Western Mountains and High Plains
August, 2012
Regional Report
Favorite or New Plant
Pineleaf Penstemon
Pineleaf penstemon (Penstemon pinifolius) is a surefire magnet to bring hummingbirds into your flower garden. It is one of the most dependable penstemons to plant in our region. This perennial also makes a nice groundcover in a sunny and well-drained area. As with most penstemons, don't over-amend the soil with too much organic matter as they prefer soils that are lean. Locate in a sunny location and avoid overwatering.
Clever Gardening Technique
Homemade Earwig Trap
The European earwig can become a pest both outdoors and indoors when populations explode. Now is the time that invasions are most noticeable. An effective way to trap them outdoors is to roll up a newspaper and submerge in a bucket of water to moisten. Place this trap in the garden overnight where earwigs have been feeding. In the morning, collect the trap and crush or dispose of it.
