A. High Altitude Landscaping-Landscaping at higher elevations can be complicated and quite a bit different than any other place you’ve ever been. Best thing to do is consult a professional, someone who has experience with plant material that grows at your elevation. If you prefer to do the plan and work yourself, you must do some research. There are several books on the market that discuss high altitude planting. The Colorado Nurseryman’s Association has information on plants that grow at higher elevations. Take a look around at the plant material that naturally grows around you and use native plants or close relatives. There are also knowledgeable people at the nursery that can help you with plant selection.

A. Rejuvenating Wildflowers-Keeping wildflower mixes looking their best does take a little work and is an ongoing process. Picking good quality, native mixes to begin with will help. Many mixes will have a dominating flower seed in it, which in time takes over the whole bunch. If you can’t avoid this (some dominating flowers are beautiful) you must be prepared to control the dominating ones. Removing flowers before seed set is one way, weeding the plant out every couple of years is another. Either way you should fill in with seed from another plant that you may want more of or don’t have any of. Each year in the late summer evaluate your site and determine if action will be needed, either thinning or reseeding. If your soil is a fast draining one or low in nutrients adding a fertilizer low in nitrogen will help induce flowering. Mowing once a year in late fall will spread the seed and put it in contact with the soil.

A. Winter Bird Feeding-Birds are an important part of our gardens. If your winter is a harsh one or there’s been a lot of snow cover, you may save a few lives by putting out a winter feeder. The crucial times are winter and early spring when natural food is scarce. A study in Wisconsin of Chickadees, showed, of the banded birds only 37 percent survived during a harsh winter without feeder food. Of the birds using the feeder 69 percent survived.