“
Anyone who thinks gardening begins in the spring and ends in the fall is missing the best part of the whole year; for gardening begins in January with a dream.”
— Josephine Nuese
Editor’s Corner
“Bloom Gardens Magazine is a unique regional gardening magazine advocating organic & sustainable practices.”
Unique gardening challenges we experience in Utah
Utah’s has a unique climate with extreme high/low temperatures, alkaline soil, and frequent drought. Considering it’s the second driest and fourth fastest growing state in the U.S. presents additional challenges of pollution, water shortages, and depleted soil.
Did you know that environmental illnesses could be prevented? Only 0.7% of farms are organic vs. traditional farms. Over 82,000 chemicals are allowed on the market without safety testing, and we use them in our daily lives.
I have seen firsthand the damaging effects this chemically filled world has on all of us. On September 24, 2013, my husband, Kevin was diagnosed with YoungOnset Parkinson’s disease (age 47), caused from his exposure to pesticides during his work career.
What’s the solution?
This is where Bloom Gardens journey begins. Our goal is to create an educational venue, which teaches how to garden & landscape without harmful pesticides, create sustainable gardens, and to help improve the environment within our communities.
What is meant by sustainable gardening?
Sustainable gardening combines organic gardening practices with resource conservation. Generally, sustainable gardening is forward-thinking, it values ecosystem support over aesthetics, makes as little negative impact on the earth as possible, and works with nature instead of against it.
Ramona Borkman Magazine Editor
Create a Fourth Season of Beauty
By Ann Kendall, Plant Select®
Water -wise plants that elevate winter landscapes
s temperatures drop, many home gardeners shut down their gardens and park strips for the season, as if to say, “This yard is closed. Come back in the spring.”
But who says winter landscapes can’t be lovely and inviting? Wouldn’t it be nice to boost your curb appeal year-round?
Mock Bearberry manzanita shines year -round. Credit: David Winger/Plant Select.
One of the easiest ways to create a prettier winter landscape is to choose plants with “winter interest,” meaning the plants are multi-seasonal. Yes, they look good during summer, but they also have an appealing feature during winter. Here are five, low-water plants for year-round beauty.
KANNAH CREEK® buckwheat
Eriogonum umbellatum var. aureum ‘Psdowns’
KANNAH CREEK® buckwheat in summer and winter. Credit: Plant Select.
KANNAH CREEK® buckwheat puts on a four-season show. It has spreading, evergreen leaves that change from a rich, green color during summer into a vivid, red color during winter. In the spring and fall, the foliage offers charming, in-between shades of pinks and greens.
This perennial gets masses of yellow flowers in late spring that turn orange as they age over summer. The showy flowers add long-lasting color and feed a variety of pollinators.
KANNAH CREEK® buckwheat needs very little water and care once it’ s established. Trim the spent blooms (if you want), and that’s it. This plant is a native selection from western Colorado. Zones 3-8. Elevation: Up to 8,125 feet.
Partridge feather
Tanacetum densum ssp. Amani
Partridge feather. Credit: Plant Select.
Partridge feather will have your neighbors stopping to ask, “What is that plant?” This unusual groundcover has blue-silver leaves that resemble feathers. It keeps its foliage year-round, often glowing with frost on winter mornings.
Does partridge feather get flowers? Yes, it produces small, yellow flowers in late June, but this plant is more about the foliage than the blooms.
Partridge feather offers beautiful contrast in a garden, particularly when it’ s planted next to green-leafed perennials. In the spring, pair this silver groundcover with grape hyacinth (Muscari) to create an early-season statement. Zones 4-9. Elevation: Up to 8,125 feet.
Mojave sage. Credit: Plant Select.
Mojave sage has silver-green leaves that often last through winter. This woody perennial adds lovely structure and contrast to western gardens.
In July, you may see hummingbirds and butterflies visiting the violet flowers. Each flower has mauve-purple bracts, and the bracts last well into fall, creating the look of continuous flowering.
Mojave sage is native to the California hills, and it thrives in hot and sunny locations that drain well. It prefers dry conditions (even in winter), so avoid planting it in spots that get piled with snow or snow is slow to melt. Zones 5-10.
Elevation: Up to 6,200 feet.
Mojave sage
Salvia pachyphylla
Hardy manzanita Arctostaphylos x coloradoensis
Hardy manzanitas in winter landscapes. Credit: Plant Select.
Hardy manzanitas shine in fall and winter landscapes. They have waxy, green leaves year-round, offering the lushness that many people love from East Coast landscapes. But don’t let the lushness fool you! These low-water shrubs are well adapted to our tricky, western conditions.
Hardy manzanitas can get small, pink flowers that attract hummingbirds in early spring. They have a curvy branching structure that offers shelter to small songbirds.
Plant Select has introduced several hardy manzanitas from western Colorado, including Mock Bearberry, Panchito and Chieftain manzanitas. These shrubs grow best in well-drained soils. Zones 4b-8. Elevation: Up to 8,125 feet.
Standing Ovation little bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium ‘Standing Ovation’
Standing Ovation little bluestem through the seasons. Credit: North Creek Nurseries/ Plant Select.
Standing Ovation little bluestem undergoes a color transformation from summer to winter, adding beauty across seasons. It has a bluish-green hue during summer, a reddish hue in the fall, and finally a bronze hue in the winter.
With its upright growth habit, Standing Ovation little bluestem holds up well to snow. Keep this ornamental grass standing through winter to take full advantage of its winter color and interest.
Standing Ovation is a selection of little bluestem—a grass that’s native to many states, including Utah. Little bluestem feeds songbirds and serves as a host plant for skipper butterflies. Zones 3-8. Elevation: Up to 7,500 feet.
Winter is a Time for Dreaming
As winter settles in, bringing cold temperatures and snow, you can rest well, knowing that next season’s plants are already growing in the greenhouses at Progressive Plants! So, while you’re dreaming of a white Christmas, go ahead and dream about creating next year’s perfect outdoor escape as well! If you have any questions, we’re open year-round and we’re just a call or click away. Progressive plants is Utah’s largest production nursery with more than 100 acres devoted to trees shrubs and perennials that thrive here. We’ve been growing plants in the Salt Lake Valley for decades, so we know what will grow in your backyard.
At ProgressivePlants.com You Can:
• Browse our online catalog by category: waterwise, deer resistant, ornamentals, etc.
• Use our New Garden Planner Tool to select the perfect plant for your space and conditions
• Create a wait list so we can notify you when plants are ready
• Order plants online for easy pick up or delivery
• Chat directly with a horticulturalist
• Schedule a FREE golf cart tour to explore the farm and be inspired.
• Contact amazing landscape designers
• Sign up for our newsletter
• And more. Check it out today!
Progressive Plants
10252 South Bacchus Hwy Copperton, UT 84006 801.565.7333
Progressive Plants
Outdoor Winter Beauty
By Progressive Plants
Winter provides a welcome break from pruning, mowing, and weeding in your yard. It can be a wonderful opportunity to focus on family, holiday celebrations, and indoor projects. This time of year also offers some surprisingly beautiful outdoor scenery! With the right planning, your yard can be as intriguing during the winter as it is during any other season of the year. And the best part about a stunning winter landscape is that you need to do nearly nothing during the winter to enjoy the view. Your garden will create interest naturally, all by itself. All you need to do is select the right plants for your yard. Here are just a handful of plants that will kick up the scenery in your winter landscape.
Miscanthus sinensis 'Morning Light' Maiden Grass
Ornamental Grasses
Cool season ornamental grasses are stunning in the fall. Often homeowners will cut these back at the end of autumn in preparation for winter. That’s not a bad idea, but if you allow some to stay, they can provide a wonderful contrast against the winter snow. Plus, they’ll collect beautiful frost crystals that will sparkle in the morning light!
sinensis 'Purpurascens' Flame or Maiden Grass
Miscanthus
Red Twig Dogwood
Dogwoods are striking during the winter! We particularly like red twig dogwoods, such as Cardinal, because their bare, bright red branches stand out so beautifully against the snow. They’re sure to catch your attention as you’ re out shoveling or playing with friends and family.
Cornus sericea 'Cardinal' Red Twig Dogwood
Evergreen conifers
We’re convinced that evergreen trees were created specifically for wintertime. It’ s as though they were designed to stand out in stark contrast against the white snow and gray skies. Conifers cradle patches of snow in their dark branches and look stunning in the early mornings draped in frost! Plus, they will draw nature into your yard as they provide critical shelter for birds and other small animals.
Some conifers change color in the colder months, turning bronze, gold, or yellow. A few of these include: 'Wintersonne' Golden Mugo Pine, 'Gold Coin' Scotch Pine, and 'Wintergold' White Fir. Each of these stunning trees will offer a very unique addition to your winter landscape, adding warmer colors that seem to defy winter’s cool color palette.
Abies concolor Wintergold White Fir
Abies concolor 'Blue Cloak' White Fir
Pinus sylvestris 'Gold Coin' Scotch Pine
Pinus mugo 'Wintersonne' Golden Mugo Pine
Weeping Deciduous Trees
If you have deciduous trees with a weeping habit, such as Lavender Twist Redbud, Ruby Falls Redbud or a weeping cherry, their bare branches offer some wonderful eye candy during the winter. Typically, the branches of weeping trees grow in a twisted fashion that is hard to fully appreciate when the tree is leafed out, but during winter, these twisted, drooping branches demand your attention and draw you in for a closer look.
Persistent Fruit
Most flowering “fruitless” trees still bear small fruits. Consider crabapples and flowering pears, for example. However, the crabapples you’ll find at nurseries nowadays have smaller fruits that often persist through the winter. These small fruits are almost like little holiday ornaments helping you celebrate the season. Even better, they attract loads of birds into your yard. You’ll love looking out your windows to see your trees filled with birds, their feathers puffed out, happily chattering as they eat from your trees.
If you would like to create a landscape that you can enjoy as much in the winter as you can in the summer, visit ProgressivePlants.com. Our nursery is open all year long, growing and selling wonderful plant material for your yard. Plus, our online garden planning tool allows you to select the ideal plant for your space, even if you don’t have a degree in horticulture! Here’s wishing you a wonderful winter season filled with days that are merry and bright!
Ruby Falls Redbud
Malus 'Red Barron' Flowering Crabapple
Bloomsgetmostofthe consideration in design, butthe pop of color from foliage and addition oftexture, often throughornamentalgrasses, create interestbothin andout of bloom season.
PLANT SELECTION MADE EASY
Creatinghigh-performance, sustainablelandscapes, through"guidedchoice."
byCynthiaBee, BLA
Sustainable Landscapes Expert, Utah Water Ways
For more than a decade, I've had the unique opportunity to teach Utah and lntermountain West homeowners how to create landscapes that fit, rather than fight, our high desert climate. In return, thousands of you have shared struggles experienced as youwork to implement waterwise landscapes. The opportunity to engage in this exchange of knowledge provided key insights we'veusedtomakelandscapedecisionseasier.
One of the greatest frustrations homeowners have expressed is the difficulty selecting and sourcing waterwise plants for their projects. While we have recommendations for hundreds of plants in comprehensive local plant databases, paradoxically, having many possibilities can make choosing the "best" options for your project more difficult. Finding many of the recommended plants can bedownright impossible. You've asked for help to make this partoftheprocesssimpler-andwelistened.
LANDSCAPE BALANCE:
Plan for 40-60% of the small plants in the landscape to be these combinations, fill in the gaps between them with whatever Utah-happy plants your heart desires. The combinations ensure a beautiful design and, when repeated, form the backbone of a great yard. Adding unexpected one-off plants will only make the space more interesting without creating chaos.
Watchvideobelow:
Design: Michelle Coker, Garden Flow Designs
5 Native Keystone Species You Should Consider Planting in Your Landscape
By Skylar Christensen, co-owner Cache Valley Native Plants
For Utah gardeners, winter is all about the three Rs: rest, reflection, and research. Rest and reflection allow us time to think critically about what went right or wrong in our gardens during the past year, while research will help us discover and implement ways we can improve next season. Research can also involve the creation of plant lists to meet needs within our landscapes. To help save you a little time with your winter research, here are five native keystone species to supercharge your local ecosystem and beautify your surroundings.
Chokecherry
First, what exactly are “native keystone species”? A keystone is the central stone at the summit of an arch. This stone holds the rest of the arch in place. If removed, the entire arch collapses. It’ s the most important stone of the structure. When applied to ecology, a keystone species is one that is crucial to the ecosystem. These keystone species “hold” the food web together, supporting more animal life than other species. They have the biggest beneficial impact on local wildlife populations. If you’re new to native plant landscaping, incorporating keystone species into your existing landscape is a great place to start!
Coming in at number one is our lovely chokecherry, Prunus virginiana. I’ve always felt a bit sentimental about this small understory tree. It grows wild around my childhood home, and the berries were always a tart treat in the late summer. In the spring, the fragrant cream-colored flower clusters fill the air with a sweet honey aroma that will always remind me of home. This tough plant can be found in every county in Utah thanks to its extreme adaptability. In its natural form, chokecherry will usually sucker to form a multi-stemmed small tree or large shrub. I prefer this look, but it can also be trained into a single trunk if desired. P. virginiana is a host plant to over 200 caterpillar species, making it one of the most important keystone species in Utah. However, in order to achieve its full potential as a keystone species, the straight species must be used. The red-leaved cultivars, such as 'Canada Red' and 'Schubert', aren’t as utilized by caterpillars as the green-leaved type.
Another ecological powerhouse found throughout Utah is the Gambel oak, Quercus gambelii. Like the chokecherry, Gambel oak also hosts over 200 caterpillar species. Sometimes referred to as the scrub oak, this small tree or large shrub is usually found on dry canyon slopes. This is another species I have fond childhood memories of; spending countless hours building huts in the Gambel oak thickets. It’s this informal, rhizomatous growth habit that makes the Gambel oak ideal for mass plantings, screens, windbreaks, erosion control, watershed protection, and wildlife habitat. Once established it requires no supplemental irrigation during average rainfall years.
Moving on to shrubs, we have the well-known rubber rabbitbrush, Ericameria nauseosa. Rubber rabbitbrush is well adapted to just about every ecoregion in Utah. From deserts to subalpine meadows, rabbitbrush thrives in every dry, full sun situation. In its largest form, rabbitbrush can grow between four and eight feet tall. I prefer the more manageable dwarf form, Ericameria nauseosa var. nauseosa, which remains a much tidier clump around two feet tall. With its grayish-blue foliage and cheerful yellow flower clusters in the late summer, rabbitbrush is an excellent addition to any waterwise landscape. What’s more, over 20 caterpillar species use rabbitbrush as a host plant, and more than 70 specialist bee species rely on it for pollen.
Gambel Oak
Rubber Rabbitbrush
Goldenrods are notorious for being top-tier keystone species. And our native Rocky Mountain goldenrod, Solidago multiradiata, is no exception. This native perennial features a more compact form than other species in the genus, rarely getting over a foot tall. It also blooms a bit earlier than other goldenrods. Here in Utah, Rocky Mountain goldenrod can be found in our alpine and subalpine mountain plant communities but is adaptable to our valley floors. Broad attractive foliage and small clusters of yellow flowers in the late summer through early fall make this an attractive end of season plant to add to garden beds, borders, rock gardens, or natural prairie or meadow plantings. Over 50 species of caterpillar use Rocky Mountain goldenrod as a host plant, and more than 40 native bee specialists utilize it for pollen.
Finally, we come to one of the most recognizable native flowers in Utah. Sunflowers, Helianthus spp., are always a welcome sight with their cheerful yellow ray flowers and dark spiraling center disk flowers. Utah is home to five species, four of them being annual. Nuttall's sunflower, Helianthus nuttallii, is the only perennial of the bunch and prefers more moisture than our other native sunflower species. It’s quite tall, usually reaching four to eight feet in height, but has been known to grow up to 12 feet tall. Give it plenty of space in the garden. Our native sunflowers are true keystone species, hosting over 40 caterpillar species and more than 80 native bees! Again, plant straight species and avoid cultivars if you’re wanting to maximize the benefit to wildlife.
Interested in sourcing any of these native keystone species for your landscape next season? Visit Cache Valley Native Plants, Utah’s premier native plant nursery. Consultation and design services are also available.
Rocky Mountain Goldenrod
Garden Explorer
Cheekwood Gardens
By Ramona Borkman, Magazine Editor
With 55 acres there is a lot to explore. Once the family home of Mabel and Leslie Cheek, this extraordinary 1930s estate, with its historic mansion, cultivated gardens and expansive vistas, today serves the public as a botanical garden, arboretum, and museum.
When my husband and I travel on vacation, one of the things we plan to do in that area is tour gardens. We both love to be inspired by beautiful gardens, so it is always on our itinerary. This stunning garden in Nashville was so impressively designed. We were there on a beautiful October day, so we were able to enjoy Fall flowers, pumpkins, and much more.
There are 13 separate gardens that make up the entire Cheekwood Gardens and Arboretum. The East Gardens include Turner Seasons Garden, featuring trains, Herb Study Garden, Carell Dogwood Garden, Burr Terrace Garden, Howe Garden, and Bracken Foundation Children’s Garden. The West Gardens include Rose Study Garden, Bradford Robertson Color Garden, Blevins Japanese Garden, Robinson Family Water Garden, Sigourney Cheek Literary Garden, Wills Perennial Garden, and Martin Boxwood Garden. There are other gardens and walking trails throughout the entire property. Also, you can tour the historic mansion and museum. The Carell Trail gardens have paths through wooded trails where unique sculptures are displayed.
House Plant Health
By Nick Volesky, USU Extension
As winter settles over Utah, outdoor gardening takes a backseat, but we can still find joy in greenery through our indoor potted plants. "Houseplants" include a variety of species that originate from ecosystems around the world, many native to tropical and subtropical regions and well-suited to the stable indoor climate of our homes. Just like outdoor garden plants, houseplants can face biotic challenges, such as pests (including arthropods and insects) and diseases caused by fungal pathogens or bacteria. They can also encounter abiotic challenges, such as insufficient sunlight, improper temperatures, poor fertility management, or issues with overwatering or underwatering.
To prevent these challenges, regular "wellness checks" are essential for identifying both symptoms and signs of biotic and abiotic problems. Symptoms reflect the plant’s reaction to stress, such as changes in appearance like chlorosis (yellowing), wilting, stunted growth, leaf drop, or dieback. Signs, on the other hand, provide physical evidence of pests or pathogens, such as the presence of the pests themselves, their by-products (like frass or honeydew), feeding damage, or pathogen structures like spores or mycelium. By keeping an eye out for these indicators, you can help ensure your houseplants remain healthy and thriving throughout the winter.
Fungus gnats are the most common insect problem amongst house plants, they are small (3 mm), delicate, darkcolored flies with long legs and antennae resembling mosquitos. Adults lay eggs in moist soil or decaying organic matter which eventually hatch into transparentwhite larvae with a black head (6 mm) that feed on fungi, organic matter, and plant roots. Though primarily a nuisance, some harm can be caused to plants especially when there’s larger populations. The damaging larvae can be treated by only watering the plants when necessary and allowing the soil surface to dry (killing the eggs and larvae). Yellow sticky trap cards are available for purchase and placed in the potted plants to catch and monitor adult populations. Organic soil drenches containing the active ingredient Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis can be effective to kill the larvae.
Spider mites are another common pest. These tiny arachnids, measuring less than 1 mm, thrive in warm, dry environments. They feed on foliage by piercing plant cells and sucking out their contents, resulting in visible damage such as stippling on leaf surfaces and discoloration, including yellowing or bronzing. In severe infestations, fine silk webbing may be visible on the plant. They can be managed by rinsing the infested plant with a strong stream of water, focusing on the undersides of leaves to dislodge the mites and their webbing. For heavily infested areas, pruning and removing affected foliage may be necessary. Insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils are effective treatments, as they work by coating and suffocating the mites.
Root rot in houseplants is typically caused by various soil-borne pathogens, such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, and Fusarium species, which thrive in moist conditions. This makes root rot more likely when plants are overwatered or lack proper drainage. Aboveground symptoms of root rot include yellowing leaves, wilting, stunted growth, and a mushy stem base. Affected roots become dark, mushy, and may emit a foul odor. Once a plant's roots have rotted, recovery is unlikely, and the plant, along with its soil, should be discarded to prevent the spread of pathogens. To prevent root rot, water only as needed for the specific plant species and ensure the soil and pot allow for proper drainage. Avoid letting plants sit in standing water in saucers or trays. If drainage issues or compacted soil are suspected, repot the plant with fresh, well-draining soil. Overwatering not only increases the risk of rot but also reduces the air pockets in the soil that roots need for oxygen, further stressing the plant. Proper care and monitoring are essential to keeping your houseplants healthy and free from root rot.
For more information on managing houseplant pests such as aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies, feel free to contact Nick Volesky with the USU Extension Integrated Pest Management program. To dive deeper into houseplant care, consider enrolling in the USU Extension online course, Care and Selection of Houseplants. This course provides in-depth guidance on selecting the right plants and meeting their specific care needs, including light, irrigation, and temperature management.
Grow Native–Mirabilis multiflora, Desert Four O’Clock
By Cathy King, Utah Native Plant Society
If you are looking for a wonderful new addition to your native plant garden, let me suggest the desert four o’clock, so named because the flowers open in the afternoon and stay open until mid-morning the next day, closing its flowers in the middle of the day.
Desert four o'clock growing in the King garden in Salt Lake City.
This Utah native, with the scientific name Mirabilis multiflora, is a member of the Nyctaginaceae family which includes around 290 species of flowering plants from about 33 genera which are mostly found in the tropics. The scientific Latin name may sound intimidating, but it is useful in accurately identifying the plant. The Latin definition of Mirabilis is “admirable, remarkable, wonderful and marvelous” and multiflora means “having many flowers.” A wonderful floriferous plant!
The funnel shaped flowers of the desert four o'clock open in the afternoon and close the next morning.
Mirabilis multiflora, a Utah native and excellent plant for the native garden.
C. King
Not many plants of this family grow in temperate climates like ours in Utah or the Intermountain West but you would likely recognize other plants from the family that do, such as bougainvillea, abronia, or the sand verbenas and wild lantanas from the western deserts. Desert four o’clock thrives in southern Utah, you have surely seen it in St. George or hiking in Zion National Park or the pinyon and juniper communities of southeastern Utah and it also grows in Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, California, Texas and into Mexico. But it does surprisingly well planted in the gardens of northern Utah as well.
Photo
With rich green, ovate semi-succulent leaves on large spreading plants of up to 5-6 feet wide and 1-2 feet high that grow from a large taproot, desert four o ’clock has an almost exotic tropical richness to its appearance. The true beauty of the plant is its profuse 1-3” funnel-shaped magenta flowers with showy golden colored exserted stamens that emerge from cup shaped bracts about mid-summer, covering the plant and continuing to bloom until frost. Prolific mid-summer bloomers are not that common among Utah native plants which have a tendency to be finished flowering by the time the heat of summer sets in, so this is a great addition to our native plant gardens.
Many years ago, our friend Barney Barnett (who, sadly, has since passed on), gave me a white flowered sport of Mirabilis multiflora. It was an exciting find that he had made in a population of the plant. He cultivated it at his nursery in Willard Bay, Utah and distributed it among a number of gardening friends who were fascinated with it.
Exserted stamens of Mirabilis flower, photo Andrew Zharkikh
Back lit flowers of desert four o'clock growing at Red Butte Garden in Salt Lake City, photo Andrey Zharkikh
There is a phenomenon within plant populations where white flowered specimens will occur in the midst of colored flowers. I have personally seen this in penstemons and lupines, very striking and surprising. The white desert four o’clock that Barney gave me still persists in my garden but has never been as vigorous as its magenta progenitor, but it is a wonderful reminder of him.
There are many benefits to gardening with native plants, the most obvious being how beautiful they are! But they are also naturally more water efficient (unless you are trying to grow native plants from wet areas like bogs or seeps, which do occur in Utah). Add to this the benefits to pollinators, in this case the desert four o’clock is pollinated by two handsome hawkmoths, specifically the white-line sphinx moth (Hyles lineata) and the five-spotted hawkmoth (Manduca quinquemaculata). It is also an excellent nectar plant for butterflies and hummingbirds. You can make a difference by creating habitats in your garden.
Desert four o’clock can be a centerpiece presence in your waterwise garden if you choose, or it can fill in a difficult spot on the strip. Whatever you decide, you will be happy you have added it. Look for it at local nurseries or on the internet, there are many sources available.
Mirabilis multiflora growing in Zion National Park, photo Andrey Zharkikh
Mirabilis multiflora in its natural habitat, photo by Andrey Zharkikh
References:
Utah Native Plant Society, https://www.unps.org/plant%20data%20base/plant%20sheets/ mirabmulti.html
USU Extension, Range Plants of Utah
https://extension.usu.edu/rangeplants/forbs-herbaceous/four-oclock
Wikipedia, Nyctaginaceae
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nyctaginaceae
Intermountain West Map: Forest Service
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/regions/intermountain/images/intermountain-region -map.jpg
UVU Capitol Reef Station, Utah Native Plants
https://www.uvu.edu/crfs/native-plants/mirabilis-mutiflora.html#:~:text=As%20its% 20common%20name%20implies,reach%20down%20the%20long%20perianth.
Latdict
https://www.latin-dictionary.net/search/latin/mirabilis
Welsh, Stanley L., et al., A Utah Flora (BYU, Fourth Edition, revised) 2008.
Map of the Intermountain Region, courtesy of U.S. Forest Service
Harmons Floral for the Holidays
By Amanda Hammond, Harmons Floral Production Manager and Certified Florist
As the holiday season approaches, Amanda Hammond, Harmons' own Floral Production Manager and Certified Florist, shares her expert insights in this Q&A. Covering everything from centerpiece ideas to the latest in floral design techniques, Amanda helps you make your holiday season both bright and beautiful.
Read on for answers to frequently asked questions about holiday floral trends, care tips, and more.
Q. What are the most popular winter flowers this season?
A. I would say the Amaryllis, known for its large bulb that produces three blooms, is popular in winter floral designs. These flowers are used both intact on the bulb and as cut flowers. You can find them at any Harmons location. They are fun to watch grow, make excellent cut flowers, and are a great gift for neighbors!
Q. What color palettes are trending for winter floral designs?
A. We’re seeing color palettes across the spectrum this season. Trending holiday colors include peaceful and traditional whites and greens, as well as deeper, richer tones of burgundy, accented with gold and white. Neutral tones remain timeless. For a softer look, pale pinks paired with earthy tones and accented by gentle greenery like dusty miller and eucalyptus are also a great choice.
Q. Are there seasonal flowers that work well for winter centerpieces?
A. Mums, particularly the large-bloomed Football Mums, are excellent for centerpieces. Complement them with green and red Hypericum berries or festive Peppermint Carnations to really bring on the holiday vibes.
Q. What other winter centerpieces are popular?
A. You can't go wrong with a mix of winter greens, pine cones for a touch of rustic charm, and a variety of eucalyptus. These elements create a longlasting and stunning display that really brings the snowy outdoors inside.
Q. What centerpieces are Harmons offering this year for holiday?
A. This year, Harmons is featuring lush holiday greenery, which includes a festive centerpiece highlighted by a snowman. This snowman is uniquely adorned with Ying Yang Daisies, roses, and Hypericum berries. They are just adorable!
Q. What are the new floral design techniques florists are using this winter?
A. This winter, our florists are working with a more natural approach by incorporating bulb flowers, which are still attached to their bulbs. This technique not only adds a unique, earthy element to arrangements but also offers longevity. Once the blooming phase ends, you can cut the flower from the bulb, which can then be saved and replanted for the next season.
Q. Are there unique flowers or plants that are trending for winter weddings?
A. Winter weddings have such a magical romance about them! We’ re seeing a trend towards rich, deep reds and burgundies paired with the fresh, clean look of whites and lush winter greens, accented by an array of berries in blues, greens, and reds. This creates a stunning seasonal design palette and adds an elegant touch. Additionally, for a more rustic and unique look, boho designs featuring deeper reds, creams, Pampas Grass, and Magnolia leaves are really making a statement this season.
Q. What are the best potted plants or flowers to take as hostess gifts to holiday parties?
A. Amaryllis bulbs make excellent hostess gifts because they bloom beautifully with minimal care. Bloomaker offers a special wax-covered bulb that requires no watering. The wax keeps the moisture in, allowing the bulb to bloom all year round when placed in a bright area. You can find these Bloomaker bulbs at any Harmons starting around Thanksgiving. Additionally, holiday door swags arrangements of winter greens with a stylish ribbon and mixed winter green wreaths adorned with holiday decor also make terrific gifts!
Q. What is the best way to keep cut flowers fresh longer?
A. You'll want to start by trimming the stems every other day. This helps avoid scabs that stop the stems from soaking up water. Make sure to change the water after you trim the stems, and keep any leaves out of the water to prevent them from decaying. Also, keep your flowers away from heat sources like vents. The heat can really dry them out and shorten their life. Oh, and a little tip: misting the flowers or greenery lightly with water can also keep them from drying out too quickly.
Q. What is your favorite winter flower or greenery?
A. At Harmons, one of my favorites is the Panther Rose, which features striking red petals lightly washed with white perfect for adding depth to holiday bouquets. I also love Daisy Mums, particularly the 'snowflake' variety, for their playful winter texture. Cedar is my top choice for greenery because of its lush appearance and aromatic scent. Additionally, the elegant Dusty Miller and the vibrant white or red Anemones are favorites of mine; their colors are unlike anything I’ ve ever seen!
Magazine Contributors
Localscapes was developed by a team of horticulturists, landscape designers, maintenance pros, irrigation experts and members of the water industry. The goal was simple: create a landscaping approach that takes all the complex and confusing science behind landscape design and simplify it to create landscapes that thrive in Utah. The result was five basic pattern pieces that are easy to understand and apply.
Director of Community Engagement
Utah Water Ways
PBS Utah's Modern Gardener is a YouTube channel that celebrates and supports the people, organizations, and communities committed to educating and enlightening Utahns about gardening and landscaping in our unique region.
Modern Gardener host, Cynthia Stringham, brings years of gardening experience to the show. As a master gardener and gardening social influencer, she loves sharing gardening tips and information and learning how others garden. She values the garden journey and understands the diversity in gardening techniques. Join us on Modern Gardener YouTube Channel, Instagram, and Facebook to find inspiration and learn more about gardening in Utah.
The Utah Associated Garden Clubs, Inc. are part of the National Garden Clubs, Inc., sharing its mission to provide education, resources, and networking opportunities for our members, and to promote the love of gardening, floral design, and civic and environmental responsibility. We currently have 10 member clubs in the state of Utah, with 285 individual members.
Progressive Plants
is the largest production nursery in Utah, providing plant material for professional landscapers, developers, and homeowners throughout the Intermountain West. Each year they grow hundreds of thousands of trees, shrubs, and perennials right here in the Salt Lake Valley, and have loads of plants available for purchase year round. They are also well connected with growers throughout the Western United States, so they can provide almost anything you need for your outdoor projects. With more than 35 years of growing experience, they know what will grow in your area and how to ensure its success.
The Intermountain region can be a challenging place to grow a beautiful landscape with its extreme temperatures, tough soil conditions, and limited water supply. In fact, irrigation water from Utah Lake is loaded with dissolved solids that will actually kill many of your favorite plants. Even so, with the right plants and just a little knowledge, you can have an outstanding outdoor escape no matter where you live in this region. At Progressive Plants you’ll find both thousands of plants perfectly suited for your yard and, a staff filled with experienced horticulturalists eager to share their knowledge with you! Learn more at Progressiveplants.com
Plant Select is the country’s leading brand of plants designed to thrive in the intermountain region, empowering gardeners of all skill levels to create stunning landscapes using fewer resources. This unique, nonprofit collaboration of Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University and professional horticulturists works together to find, test and distribute superior plants for our region. Official partner of Utah State University and Localscapes.
Ann Kendall is a master gardener volunteer, western garden writer and nature photographer. She’s a frequent contributor for Plant Select.
Magazine Contributors
Amanda Hammond began her floral career at a small local shop in 1998. In 2005, she joined the Harmons Floral Shop team and took advantage of ways to progress in the floral industry.
Her mentor and trainer, Alma Filipovic, sought ways to educate and sought unique ways to educate and train associates, and with her help and the support of Harmons, Hammond became one of few Certified Floral Designers in Utah, now fulfilling her role as Harmons Floral Production Manager.
Hammond has competed and placed in competitions with Utah Floral Association, including Art in Bloom and Designer of the Year.
Hammond and Harmons are working to rebuild the floral industry network in Utah along with other extremely talented floral designers and shop owners, reigniting the passion among the Utah Floral Industry.
With more than 120 faculty located in more than 30 offices scattered throughout the state, USU Extension has never been more prepared to provide unbiased research and educational resources and programs to meet the needs of Utahns. Our most important goal is to help improve the lives of individuals and families in every corner of our great state.
Skylar Christensen co owns Cache Valley Native Plants along with business partner and founder, Katie Owens. Cache Valley Native Plants is Utah’s premier native plant nursery. They offer sales, consultation, and design services to homeowners, businesses, and municipalities throughout the state. Prior to getting into the nursery business, Skylar worked in the seed industry for over a decade helping landowners with their various seeding projects. He volunteers as marketing director for the American Penstemon Society and invites all penstemaniacs to join the organization. Skylar graduated from Utah State University where he studied agricultural communications and plant science. He can be reached at skylar@cachevalleynativeplants.com
The Utah Native Plant Society was formed in late 1978 specifically out of a growing concern for imperiled rare plant species. Some of those original ideals and concerns were expressed in Goals and Objectives of the Utah Native Plant Society presented by Stanley Welsh, one of the co-founders of the organization, in September of 1978. (Co-founder and long time former board member Dick Hildreth was honored by us with a lifetime service and achievement award in March, 2005, see UNPS recognizes co-founder Dick Hildreth. See also UNPS recognizes Duane Atwood with Lifetime Achievement Award in March, 2008).
At its core UNPS is a conservation and educational organization with programs and committees focused around the protection of Utah rare native plants, Utah native plant conservation including anything that threatens the well-being of Utah native plant species and communities (not the least of which relates to invasive species), the use of Utah native plants for landscaping and restoration and research relating to Utah native plant species.
www.unps.org
Ramona Borkman has developed a passion for gardening as she has spent time and effort caring for her own garden. Flowers are her true love, but she also enjoys growing vegetables and fruit organically to improve she and her family’s health. Ramona desires to inspire others to grow nutritious food for better health and self-sufficiency. She has earned her Master Gardener certification and continues to educate herself as she learns through trial and error, so she can share that knowledge with others. She has also earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Education from Brigham Young University.
Kevin Borkman has worked in the green industry for over 40 years, beginning at the age of 12, by mowing neighbor’s lawns. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture and a Master of Public Administration degree from Brigham Young University. Some of Kevin’s career highlights include: Grounds Manager at the Oakland, California Temple and Sports Field Supervisor at Brigham Young University. Kevin loves plants and enjoys offering free gardening advice to his family and friends.
Co Op Connection
Seasonal Gardening Tips
Spring Summer
• Consider taking soil samples to determine fertilizer needs.
• Plant seeds of cool season vegetables as soon as garden soil is workable.
• Add organic matter to the garden.
• Consider backyard composting.
• Plant bare root trees and shrubs. Keep the exposed roots moist until planted.
• Fertilize spring flowering bulbs.
• Plant cold hardy pansies and primrose.
• Apply horticulture oils at bud break (delayed dormant) in fruit trees to control overwintering insect pests.
• Protect fruit blossoms and tender garden plants from late critical freezing temperatures.
• Wait to prune roses until buds begin to swell to avoid late frost damage to new growth.
• Plant warm season vegetables and annual flowers once the threat of the last frost has passed.
• Plant summer blooming bulbs including gladiola, begonia, dahlia, and canna.
• Consider drip irrigation in the garden to conserve water.
• Consider planting sweet corn in the garden every other week (until early July) to extend the harvest.
• Prune spring flowering shrubs (those that bloom before June) after they have bloomed to encourage new flower buds for next season.
• Deadhead (cut off) spent blossoms of perennial and annual flowers.
• Thin the fruit of apples, peaches, and apricots to approximately one fruit every 5 6 inches.
• Start enjoying the tomato harvest.
• Harvest summer squash and zucchini when they are still small and tender.
• Deep water established trees and shrubs about once per month during the heat of summer.
• .Consider planting cover crops to provide "green manure" to the garden.
• Collect and store seeds from your garden.
Fall Winter
• Deadhead (cut off) spent blossoms of perennial and annual flowers.
• Deep water established trees and shrubs about once per month during the heat of summer.
• Plant garlic cloves from mid October through early November.
• Remove vegetable plants from the garden once harvest is complete to reduce overwintering sites for insect pests.
• Protect tomatoes from early frost by covering the plants.
• Plant spring blooming bulbs through early November.
• Plant trees and shrubs in the fall to enhance root establishment.
• Mow grass to a height of 1 to 1½ inches at the end of the season to minimize disease problems.
• Cut back ornamental grasses in snow prone areas.
• Blow out irrigation systems.
• If natural precipitation is sparse and ground is not frozen, water evergreen trees and shrubs to ensure they are well hydrated heading into winter.
• Try your hand at forcing amaryllis to bloom indoors for the holidays.
• Peruse garden/seed catalogs for new vegetable varieties to try in the garden.
• Plan and design the vegetable garden. Rotate vegetable families to reduce disease buildup.
• Consider growing herbs and/or microgreens indoors to add fresh greens to your diet.
• If storing bulbs, check their condition to ensure they are firm.
• Perform routine maintenance on small engine garden equipment.
• Try starting vegetables indoors from seed.
• Prune grapes and fruit trees in late February to early March.
• Fertilize fruit trees trees at least 6 weeks before they bloom.
Know What’s Below Before You Dig!
Blue Stakes of Utah 811 is issuing a safety reminder to Utah Residence.
“Call 811 Before You DIG” this not only applies to the professional contractor but to all homeowners.
Anyone who wants to put a shovel, or any other kind of digging equipment in the ground is required by law to Call 811 or contact bluestakes.org to
“Submit a Locate Request” to have the underground utility lines located and marked with paint and/or flags. This is for everyone’s safety. It’s a FREE service and remember, It’s the LAW!
Protecting the underground facilities that we all rely on every day is a shared responsibility.
Please do your part and remember to contact Blue Stakes at least three full business days before beginning your digging project. Check out our website for more information https://www.bluestakes.org
NOW EFFECTIVE – AMENDED CHANGES TO UTAH CODE 54-8a:
During the 2024 Utah Legislative Session, Senate Bill 145 amending Utah Code Title 54, Chapter 8a, Damage to Underground Utility Facilities Act was introduced, passed, and signed by the Governor to become law. For more information visit: https://www.bluestakes.org/law/
