Mountain Bluebells, originally uploaded by PrairiePalette.

Just this week I was out west of Bragg Creek looking around, and one of the first things I noticed was the flowers. Blanket flower, bluebells and nodding onion were everywhere, and the paintbrush were just starting to bloom. Take some time this weekend to get out of Calgary and enjoy the natural beauty just minutes away!

Getting a Drink, originally uploaded by PrairiePalette.

Want to animate your yard with more wildlife? Butterflies and hummingbirds, some of the most delicate and beautiful visitors to your garden, can be easily attracted just by including some of their favorite plants. Attracted to scents, butterflies are drawn by plants that smell as though they are a source of the nectar they feed on. Hummingbirds use sight to locate their favorite plants, attracted most to various shades of red.

To attract butterflies, try the following shrubs and perennials:

- Aquilegia, aka columbine – use native and cultivated varieties
- Dianthus, aka pinks – an excellent ground cover, delicate and pretty
- Echinacea, aka purple coneflower – ‘Magnus’ is a favorite cultivar
- Liatris, aka blazing star – actually a bulb, it flowers in summer
- Rudbeckia, aka coneflower – perennial and annuals both attract butterflies
- Spiraea – a fine textured shrub with early summer flowers

To invite hummingbirds, try a hummingbird feeder along with these plants:

- Delphinum, aka larkspur – plant dark colors
- Heuchera, aka coral bells – flowers in pink or red are most desired
- Lonicera, aka trumpet honeysuckle – a climbing vine with gorgeous trumpet shaped orange or red flowers
- Weigela – ‘Rumba’ is a great cultivar to try in a sheltered location

Monarda (bee balm), Salvia (perennial sage), and Lilacs do double duty, attracting both aerial visitors, as well as bumblebees and other wildlife. Put your most attractive plants in sunny, sheltered areas of your yard for best results. Remember to include some food sources for caterpillars, and don’t use insecticides in your yard if you want butterflies later on. Native plants such as willow, birch and chokecherry are tough and make great food sources for caterpillars. A source of fresh water will also help encourage your garden guests to stay a little longer.

Lily Of The Valley, originally uploaded by PrairiePalette.

Lily of the Valley, botanically known as Convallaria majalis, is a popular perennial found in many established gardens throughout Calgary. This homestead spring bloomer’s beautiful scent and delicate strings of spring flowers are enticing, but there are other less appealing qualities to consider before planting.

This plant spreads rhizomatously, through underground root expansion, and is nearly impossible to eliminate once established. Applications of herbicides containing Glyphosate, such as Round Up, are the only method that has worked for me to completely eliminate lily of the valley. If you plant it, be sure you want it in your yard!

Lily of the Valley is also poisonous to mammals, including livestock and humans. Leaves, stems, berries, and roots all contain toxic compounds that cause decreased blood pressure and cardiac arrest when ingested. And, the scent of the flowers is a common allergen.

So, before planting, be sure you (1) like it enough to have lots of it, (2) are not allergic to it, and (3) have no children or animals that will eat it!