When we think of spring, we think of flowering trees, cool breezes, slowly emerging perennials, birds singing and – of course – bulbs! </p> The explosion of tulip bulbs at the Annuals Garden and Pavilion at York Street may be the talk of downtown, but in the southwestern foothills at Chatfield Farms</a>, daffodils are the primary spring stunner. Although some tulips dapple the various gardens across the farm, deer – and sometimes even elk – predation doesn’t allow for such grand mass plantings as the gardens at York Street. Daffodils, despite their cheerful, sunny appearance, are actually toxic, containing a substance called lycorine. With a bitter taste and causing digestive upset, deer and other garden visitors intent on munching should steer clear of daffodils. </p> You can find many different varieties of daffodils across the landscape at Chatfield Farms. Some, like ‘Ferris Wheel’, ‘Pink Charm’, and ‘Precocious’ are known for their huge flower size and flower power. Others, such as ‘Angel Eyes’, ‘Kokopelli’, or ‘Elka’ may be some of the smallest flowering daffodils you’ve ever seen. </p> Other tiny treasures that may catch your eye include dwarf reticulated Iris. Some of the earliest and smallest bloomers across the farm, Iris reticulata</em> also qualify as deer resistant. Varieties such as ‘Pauline’, ‘Rhapsody’, and ‘Eye Catcher’ can be found in some of the drier gardens at Chatfield Farms, attracting hungry bees.</p> When horticulturists at Chatfield Farms still find themselves craving tulips and decide to try their luck, success has been found in planting Tulipa linifolia </em>and Tulipa turkestanica</em>. Despite being only 4 inches tall, Tulipa linifolia</em> shines bright red in the garden. With a long bloom period and snubbed by most deer, this little tulip is tried and true. Tulipa turkestanica</em> can grow up to 8 inches tall with multiflowered clusters that bees are drawn to; it is a reliable and hardy early bloomer that has been completely untouched by deer. Both tulips have very small bulbs, which make planting in the fall a breeze, and are great choices for smaller gardens as well as rock gardens and xeric gardens.</p> Be sure to swing by Chatfield Farms to enjoy our early season color and find your favorite deer resistant bulb! </p>
A recent visit to Melbourne, Australia, inspired countless garden ideas. I am so grateful for this experience, and I’d love to share some of the garden beauty and trends I picked up that can be translated to Colorado gardens. </p> One of my biggest takeaways is that gardens are so diverse! There are many, many styles of gardening, and even more ways to interpret those styles. During my brief visit, I saw naturalistic, Indigenous, formal, boutique and farm styles. I also saw gardens celebrating various Australian landscapes, as well as several categories of show gardens at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show</a>. Seeing so many interpretations of “gardening” further solidifies my belief that gardens are deeply personal, artistic spaces. Let this be your reminder to explore your creativity in gardening!</p> Another takeaway is that native plants—often also called Indigenous plants—are trending on the other side of the world as well as here. It seems like this is truly a plant palette of our times. Climate change is pressing on every corner of Earth. The need is present and growing for plants that can withstand the difficulties ahead. Many gardeners seem to be placing their bets on the plants that have been</em> withstanding these difficulties for A LONG TIME. </p> Reconnecting with Indigenous groups and reincorporating their stewardship practices also spans the globe in its relevance. Every region has its own beautiful, place-based Indigenous heritage. Across all boundaries, landscape practitioners have the opportunity and responsibility to celebrate and support Indigenous voices. Here and abroad, this is the right thing to do. Additionally, including Indigenous people into gardening practice immensely enriches land stewardship outcomes.</p> Finally, I observed heavy usage of non-plant elements to give gardens character. Hardscaping, water features and art all enhance a space. Show gardens seemed to take this even further by using props to emulate daily life: cups of tea, books, drying laundry. I took this as a reminder that a garden is a personal space for you</em>. Leave room under the shade tree for a lawn chair. Plant herbs close to your kitchen. Put a bird feeder by the window for easy viewing. You can make your garden a place you want to be, a place that fills what you’re looking for.</p> I can only try to summarize the richness of Melbourne’s gardens in less than 500 words, but I hope you feel inspired to make your space your own, create abundantly, honor the Indigenous peoples and plants where you live, and continue to find joy in gardens aplenty. </p>
