HOA Greenlight: Installing a Native Garden and Inspiring Community Action

Woody Allen was right: “Eighty percent of success is just showing up.” When I relocated from the verdant East to the dry Colorado Front Range, I traded my tractor for a townhouse—and an HOA. We hear many stories about HOAs that do not welcome anything but turf grass and regimented landscape designs, but this was not the case in my new community. When I decided to show up at a Board meeting one night, I learned that an overgrown, weed-choked area around our entranceway was a cause of concern. I offered to transform the area if they would approve a small budget and give their consent to using native plants in the new design. My proposal was gladly accepted. 

As luck would have it, my next-door neighbor, Molly, had just launched her new business, The New Western Garden, and was eager to help plant natives right here in our community. We put our heads together to plan for preparing the site and choosing plants. Although still new to the state, thanks to my field trips with the Colorado Native Plant Society, I had a good foundation in native flora, and before long, we were gathering the plants we needed.

We both saw this project as a perfect opportunity to engage with our neighbors, letting them know why we were using native plants and giving them a chance to be actively involved with planting and maintaining the new garden. We were thrilled when nearly thirty people participated in some way with the installment. We had sent out an email invitation, but the good turn-out was mostly due to Molly taking the time to talk with people one-on-one as she walked around the neighborhood!

We had some good strong shovelers, too!

Participants young and old came out to help plant the new native garden!

Design your yard and community for pollinators

Pollinators are necessary for many of our flowering plants. We can and should make the effort to attract our native pollinators by stopping all landscape-wide pesticides and by planting a wide variety of native plants arranged in ways that make it easier for pollinators to thrive. Some can only fly a short distance to find nectar, which is a viscous, sugar-rich liquid produced by plants to attract pollinating animals. Pollinators are mostly insects, but they could also be birds or other animals.

Pollinator distances. A graphic by Pollinator Pathways.

What is a Pollinator Pathway?

Public and private pesticide-free corridors of native plants that provide nutrition and habitat for pollinating insects and birds. Even the smallest green spaces, like flower boxes and curb strips, can be part of a pathway. For many more resources and to be part of the solution, join https://www.pollinator-pathway.org/

We have posted many pollinator articles on this blog over the years. See below for links to of some of our favorites. Many were written by Beatriz Moisset, a pollinator expert who has left this realm, but we're sure she's still busy helping pollinators in some way.

Made In the Shade

Cardinal flower, Lobelia cardinalis

Got Shade? Are you living in a shady spot but craving a beautiful wildlife garden where you can support and enjoy birds, butterflies and interesting pollinators? Are impatiens and begonias the only flowers you know that grow in shade? You know that impatiens and begonias have zero wildlife value, but wonder which native plants look good in the shade and give the birds some food, too? Good news!  Shade is a natural component in many ecosystems, and there are wonderful, functional, native plants that have adapted to thrive in the lower light conditions that are common in many suburban and urban settings. Let’s talk about them!