the feeders with peanuts, superior seeds & water.

It is amazing how quickly the birds react once I have set out the food. The open feeder gets filled with peanuts. Within minutes the Blue Jays start to fly into the hoppers.  

Are they waiting for me? How do they know when to stop by?

They cackle, screech, & swoop across the hillside giving me a fantastic view to watch them.  Squirrels join in.  The addition of water, to my winter garden,  has added an increase in bird population at all 3 of my feeders. It is a wonderful sight to see all the animals enjoying themselves.  Not to mention my Sheltie, Nola,  sitting with eager eyes watching the drama unfold from within.  When she goes out she races after them like a cat & mouse game. It is so much fun too watch!

Plant Placement & Design

Rock Garden Textures & Design

At Kendrick Lake Gardens I found a perfect example of form, design, texture, &  color in the landscape.  These grasses play out very nicely against the red rocks in the Rock Garden. The grasses also created movement in the garden. The depth of the garden alsovery satisfying to the eye.
Interested in adding native plants to your garden? What can you do in your garden to add these elements of excitment?

Winter Cactus

Kendrick Lake Park & Gardens

Today was a cold morning! The chill required a hat & gloves. To warm my heart and explore a new place, I decided to walk through Kendrick Lake Gardens in Lakewood, Co. 

Over the course of the last year, I had read that this public space had a grand presentation of Colorado native plants.  Despite the cold, I wander throughout the landscape and came across the most beautiful cactus. In the dead of winter this plant glowed! There was no sun to illuminate this cactus, just a million stickers stretching out to form this special sight!

Again,  I marvel at how a native landscape comes to life, even in the dead of Winter.

The Urban Landscape

Vegetables vs. Flowers

Lat week, as I visited my daughter Kelly's new Chipolte Grill, in Lodo Denver, 

I found vegetables growing as flowers. 

Here someone took the time to add them to the planter outside the store. 

Is this a new trend for Urban Landscapes? 

 If substainablilty is to be part of the future this is a great start.

LA Style

Plant Design

What a great use of space, color and textures!

Here someone connected the dots by pulling the colors together between

 the garage door, the pots and the flowers. 

 I walked by this wonderful example of someone else's fantasy in Los Feliz, CA.

Let Plants be part of your daily Fantasy!  They are for me!

Fashion Pumpkins

Happy Halloween!

This was the year the Pumpkin Patch moved forward with a new look.

Growers in Spring of 2012 must have been bored with the orange pumpkin. 

Color, Texture & Form brought a new look to The Patch all over the country.

Growers started the trend & the design world moved forward. 

Step Out & plant a Fashion Pumpkin this coming Spring!

Photo courtesy of my daughter Jenny's Pumpkin Patch Adventure in Oxnard, California! 

  

First Front Range Frost

The First Frost

Yes, the first bit of snow has come. October 5th, 2012. And very much on time. 

Temperatures have dropped into the low 50's during the day & at night they are hovering at 34 degrees. 

 It is time for the landscape to find it's quieter moments!  

Colorado Aspens

Golden Colorado Aspens

Fall would not be complete without an annual photo of the splendid golden Aspen trees. 

A Colorado Native in our High Country.  Over 

A Jeep Trail ride created this photo of Aspens on Brown Mountain, near Fairplay, Co.

Please be reminded that Aspens are not well adapted to the dry conditions of the Denver Metro area. Aspens do best in elevations over 7,000 ft and above & strive in moist soil.  At lower elevations Aspen tress are vulnerable to a wide range of problems including insects, pests and diseases.  They require major soil amending to reduce stress on their growth cycle.

Take a hike through the trees, at any time of the year, and you will find that a grove of Aspens standing tall where soft moist grasses grow around their trunks. Enjoy them throughout the year in the High County!

Fall Textures

"Karl Forrester "Grasses

These grasses are 4 years old.  Grand, magnificent & beautiful as a Fall Garden texture. The early morning sunlight add texture & color to my east facing garden. Grasses keep their beauty & stand up to snowfall finding new native textures in the winter landscape.  Get one! You will enjoy it!

Native Sucess

#1

#2

Planting Natives in the Fall

I am trilled with the growth of two native plants in my garden.  My Datura, from Santa Fe, and my Mexican Sage Bush are flourishing this fall.  Having learned that Fall is the best time for planting perennials & natives I gave it s try. I am amazed by the plant size, considering they have only been in the ground 5 weeks. 

I  decided not to amend the soil in this location.  Just dig a hole, set the plant in the hole, and water every 4 days during this first season. The soil was hard & clay filled. To see the plants grow in native soil is a wonder! They really are adaptable. 

In photo #1 you can see how the Datura has grown from 3 small leaves to many. I envision the Datura lying across the rocks adding big green leaf texture to the planting bed.  In photo #2 the Mexican Sage has already filled the space.  I look forward to the white & red flowers next Spring. This garden bed will take on a new shape in my front yard.  It may also have to grow as the plants do. 

Rabbit Bush Splendor

Rabbit Bush in the Fall

This spot, on the Mt. Falcon Trail,  has become a favorite of mine.
As I hiked the trail yesterday, I was delighted by the yellow Rabbit Bush in full bloom.   What a striking contrast to the dry landscape around me.  This plant is wonderful for xeric gardens. It will require a  6X6 ft space with no maintenance, once established.  This year I added 2 such bushes to my garden in hopes of achieving this kind of splendid color in years to come. I must confess that my bushes already have delicate yellow blossoms on them.  And that in their first year in my garden!  This is a worthwhile plant for year round interest.  If you review my Blog, from last winter, you will find that the same bushes add beautiful winter interest. In the winter they create snow caps on their heads.

Evening Light on the Pond

We were at the Denver Botanical Gardens Concert Series a few weeks ago. As Kenny Loggins was preparing to entertain us,  I strolled through the Gardens to find this beautiful display of color and textures in the ponds. What a stunning display of plant life!

Avocado Birdbath

New Ceramic Birdbath
I am happy with the success of my new Avocado Birdbath and Lavender plants. To watch the plants grow has been a delight. Rocks were added from the Rubicon Trail to create even more textures.
My birds have loved the water source this summer in the heat.  The colors of green and blue should look cool and inviting as the plants come back next Spring in full bloom.

Datura in Santa Fe, New Mexico

At the Santa Fe Opera

During my vista to Santa Fe I fell in love with the Datura plant. So noble and grand!

Big & soft with perfect white blossoms that invite you into the cool night garden.

I stopped in at Aqua Fria Nursery and purchased 2 plants in the hopes of making them 

a home in my warm east facing garden.  My they flourish as these did!

Colorado Forest Fires

Fire Burn on Bird's Eye Gulch, Leadville Area
Here on our Jeeping Trail the aftermath of a brush fire was seem first hand. It looked like a locomotive set this one off, as sparks seemed to have come off the tracks.  With conditions bone dry in Colorado this summer,  the forests are learning to rejuvenate themselves.  The stark textures of black and green seem to add drama to the landscape.  Next Spring new growth will appear from underneath the deep snow, and plant life shall thrive again!

Cacti in the Natural Garden?

Textures on the Trail!
What a wonderful contrast of textures found in nNature along the Denver Front Range  in Colorado.
Mont Falcon Park has an Eastern Portal Trail that leave Morrison. An early morning hike created this wonderful natural textures view.

Cacti in the Garden?  Anyone? 

Yes, they should be added to a Front Range Garden in a hot sunny spot!

Amalfi Lemons

Italian Lemons from the Amalfi Coast Region are spectacular!

Their sheer size will amaze you! Thick skinned & oversized, the lemon trees dominate the landscape. 

On the coast, these trees grow best in the black fertile soil gardens hanging over the rocky coast line. The South facing coast line give the lemons shelter from the Northern skies.  Here the lemons grow abundantly!

The Amalfi Coast is were the Italian Lemoncello is grown. Here the lemon trees had graced the landscape for over a 100 of years.

Fig Trees in Spring

As I walked the steep hills of the Amalfi Coast I found these fig trees on the side of the trail.

Bright, fresh, luscious wet Figs growing on the hillside. A sight for sore eyes, coming from the dry climate of Colorado.  They must be good and tasty when the fruits finally ripen in the summer. 

Italian Kitchen Garden

As you stroll throughout the old Italian villages your find a Kitchen Garden on most properties.

Here at the Villa Casale I found cabbages growing together with lettuce. Creating not only textures in the Garden but also effective use of space to grow vegetables.  

Of course, who wouldn't be motivated to have such a garden when the earth is black and the garden beds have been tilled for years. There is a connecting to the land.

Wisteria in Full Bloom

Strolling throughout the town of Ravello I came upon this courtyard enclosed in dripping Wisteria.

Fresh after a rain shower.  Bleeding purple color ~ in a glorious way.  Only in Italy!

April 2012, Ravello, Italy

Ravello, Amalfi Coast~Italy

The Native Garden grows anywhere. And especially in Italy were I vacationed this spring.

The view from Villa Casale in Ravello, Italy. 

Stone Pine Trees in true Italian fashion. Grown to perfection for many years.  

Standing against the Mediterranean Sea. What a sight!

Native Cacti in the Wild

I love the native textures. Here the red rock & lichen add to the textures with the cacti growing right out of the rock.  Such color should be repeated in the home garden. 

Red Rocks Trail, Morrison CO

Cacti Potted Garden

For the last 4 years I have planted flowers perennials in my pots out front. And each year the pots have dried out, failed to bring beauty to my front door.
The door faces southeast & gets grilling mid-day sun.  It is a wind sheltered & dry spot in the garden.   A HOT zone!  After learning more from my Colorado garden class I decided to plant a Cacti Garden in my pots. I turned to Kelly Grummond, the Cacti Guru at Timberline Gardens in Arvada.
He showed me his huge cacti garden out back, helped me select the colors I wanted & taught me how to make real cacti soil.  He suggested a cacti juice for feeding every 3 weeks during the first year.
My color selections were orange and yellow. I added Hens & Chicks plants to add textures to the pots as well.  It will take a few years to see the result.  But I already feel better watching the plants grow with a small amount of love.  Here's to my continued progress.

Spring Time on the Front Range

On the Mount Falcon Trail ( East Entrance) in Morrison you will encounter this fence in the bend of the trail. Throughout the Seasons the image changes.  My last shot was taken with a fresh snow & ice in January. Today the rabbitbrush was sharing it's light green color against the brown fence. 

Very pretty.

Spring has arrived. 

DRAMM Watering Tools

WATER CONSERVATION

Living in Colorado's dry climate you begin to understand WATER conservation.

You ask yourself: "How can I create a beautiful garden and be WATER wise?"

As you experiment, you learn that putting WATER exactly where you want is the perfect option.  This technique also reduces the need to pull weeds in your garden, as weeds need water just like plants. With this knowledge in mind I set out to find the right hand WATERING tools.

 DRAMM WATERING TOOLS are the perfect addition to a Colorado garden. You are able to adapt the hose, watering pole and head to what every WATERING needs you have.  The products come in bright colors to add fun to your WATERING experience.

The attached video is a great example of WATERING in a Greenhouse. These techniques can also be used in the home garden. After watching the video I also understood what the grower needs to do to maintain plant growth.  There is a science to WATER conservation both in the trade as well as at home.

DRAMM WATERING Tools can be bought at most local nurseries. See their Website for locations in your area.

http://www.dramm.com/html/main.isx

"Soil Garden Tiller" from Hound Dog

If you are starting a new planting bed you will enjoy the manual, easy to use Garden Tiller by Hound Dog.  With a poke, a step and a twist you are able to easily add compost to your clay soil. The forks are 4 inches long and a good measurement for consistency in amending the soil.
Amending your soil is best done in the Fall. This allows the ground to absorb the compost for Spring planting.  Add a few fun tools to your collection.

See their full line of Chemical Free Gardening tools by clicking on the link.

http://www.hound-dog.com/

David Hockney's English Landscape

David Hockeny @ Woldgate, East Yorkshire, England 2006

As I find new textures and build on my love for the landscape, I find David Hockney also stepping back into the landscape of his beloved England. I first experienced David Hockney when I grew up in LA.  It was here that he built his following in the modern art world. He created images much more adapted to the LA fast life. Bold, modern, bright colored images in the California sun.  To see him come home to the English landscape, to create images with a more vivid and bold texture, is a delight.  He, too, is looking for textures and colors in the landscape just as I am.
Step into his world through his website.
http://www.hockneypictures.com/home.php

Piet Oudolf "New Perennial Movement" Master

Piet Oudolf "Landscapes in Landscapes" The Monacelli Press 

Piet Oudolf became part of my garden design fantasy after my brother sent me one of his books. The ability to see the garden design year round, allowing plants to reveal themselves during any season. To naturally create shapes, colors and textures.

Piet Oudolf has designed 3 public spaces in the US.

Lurie Garden, Millennium Park, Chicago

High Line, New York City

Battery Park, New York City

PROGRESS ON THE HILLSIDE

Stepping Stones for the Hillside

Decisions, Decisions, Decisions!

To select a stone that will add contrast against future plantings.

To create steps to eventually wander through the hillside. To observe and touch the plants.

To add rocks as a foundation. To build stability for the hillside.

These are all the ideas that I ask myself as the creation starts to move to a design of textures and color.

BIRD FEEDERS IN THE STORM

Bird Feeders hanging from the tree after 18" of snowfall

USDA COLD HARDINESS INTERACTIVE MAP

Over the last 24 hours, Colorado has been blanketed with a Winder Storm. For us at 6,200 ft, it created over 18" of dry, wonderful moisture. The trees in the backyard have gotten lost in the snow.

A few days ago the USDA Cold Hardiness Map was revised. Two new Zones were added to support the ever-warming climate of our Earth. The map contains new, precise and interactive features. Type in your zip code and the map will give you the specific zone for your community.

What is your Zone? How are you gardening in your habitat?

Click here for your connection:

USDA COLD HARDINESS MAP

BUILD YOUR SOIL & THE PLANTS SHALL THRIVE!

From one Gardener to Another! This is great stuff!
You are supporting a Colorado Proud Company.

As I came out of my Soil Amending Class last week, I wondered why my plants were doing so well. I decided to check out the Richlawn website to investigate the details of EKO Claybuster. I was happy to find out that I had made the good decision to add this bag of soil to my new plantings of scrubs and trees. I also learned that you can add this to your vegetable garden for all my veggie friends in class. I now understand that Richlawn makes lawn products as well. Someone else will have to test that since I am not a Lawn Gal. Let me know how it works if you do! Their website will give you examples. Including the lawns at The Broadmoor!