I suppose there are people out there who don’t like bearded iris. I just don’t happen to know any of them. If I did, I’ll bet I could change their minds with just a little bit of show and tell. Iris are some of the most beautiful and yet hard-working
Want in on a secret that can make your garden look terrific? Here it is: plant for four-season color. It’s all about looking at the big year ’round picture. Don’t simply focus on what’s in bloom at any given time. Plan before you plant so there are trees, shrubs and flowers creating
Perennials may not have the instant gratification of colorful annuals, but they have something more. With basic good care, perennials come back year after year, and bloom their little hearts out. I asked some of the veterans of Tagawa’s Perennials Department to list a few of their favorite long-blooming perennials, and their
I’m not really ready to let go of summer, but like a lot of folks, I have to admit that fall may be my favorite season of all. The rich, warm colors are so inviting. Beautiful chrysanthemums loaded with blossoms. Tall, elegant ornamental grasses in their prime. There’s a lot
Lavender loves Colorado, and Tagawa Gardens loves lavender! That’s why we have our “Lavender Fields Forever” celebration every summer. This year’s event is Saturday, July 14. We’ll have free classes on how to grow lavender, how to harvest this beautiful herb, and how to use it medicinally. Class details are
I was born and raised in Colorado. Maybe that’s why I’m naturally drawn to gardens that are less formal… a bit more natural and reflective of where we live. That could also help explain my love of ornamental grasses. The word “ornamental” is used to distinguish these grasses from turf
My dogs garden with me…. most of the time. Just recently, the newest member of the pack, Gus, (pictured below) could not contain his enthusiasm at the site of new pots of annuals coming into the yard. He dove right in. Most of the annuals survived. Because of “the crew’s”
Hummingbirds are amazing little animals! These “flying jewels” are always welcome visitors in our Front Range gardens. The “gee whiz” facts about these tiny creatures are impressive. They can fly at up to 70 miles an hour. They need to eat half of their body weight in insects and nectar
Every field of interest has its jargon. Work, hobbies, social media… Gardening is no exception. That doesn’t mean these terms aren’t helpful and important. Let’s take a look at some “garden-speak” that even entry-level gardeners should know. Understanding what’s behind these five words and concepts might just change the way
Pruning can be intimidating, especially for newbie gardeners. While now is a great time to prune certain plants, it’s very much the wrong time to prune others. So let’s take a look at some of the do’s and don’ts of pruning and cutting back plants this time of year. If
