Alex Tisthammer With rising interest in helping the pollinators and conserving water, the demand for native plants in the horticulture industry is growing. While nurseries are working hard to meet the demand (here at Fort Collins Nursery we are expanding our propagation of native plants), it can be challenging for gardeners to find true natives in their area, especially in rural communities. Another obstacle to growing native plants is soil compaction, especially in  residential areas. Heavily compacted clay soils are inhospitable for true natives unless the soil is heavily amended, which ..read more

By Shannon Moreau  March is a month of many celebrations. The vernal equinox ushers in spring, daylight savings time meaning longer days in the sun (both celebrated and cursed depending on who you ask), Saint Patrick’s Day(March 17th, and of course Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day (March 8th). In celebration of this month and wonderful day, here are the achievements of a few historical women in the horticultural world and a glimpse into their lives and their accomplishments. Mary Ann Heacock (1915 – 2011) A passionate part time botanist, Heacock’s exquisite collections ..read more

By Eri Matsumura This Valentine’s Day, ditch the cut flowers that will only last a week and give a potted plant that will last a lifetime, just like your love. Whether you’ve got a houseplant-loving partner or a novice, there are plenty of options to choose from to express your care and admiration. Heart leaf Philodendron  This philodendron is perfect for someone who loves plants but hasn’t quite perfected their green thumb. This plant is very low maintenance and a prolific grower, making it an easy plant for beginners. The Heart Leaf Philodendron requires infrequent waterings and wants ..read more

by Shannon Moreau The first few months of the year are my absolute favorite for garden planning. I’ve had time to reflect on my triumphs, stew over my failures, and look out at my garden to daydream about the many new things I can try. Speaking of new, here are a few new trends I am ready to dig into.  Gardens from the Dark Side Of The Moon Gone are gardens restricted to muted tones. Here comes the palette of moody purples, deep reds, chilling blues, and stunning blacks of the trend commonly referred to as ‘goth gardening’. Whether you are a fan of gothic fiction, want to bring out your i ..read more

by Laurel Aiello Summer is still almost six months away and if you’re itching to get back out in the garden, you aren’t alone. Many of us battle the winter blues this time of year, wishing we could spend hours outside with the sun on our backs and our hands in the dirt. But in the winter we can still savor the bounty of our fall harvest by enjoying canned jams, salsas, and fermented foods, and by roasting root vegetables stored in the pantry. We can still tend to—and cook with—the fresh herbs growing on the kitchen counter.  CREATING AN HERB GARDEN Growing herbs indoors is a great way to ..read more

by Shannon Moreau Gardening is the perfect union of science based growing and anecdotal evidence. I have been stumped many times by plants that performed differently than they were supposed to “on paper.” So where do we draw the line between what sounds too good to be true and actual fantasy? Let’s tackle a few of the most common myths about plant care and gardening to see where the truth lies. Roses can be rooted in potatoes It’s safe to say that we’ve all seen the quick craft videos or dozens of gardening blogs featuring this propagation method for roses. The basic idea is to take a cutting ..read more

by Alex Tisthammer Demeter, Boboli Gardens, Florence. Dimitris Kamaras from Athens, Greece, via Wikimedia Commons Fall always feels like a magical time, the leaves are changing brilliant colors around us and gently falling to the earth, even the air seems to be yellow. The potency of this season makes it hard to ignore the importance and beauty of the natural world around us, how it makes us feel, or what a single flower or fallen leaf can invoke in us. Thus, it comes as no surprise that plants have always held a deeper meaning for humans, even more so in the past. Gardens and the majority of ..read more

By Shannon Moreau Fall brings cooler nights, apple picking, and giant vegetables—specifically pumpkins! Giant pumpkins are a big part of October, even outside of the plant community – just look to Halloween Town and Peanuts. Don’t be fooled by Charlie Brown, though. Gigantic pumpkins are the real deal and can be found at giant pumpkin weigh-offs held around the globe and they are a staple in many state fairs and fall festivals.  Here at Fort Collins Nursery we are preparing for our 15th annual Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off & Fall Jamboree, a contest sanctioned by the Great Pumpkin Commonwe ..read more

by Shannon Moreau Location: Old Town Fort Collins, CO 80524 Cost: Free! The flower beds and containers in historic Old Town Fort Collins provide an abundance of inspiration in both their annual plant combinations and the color options they display. Each swath of greenery softens the corners, brings life to alleyways between streets, and reflects the businesses and people of our community. I love the fact that some of the containers have even been painted by local artists, similar to the pianos found around the city.  Who does it? The City of Fort Collins Parks Department is the driving f ..read more

by Shannon Moreau The sweetest part of summer is finally here–it’s peach season! Midsummer brings loads of pop up tents to roadsides and growers to farmers markets with delicious peaches from western Colorado, with Palisade peaches enjoying particular fame. Fortunately we can also grow peaches here in Fort Collins and in other areas in Northern Colorado.  Two women in a Palisade, Colo. peach orchard. Photographed by George L. Beam circa 1910-1919. Peach production has a long history in Colorado. After all, Georgia isn’t the only Peach state. The history of Palisade’s peach production dat ..read more