23Jun, 2025

Flower of the Week: Coir Pots

by Geoff Ellis

A recent development in the green industry has been the use of pots made out of coir, or coconut fiber, rather than plastic. The instructions call for planting the whole thing, pot and all, in the ground. The idea of reducing waste and saving resources is a good one, but how well do the plants […]

16Jun, 2025

Weed of the Week: Puncture Vine

by Geoff Ellis

Tribulus terrestris, also called puncture vine or goathead, is the bane of bicycle riders and dog walkers everywhere, producing sharp, 4-pointed seedheads that break off and puncture tires and paw pads. It thrives in sunny, barren areas such as roadsides and dirt trails, where it is perfectly positioned to cause havoc. It starts to germinate […]

10Jun, 2025

Flower of the Week: Corydalis lutea

by Geoff Ellis

This attractive little wildflower is not very well known, but it is easy to grow and generous in bloom. Just give it a shady to partly shady location and reasonably moist soil, and it will flower from April through October. It will often reseed and start to appear in new places around the garden, but […]

02Jun, 2025

Weed of the Week: Myrtle Spurge

by Geoff Ellis

Euphorbia myrsinites, also known as donkey tail, burro tail, or myrtle spurge, is native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor but was brought to Utah as a drought-tolerant ornamental. Unfortunately, it is a highly invasive weed that spreads quickly and crowds out native vegetation in our foothills and open spaces. The milky sap is toxic […]

26May, 2025

Flower of the Week: Poppy

by Geoff Ellis

In honor of Memorial Day, we present the poppy, traditionally used as a symbol to honor those who served their country and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Shown here is the oriental poppy, Papaver orientale. It is easy to grow by sprinkling the seeds over bare ground in late fall in the location […]

19May, 2025

Flower of the Week: Woodland Phlox

by Geoff Ellis

Less well known than the summer-blooming garden phloxes, or the creeping pink phlox, this 12-inch tall perennial produces a stunning display of delicate purplish-blue flowers in mid to late spring. Native to the eastern U.S., it is perfectly hardy in northern Utah, where it is best grown in a shaded to partly shaded location in […]