A native wildflower garden along the front range of the Rocky Mountains delivers beauty as well as habitat for birds and pollinators throughout the year. From mid-April through June, the garden heralds spring with an explosion of blossoms on native shrubs like Wood’s rose, golden currant, chokecherry and red-osier dogwood. The yellow blooms of blanket flower, wild buckwheat, wallflower, and golden columbine contrast with blue flax, lupine and purple asters and penstemons. Bright red flowers of prairie fire and firecracker penstemon attract a recently-arrived broad-tailed hummingbird. A goldfinch, house wren and American robin join various bees, a mourning cloak and a wood nymph butterfly to enliven the flowery scene.

Art by Colorado Artist Susan E. Quinlan 

Visit https://susanquinlan.com for a free guide to Through the Seasons and information about the joys and benefits of native plant gardening.