Petals Gardening and Consulting

04/24/2025

To Cut, Or Not To Cut?
Yes, I cut all the old leaves off Hellebore plants in Spring. Notice how this year's growth in the first picture is no longer hidden and struggling to find light, as in the second pic. And those lovely early season flowers really pop!

10/04/2024

Asters make all the difference! These pictures were taken a month apart. The quantity and diversity of pollinators visiting this Aster is also impressive!

06/05/2024

So many of us are nostalgic about fireflies, but hardly see them anymore! Let's help them make their way back into our landscape. We can support fireflies by making a few changes in our landscape practices!

🧪 Don’t use chemicals targeting insects: Fireflies are insects that use the ground, soil and leaf litter during various stages of their life cycle. Firefly larvae live one to two years and eat critters like snails, slugs and caterpillars (free pest control!).

🌾 Mow higher and/or less frequently: Fireflies are attracted to high grasses and rest on tall blades of grass or shrubbery. Lawns mowed at 3.5 or 4 inches are better for fireflies yet also may produce a healthier lawn. Some experts recommend cutting no more than one-third of the grass blades at a time to avoid scalping and stunting its growth.

🌱 Plant native grasses and shrubs: Great native grass choices include Pennsylvania sedge (Carex pensylvanica), one of the earliest-blooming sedges in the spring; and Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), often grown as an ornamental, in part due to the attractive bronze color of its leaves in autumn.

💡 Reduce lights: Outdoor lights prevent fireflies from seeing each other’s flashes, making it difficult for them to communicate, defend their territory and find mates.

09/18/2021

We had our first frost last night. Hardy perennials, shrubs and trees had no problem with our low temps. I hope your veggies fared better than mine!

07/16/2020

It's Larkspur season!!! This fantastic plant is the tallest and happiest Delphinium 'Blue and White' I have ever seen.
Remember to incorporate pollinator-friendly plants to feed the birds, bees and bugs as well as your soul.

03/12/2020

Is it a Shamrock or a Clover? Both?! Why not. Here's a quick read about the history of this botanical icon.
Take a moment to enjoy all the little surprises of Spring that come daily. Tree buds are swelling, snow is thawing, bulbs will appear before you know it. Happy Spring!

We look at the stories behind the legend of St. Patrick's shamrocks, and the difference between a shamrock and a four-leaf clover.

07/17/2019

We found aphids on the cotoneaster hedge...NO!!!
Then we found lady bug larvae too 🐞 They look nothing like lady bugs, but they're beneficial natural predators of aphids.

07/04/2019

Consider adding these plants to your patio garden to keep the pesky mosquitoes at bay. This wet Montana Spring has given our crew more mosquito bites this year than any other year. Do you think a crown of basil and catnip will hold up through a full day of gardening? It's worth a try!

The best mosquito repelling plants for your garden are lavender, marigolds, citronella grass, catnip, rosemary, basil, scented geraniums and more. Their leaves and flowers emit smells that naturally deter mosquitoes and other insects, but are pleasing to people. See pictures of these mosquito repell...

05/25/2019

Colchicum, the Autumn Crocus, grows its leaves in the spring to photosynthesize enough sugars for a brilliant, vibrant pink bloom in the fall. The leaves scenesce in June and remains dormant until fall. ❤ them!

05/09/2019

Many people have asked about this cute little firecracker lately. In early Spring, the Siberian Squill (Scilla siberica) bursts to life in gardens and lawns, commanding attention and pollinators.
These short lived naturalizing bulbs produce bulb offsets and reseed readily, creating a natural woodland effect. Squill thrive in light shade or dappled sunlight.