Author: Steve

An annual vine I might try: Lab-lab

I read about this vine today, and it turns out to be one that I saw at the Denver Botanic Garden while traveling for work last week. I liked it. Didn’t know it was only an annual, but it might be worth a try on my backyard arbor. That is, if it can compete with […]

Maple disappointment!

I’ve been laboring under the delusion that I was growing a Rocky Mountain Maple from seed I collected up American Fork Canyon. Well, I now think this is probably just a lousy Box Elder tree. It’s awfully similar to the small Box Elder I was growing in a pot until someone at GardenWeb identified it […]

Trimmed my rose hedge last weekend

Last Saturday, I trimmed my Pink Simplicity rose hedge to a uniform four feet or maybe slightly less. They had been quite unruly, because I didn’t prune them at all this spring while I was trying to figure out what was causing them to abort their first wave of flowerbuds. They look nice and neat, […]

A few more summer bloomers

I’ve had some success with cutting-grown Missouri Evening Primroses (Oenothera missouriensis, also called Ozark Sundrops). I made some cuttings last summer and planted the new clones out this spring. These do not seem to be invasive like their Mexican cousins, so I’m liking them a lot. Here’s an example of the annual Geraniums I planted […]

Hibiscus syriacus are great summer shrubs

I really enjoy my Hibiscus shrubs. These go by several names, including Hibiscus syriacus, Rose of Sharon, or Hibiscus Rose. I have three single-flowered ones and five double-flowered. They all start flowering some time in June, I think, and they keep going quite well through September. The photo at left is from last year in […]

Container plantings on my deck

Last month, I planted some things in containers on my backyard deck. I was a little late getting to these, since half of summer was already gone, but I was just in time for the big extended family water party in our backyard. These photos were taken on July 24th, about a week after planting […]

Some things blooming and looking good this time of year

Here are some of the plants that have been looking good in my yard this time of year: So, starting from the top left, we have: A big clump of annual Rudbeckia, one of my favorite annuals Dianthus ‘Brilliancy’ which I grew from seed this year A wave petunia that I waited too long to […]

Spider mites on my apples, cherries, and willow

I posted the following on GardenWeb’s Rocky Mountain Forum: I’ve NEVER had a problem with mites like I do now. Is it caused by this unusually hot, dry summer we’ve had? Maybe my trees have had more water stress in this weather, making them more susceptible? Here’s what’s happening: Starting in June, I got spider […]