Garden The Plains

01/14/2026

A low frequency emitted towards a fire changed the oxygen frequency. Learn how. are speaking. Are You Listening?

01/13/2026

UNFORGETTABLE™ hummingbird trumpet -- 2026 Plant Select Plant

This is a late-season bloomer from August until Frost!

It is 24 inches tall x 24-30 wide. It grows in clay, loam, and sandy soil.
It is a great pollinator plant. It has a vibrant orange color over the ORANGE CARPET® hummingbird trumpet.
Does well in zones 4-8. It needs full sun. They do well in moderate and dry soil. The plant's performance should be cut back in the spring.

Photo credit: Plant Select

01/12/2026

'Lemon Purrfection' Nepeta

This is a new introduction for 2026. This is a compact form of catmint with lavender-blue flowers and golden yellow foliage. It is a Proven Winners introduction.

It grows to 10-12 inches tall x 16-18 inches wide. It grows in full sun. It grows in zones 3a to 8b.

It grows in well-drained alkaline/neutral poor soil. Catmint responds well to pruning early in spring. It will flush out with a profusion of blooms. The blooms last from late spring to early summer.

Photo credit: Proven Winners

01/09/2026

Al Enhanced Plant Care

Two people won an RHS Gold Medal Award for creating an urban forest garden to support urban trees. The technology is Al where they placed sensors throughout the garden to track growth, sap flow, soil conditions, air quality, and weather conditions. Al analyzes the data and gives advice on maintaining plant health.

The technology was set up so that people can ask a tree if it needs water. Al will provide the answer. So much for intuition.

Al the plant Doctor is in. Maybe this is something we should use on field crops instead. Thoughts?

Photo credit: Brooklyn Botanic Garden

01/08/2026

Green Drenching

This may be a new horticulture design technique for some. The professional industry continues to introduce it to the public. Focusing on nature seems to be a popular theme. The idea is to create a space that is a dominant green color. All the plant material has green foliage, and the flowers are insignificant. Why would one do this?

It is a space layered with plants from groundcovers to vertical plants that gives you a feeling of a safe space. It helps you focus on nature. Not everyone has a forest they get to walk around in every day.

Photo credit: Better Homes and Gardens

01/07/2026

In 2026, how will your small rural town come together through a horticulture or garden project?

This is what Ogallala has done in the top picture and what Julesburg has done:
Both towns have other projects throughout the seasons. What has your town done? Please share.

Photo credit: Linda Langelo

01/06/2026

Ever Wonder Where Our Live Christmas Trees Are Grown?

Each year, over 25 million Christmas trees are harvested in the U.S. 🎄 People flock to tree farms and national forests to select their favorite varieties, including balsams, spruces, pines, and firs. ✨Explore the map: https://ow.ly/WcIg50XMO2F | 15 comments on LinkedIn

01/05/2026

Aspens Have A Purpose

A recent study done by Stevens-Rumann and colleagues discovered that stands of aspen trees resist wildfires by slowing a fire's advance or changing its course. According to an article by CSU Writer and PR Specialist Jayme DeLoss, on Restoring the Forest, even modest stands of aspens dramatically reduce the rate at which fires spread. Mother Nature's natural firebreaks.

Photo credit: Wikipedia

01/02/2026

Inspirational and Motivational Day!

This is inspirational!

CSU students studying in the field of restoration ecology are working in the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The students are working for the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute as a group of 220 students who planted 10,000 seedlings.

Photo credit: Wikipedia

01/01/2026

12/31/2025

Home and Garden Show 2026

We invite any home-type business and gardening business to join us.

We would like businesses that do indoor flooring, landscape pavers, fake rocks, and more.

12/30/2025

Upcoming Challenges in 2026 For Horticulture

It is no surprise that labor shortages are prevalent in horticulture. In rural areas, we have aging populations and changing immigration policies that restrict the availability of seasonal workers.
There are technical gaps, and we need to reduce environmental impacts, optimize our resources, and improve crop management. Greenhouse production uses a lot of water and is not always efficient.
Consumers are demanding affordable horticulture products. They want more novelty produce along with more varieties. These are not sustainable.

Photo credit: Linda Langelo