by High Country Gardens

A Guest Post From Audubon Rockies/Habitat Hero Program
Gardens are outdoor sanctuaries for birds, insects and other wildlife. Every spring, migrating birds visit our yards looking for nourishment from our gardens and places to raise their chicks. By adding native plants to one’s yard, balcony, container garden, rooftop or public space, anyone, anywhere can attract birds AND give them the nourishment they need for the long journey ahead.
Most landscaping plants available in nurseries are exotic species from other countries. Not only are they generally poor food sources for our local wildlife but they often require more chemicals and water, increasing maintenance time, costs and environmental hazards. Some can even become invasive.
And How About All This Weird Winter And Spring Weather?
“Birds and native plants are made for each other thanks to millions of years of evolution,” said Dr. John Rowden, director of community conservation for the National Audubon Society. “As plants grow and bloom earlier because of warming temperatures, there is a growing mismatch between bloom times and the arrival of birds that depend on them. Habitat provided by native plants can help climate-threatened birds adapt and survive.”
Help keep our common birds common by planting native plants.

Audubon Rockies Has Created Fun Ways You Can Help Birds In WY, CO and Beyond
Birds, bees, and butterflies cannot survive in sterile communities. Audubon Rockies’ Habitat Hero Program works with partners and community members to make a difference by stitching our fractured landscape back together. Join us in creating gardens and backyards that provide homes and, food sources, for a wide range of wildlife.

How Can You Be Involved?
- Stay Informed: Download this brochure, "Creating a Bird-Friendly Space with Native Plants"
- Plant Natives: To know the best plants for your area, search Audubon’s native plants database and purchase native plants from a wide selection at High Country Gardens
- Watch a Video: Learn how you can help create a better world for birds right from your own home with this fun video
- Research: For extra bird-friendly home tips, gardening DIY’s, and more, visit audubon.org/plantsforbirds
Sedum rupestre ‚SunSparkler® Wildfire‚ PP#28621 (Stonecrop) blazes with ruby red petals edged in hot pink. Late summer brings clusters of long-blooming pink flowers. It&...
Learn MoreSunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum SunSparkler® Wildfire Sedum Sedum 'Wildfire' PP#28,621As low as $11.99Per Plant - 5" Deep PotSedum rupestre 'SunSparkler® Wildfire' PP#28621 (Stonecrop) blazes with ruby red petals edged in hot pink. Late summer brings clusters of long-blooming pink flowers. It’s an attention-worthy groundcover that will naturalize to fill a sunny, dry area. In fact, the more sun, the brighter the color. A perfect easy-to-grow addition to a rock garden, container, or any sunny spot that needs a water-thrifty color boost. Deer and rabbit resistant.Eriogonum umbellatum v. aureum ‚Kannah Creek‚ (Buckwheat) hails from western Colorado. With a showy display of yellow flowers in late spring, the flowers age to shades of...
Learn MoreKannah Creek Sulphur Buckwheat Kannah Creek Sulphur Buckwheat Eriogonum umbellatum v. aureum 'Kannah Creek'As low as $13.99 Sale $10.12Per Plant - 5" Deep PotEriogonum umbellatum v. aureum 'Kannah Creek' (Buckwheat) hails from western Colorado. With a showy display of yellow flowers in late spring, the flowers age to shades of orange and rust by late summer, providing months of low care color. A 2007 Plant Select winner. Drought resistant/drought tolerant plant (xeric).Chamaebatiaria millefolium (Fernbush) is a beautiful native shrub that brightens the garden in mid-summer with big clusters of bright white flowers. It also has attractive dried seed...
Learn MoreFernbush (Chamaebatiaria) Fernbush (Chamaebatiaria) Chamaebatiaria millefoliumAs low as $14.99 Sale $13.49Per Plant - 5" Deep PotChamaebatiaria millefolium (Fernbush) is a beautiful native shrub that brightens the garden in mid-summer with big clusters of bright white flowers. It also has attractive dried seed heads and olive-green foliage. Drought resistant perennial plant (xeric).Attract birds and pollinators with ease by planting the beautiful Habitat Hero Birdwatcher Pre-Planned Garden. Colorful flowers bloom late spring through fall, and flowering shrubs a...
Learn MoreHabitat Hero Birdwatcher Pre-Planned Garden Habitat Hero Birdwatcher Pre-Planned Garden$200.99 Sale $190.94Sale Price I Save 5%Per Garden of 15Attract birds and pollinators with ease by planting the beautiful Habitat Hero Birdwatcher Pre-Planned Garden. Colorful flowers bloom late spring through fall, and flowering shrubs and ornamental grasses provide year-round interest, nesting material, and shelter for birds. Berries, seeds, and insects offer three important food sources for birds and their young. One garden of 15 plants covers 84 sq ft. This Pre-Planned Garden comes with a garden layout map to make planting easy.Salvia sylvestris ‘May Night’ (Meadow Sage) blooms prolifically with deep purple-blue flowers. It is an outstanding perennial with excellent cold hardiness, vigor, and to...
Learn MoreMay Night Salvia May Night Meadow Sage Salvia sylvestris May NightAs low as $11.99 Sale $10.79Per Plant - 5" Deep PotSalvia sylvestris ‘May Night’ (Meadow Sage) blooms prolifically with deep purple-blue flowers. It is an outstanding perennial with excellent cold hardiness, vigor, and tolerance of heavy clay soils. Blooming in late spring with a profusion of flower spikes, it reblooms later in the summer when deadheaded.Rudbeckia Goldsturm blooms in mid-to-late summer with an eye-catching display of golden flowers. Black Eyed Susan is very attractive to butterflies and the seed heads provide winter ...
Learn MoreGoldsturm Black Eyed Susan Black Eyed Susan Rudbeckia fulgida GoldsturmAs low as $11.99 Sale $8.24Per Plant - 5" Deep PotRudbeckia Goldsturm blooms in mid-to-late summer with an eye-catching display of golden flowers. Black Eyed Susan is very attractive to butterflies and the seed heads provide winter food for seed-eating songbirds as well. Reliable and tough, Rudbeckia tolerates both drought and clay plus easy to maintain.PowWow® Wild Berry is a new improved variety of Purple Coneflower bred for its darker red-purple flowers and compact floriferous growth habit. This is an outstanding long bloomi...
Learn MorePowWow® Wild Berry Echinacea PowWow® Wild Berry Coneflower Echinacea purpurea PowWow® Wild Berry$13.99 Sale $12.59Sale Price I Save 10%Per Plant - 5" Deep PotPowWow® Wild Berry is a new improved variety of Purple Coneflower bred for its darker red-purple flowers and compact floriferous growth habit. This is an outstanding long blooming variety.The world‚s most popular ornamental grass, Calamagrostis acutiflora ‚Karl Foerster‚ (Feather Reed Grass) has a strong upright habit and blooms with showy flowers th...
Learn MoreKarl Foerster Feather Reed Grass Karl Foerster Feather Reed Grass Calamagrostis acutiflora Karl FoersterAs low as $14.99 Sale $13.49Per Plant - 5" Deep PotThe world's most popular ornamental grass, Calamagrostis acutiflora 'Karl Foerster' (Feather Reed Grass) has a strong upright habit and blooms with showy flowers that ripen to tawny seed heads that decorate the plant through the fall and winter months.
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