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Bark, Fertilizers and Soil Amendments
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Landscape Design and/or Construction
Landscape Maintenance
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Pest and Weed Control
Raised Garden Beds
Sand, Rock, Gravel and Concrete
Snow removal
Sod and Grass Seeding
Soil Grading or Plowing Services
Swimming Pools and Spas
Tools
Tree Service
Trees
Water Features
Bark, Fertilizers and Soil Amendments
Barns, Sheds and Outbuildings
Brick and Pavers
Decks, Patios, Pergolas and Trellises
Farm and Lawn Equipment
Fencing
Garden Art
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Holiday Lighting
Landscape Architects
Landscape Curbing
Landscape Design and/or Construction
Landscape Maintenance
Lawn Sprinklers and Irrigation
Lumber and Building Supplies
Nursery
Outdoor Heating and Fireplaces
Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor Lighting
Pest and Weed Control
Raised Garden Beds
Sand, Rock, Gravel and Concrete
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Soil Grading or Plowing Services
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PLANTS BLOG EVENTS
  • Baptisia in bloom
  • Allium seed heads against the white fence are a lively display (planted behind daylilies).
  • Blooming goatsbeard shrub
  • Perennial bed full of bright blooms
  • This hot dry roadside bed blooms with color
  • Shady spot in the backyard, peaceful and quiet
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Wise Words from Kathy at Dragonfly Landscape Design

Kathy Robert, a multi-faceted architectural designer, has a unique understanding of garden design for SW Idaho. She has worked at local nurseries, took Master Gardener classes, then enrolled in horticulture classes, finally getting a degree in Landscape Design from U of I, Moscow along with ISA Arborist certification.

While touring her garden she provided lots of tips for successful gardens.

Originally her property was comprised of large grassy lawn with a few trees, now it is a park-like setting surrounded with shade trees, perennial beds, and flowering shrubs.

Shrubs and trees form the foundation of the property, providing shade, habitat for native pollinators and three seasons of color. The color starts in February with the blooming of the witch hazel trees.

Trying to keep gardening chores and expenses down, her preferences have changed from planting masses of annual flowers to allowing perennials to reseed and colonize areas of her front yard, making for large swaths of color in even the hottest, driest parts of her yard.

Kathy’s opinion on annuals, “they are for the birds, just too much work!”

Entering her yard, the first tree to catch your eye is the huge weeping Cedar of Lebanon located behind the garden bench, shouldered by the pink blooming elderberry. The cedar was originally planted in front of her shop, but it had to be moved because it was not thriving in its current location. So she, along with one helper, moved the 2000 lb root ball and now it provides a magnificent display all year around.

Certain perennials may be difficult to overwinter in the Treasure Valley and their demise is often due to root rot from winter’s wet soils. To combat this she leaves the seed heads on many of her perennials, so they can self-seed. So, even if you lose the mother plant, there will be several offspring coming up not far away.

Three strikes and you’re out!

Kathy explains there is not enough time in the day to have to babysit finicky plants. If they cannot tolerate the heat, or dry humidity or soil conditions, they are gone! There are plenty of other beautiful plants that can handle the conditions here and don’t require constant attention, fertilizers, soil amendments, etc.

Have you noticed your shrubs getting in the way of the lawn mower, or crawling up the house siding? It is most likely because the planting beds around the house are too small and so the shrubs are planted too closely to the house. Kathy recommends planting beds be a minimum of 5 foot deep and if you are using large shrubs, they beds should be even deeper.

If you are admiring her bright red metal garden trellis’ she had it done at an auto painting shop. The powder coating makes for a bright and durable finish.

Her favorite ground covers? She favors Corsican mint Brass Buttons (Leptinella squalida) for shady areas.

Wooly thyme (evergreen and durable), blue star creeper and white star creeper get her approval for sunny spots.

If you need some help designing or redesigning your yard, or diagnosing tree problems, give Kathy a call. Her design goal for her clients is to create a space that nurtures the soul and quiets the mind through the beauty and peace of the garden. Her garden is a perfect example of that beauty and peace.

PLANTS IN THIS GARDEN

Blue Colorado Spruce
Austrian Pine
Linden leaves are heart shaped.
Linden
Weeping Blue Atlas cedar
Weeping Blue Atlas Cedar
Cedar of Lebanon
Weeping Cedar of Lebanon
Variegated leaves of Ivory Halo Dogwood attract the viewer
Ivory Halo Dogwood
Serviceberry
Honey Locust tree
Honey Locust
Witch Hazel bears its flowers in late winter
Witch Hazel
Japanese Maple
Kentucky Coffee tree (in the back)
Kentucky Coffee Tree
Tricolor Beech
Weeping Norway Spruce
Weeping Norway Spruce
Black Lace Elderberry
White blooms of the Japanese Snowbell are fragrant and beautiful.
Japanese Snowbell
Plume like flowers of goatsbeard
Goatsbeard
Bright yellow blooms of Oregon Grape
Oregon Grape 'Compactum'
Hydrangea
Dawn viburnum
Pink Dawn Viburnum
Apache Plume
Red twigs
Red Twig Dogwood
Variegated leaves of Ivory Halo Dogwood attract the viewer
Ivory Halo Dogwood
Germander in spring
Germander
Hakone grass needs shade to thrive in SW Idaho
Japanese Forest Grass
Daylily
Hardy Hibiscus
Yellow Rockrose
Rockrose
Virginia Creeper
Sunset Hyssop
Threadleaf Giant Hyssop
Penstemon
Lupine
New Zealand Brass Buttons
Valerian
Catmint in bloom
Catmint 'Walker's Low'
Clematis
Lady's Mantle
Joe Pye Weed
Solomon's Seal in bloom
Solomon's Seal
Honeysuckle
St. John's Wort
Echinacea
Salvia 'Blue Flame'
"Blue Flame' Sage
Blazing Stars
Sweet Woodruff
Sweet Woodruff
Poppy mallow in bloom, Boise Idaho
Poppy Mallow
Firecracker Penstemon in bloom
Firecracker Penstemon
Blooms of the golden currant are enjoyed by native bumble bees.
Golden Currant

GARDEN TAGS

  • fg:kathy
  • kathy
  • SW Boise

COLORS

  • Deep Pink
  • Gold
  • Variegated
  • Cornflower Blue
  • Light Pink
  • Deep Purple
  • Pink
  • Orange
  • Red
  • Pink
  • Hot Pink
  • Black
  • Lavender
  • Silver Gray
  • Blue
  • Green
  • Dark Green
  • Green-Blue
  • Coral
  • Dark Blue
  • Yellow
  • Purple
  • Green
  • Cream
  • White
  • Gray-Green
  • Dark Red
  • Chartreuse
  • Fuchsia

ABOUT US

We are GardenTronic!

She is an avid gardener and composter/photographer and he is a web developer/drone pilot -together we produce videos about gardening. We love gardening in the intermountain west, but it can be challenging. We want to inspire gardeners and provide a platform for local gardeners to share their garden successes. GardenTronic provides access to local businesses so your garden dreams can come true.

And, in case you were wondering -- Tronic means "Awesome". It comes from the 1980's movie "Tron", so GardenTronic literally means "Awesome Garden".

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