Cheap Versus Expensive Seeds by Nancy Shepard

Seeds can cost from $1.00 to $5.00 a packet or more. Are expensive seeds that much better? Turns out that less expensive seed must meet the same minimum germination standard as expensive seed, but that’s not the whole story. Federal and state laws ensure that all commercially available farm and garden seeds are properly tested for purity, noxious weed seeds, and germination rates. The 2017 Colorado Seed Act “prevents the distribution and use of poor quality seed through the regulation of labeling, labelers, and the sellers of seed for propagation.”  https://ag.colorado.gov/plants/seed

Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants Conference 2021 by Nancy Shepard

Scrophularia macrantha (Red Birds in a Tree)

I attended the Landscaping with Colorado Native Plants conference on February 27^th, a day-long conference attended online by over 300 people. With 10 presentations from leading experts in the field, it was an impressive array of topics including which natives do well in the home landscape, where to buy them, and what they need to thrive. Among the many presenters were Jim Tolstrup, Executive Director, High Plains Environmental Center, Marcia Tatroe, whose photography and gardens have been featured in numerous books, magazines and televised gardening shows, David Salman, Chief Horticulturist for High Country Gardens, Alison Peck who created a landscape design/build company inspired by permaculture and edible landscapes, and Lisa Olsen, Chapter President of Front Range Wild Ones and a certified Native Plant Master.