THE DIRT: News from 
Colorado Alpines & Wildflower Farm  
August, 2016
 
 
 
Monday - Saturday, 9:00a.m. - 5:30p.m.
Sunday: CLOSED
 
Sales are happening NOW on select 25% OFF annual flowers, grasses, and spikes, with even greater discounts for purchases of full flats. Buy a full flat, and get three packs of the same size for FREE. Come on in, and get ready for a great weekend of Vail gardening and landscaping!
 
Late Bloomers:
We've Got 'Em!
 
Late bloomers, most simply, are plants that mature throughout the summer season and then produce a color burst in late summer or early fall. 

If you're noticing that many of your perennial plants have already bloomed and gone to seed, come on in for these top three picks for late-season color: 

SHASTA DAISY 'BECKY' (Leucanthemum x superbum 'Becky'):  The phrase "happy daisy" can easily be applied to this perennial plant showcasing robust white blooms with yellow centers that offer a classic look to Vail gardens, where they grow well into the fall. 

PURPLE CONEFLOWER (Echinacea purpurea):  Purple coneflower is a waterwise plant that is beloved for its daisy-like, purple-pink flowers and spiny center cone. This long-blooming perennial also attracts bees and butterflies, making it a great choice for those who like a lively garden full of pollinators. 
RUSSIAN SAGE ( Perovskia atriplicifolia ): 
Through the summer, Russian sage grows beautiful green foliage on silvery stems until the late-summer season when its tiny purple blooms begin bursting open. This shrub-like plant thrives in the Vail-area's high and dry climate, and its aromatic scent deters deer. 







Instead of settling for a dull fall garden, choose a variety of these bright, late-season bloomers in addition to grasses for ongoing visual interest and variety in your Vail landscape. We have more options in addition to these three top picks, so come by to consult with our landscaping experts. 
 
It's Not Too Late...
Vertical Veggie Gardening

In the month of August, there's still time to create a garden that will produce greens for salads and culinary herbs for picking into the fall season. Many greens are cool season plants, meaning that they can germinate and grow in cooler late-summer, early-fall temperatures, and we still have many mature herb plants at Wildflower Farm, ready for immediate planting and use. 

Vertical gardening and container gardening are great options for small spaces, such as decks or condos that might not have enough space for a garden plot. Vertical gardening is a strategy that involves planting upward rather than outward to use space efficiently. 
See the article "Small Space, Big Harvest" by Melanie Wong in the August issue of Vail Valley HOME magazine ( www.vvhmag.com) for advice from our owner Marty Jones and great ideas including this one above, a vertical garden that makes use of a stairway frame and window boxes for growing greens and herbs on a small deck. 

Find even more great tips on vertical and container gardening in the August issue of Vail Valley HOME magazine, which is available at Vail-area newsstands. 
You can also check out the current issue from wherever you are at the magazine's online portal:  www.vvhmag.com.  [The August article is on pages 24-29 of the online version.]
 

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Howdy! 
August is the time for full garden enjoyment. By now, you're likely enjoying the beauty of blooming perennial plants, mature annual flowers, and the bounty of early garden harvests. Read on for inspiration from our July photo challenge winners, gardening ideas, and tips about how to choose perennial plants for ongoing, late-season color.

Thank you for shopping locally at our gardening and landscaping center in Edwards this summer season.

Best,
Marty Jones & The Colorado Alpines & Wildflower Farm Team
Gardening & Landscaping Photo Challenge: INSPIRING WINNERS

In the month of July, we challenged you to share your amazing Vail gardening and landscaping photos with us on our Facebook page: www.facebook.com/thewildflowerfarm . We were inspired by such great submissions and chose two winners who each received $25 gift certificates to Wildflower Farm. 

COLUMBINES AND CORGIS (below) from Edwards gardener Mindy Brill was the landscape winner. Our owner Marty Jones chose this photo for the great variety of colors and textures displayed in the landscape--and also for the smile factor. The addition of the dog makes this photo just plain fun while showcasing an awesome landscape in our area.
THe GARDENING WINNER of our July photo challenge was  Crystal Cisco.  Our owner Marty Jones chose this Edwards garden because it showcases how a small space such as this one outside of a condo can be used efficiently for growing rows of greens, beets, radishes, and onions. The annual flowers also add color to an already inspired place. Gardeners: You don't need a massive garden to have a bountiful harvest. Crystal--way to go! You've inspired us with a creative use of your space. 
Thanks to all who submitted photos, and be sure to check them all out on our Facebook page. We love it when you share your photos at any time of the year, so if you have a gardening or landscaping photo you'd like to send our way, message us on Facebook, or post directly to our page:  www.facebook.com/thewildflowerfarm .
Vines for Vail Gardens & Landscapes

Perennial vines come back each summer season and continue to mature over time. Vines offer vertical interest and color to a landscape, and they can also provide cover, shade, and privacy when trained to grow on an appropriate support.

We've got several different types of climbing vines for sale here at our garden center in Edwards, including CLEMATIS and VIRGINIA CREEPER. 

CLEMATIS comes in many varieties and can produce an explosion of summer blooms that vary in colors ranging from purple, pink, blue, white, and red to rose. The purple clematis at the front of our farmhouse is in bloom right now: 
The VIRGINIA CREEPER is a climbing vine that can grow upwards of 50 feet over time, and it has a seasonal dynamic that's appreciated in this area with only a few other exciting bursts of autumnal color. The plant's bright green leaves turn brilliant shades of red and orange in the fall. 
Come on by to explore other possibilities in addition to these this weekend. Plant...then  sit back and enjoy while these vines twist and twine their way to embellishing your landscape this summer and in the years to come. 
Thanks for a Great Farmers' Market Season!

Thanks for visiting us at the Edwards Corner Farmers' Market! We ended our market season successfully last Saturday, July 30, and it's always a joy to see you stop by our booth at the market, where we sell herbs and plants in addition to garden supplies and gifts.
While the Edwards Corner Market will continue through mid-September, we only set up our booth in the months of June and July. Of course, we're still looking forward to seeing you at our full-scale gardening and landscaping center in Edwards all year round.
SALES CORNER

CEDAR GARDEN ACCESSORIES are on sale NOW at 50% off! 
**Plus...one hour of free delivery is included  on sale cedar accessories  (a $55.00 value).
Wildflower Farm is the local source for all of your Vail-area gardening & landscaping needs. 
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