What Do They Mean By Full Sun, Partial Sun, Partial Shade, and so on?

Full Sun: At least 6 full hours of direct sunlight including the hour of noon. Many sun lovers enjoy more than 6 hours per day, but need regular water to endure the heat. Partial Sun / Partial Shade: These 2 terms are often used interchangeably to mean 3 - 6 hours of sun each day, preferably in the morning and early afternoon. - However if a plant is listed as Partial Sun, greater emphasis is put on its receiving the minimal sun requirements.  ·- If a plant is listed as Partial Shade, the plant will need some relief from the intense late afternoon sun, either from shade provided by a nearby tree or planting it on the east side of a building. It helps to keep in mind that noontime sun and afternoon sun are intense and hot, but morning sun is relatively cool and gentle. So an hour of afternoon sun is not the same as an hour of morning sun. Dappled Sun: Dappled sunlight is similar to partial shade. It is the sun that makes its way through the branches of a deciduous tree. Woodland plants and under plantings prefer this type of sunlight over even the limited direct exposure they would get from partial shade. Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight each day, with filtered sunlight during the rest of the day. Full shade does not mean no sun. There aren't many plants, except mushrooms, that can survive in the dark. Avoid exposing shade lovers to direct, hot noontime sun and direct, hot afternoon sun.

10 REASONS TO GARDEN

The National Garden Bureau is an independent, non-profit organization started in the 1920s in the U.S. that promotes gardening and provides free information to home gardeners. Here are 10 reasons the bureau believes people like to garden:  1. For safe, healthy food; 2. For exercise;  3. To add beauty;  4. To learn;  5. To make money;  6. To meet people;  7. To be creative ; 8. To win(think Garden Club competitions); 9. For emotional needs and spiritual connections; 10. For lasting memories; The detailed description can be found at www.ngb.org/gardening/todays/article.cfm?ID=55

The gardening industry felt these reasons did not go far enough and in a recent response to this article, our profession gave 10 more reasons to garden.  The reasons seemed more appropriate to me for Colorado.  1. Garden to make the world a better place. 2. Garden to teach our children.  3. Garden for ecological balance.. 4. Garden for solitude and peace. 5. Garden to rationalize the state of our society. 6. Garden to live longer. 7. Garden for physical therapy—especially for arthritis therapy and Alzheimer’s or other memory disorders.  8. Garden for wildlife and habitat—especially bees, birds and butterflies 9. Garden for restoration. 10. Garden for a sustainable lifestyle. 

Create a Bird-Friendly Yard

Birds are among nature's most efficient insect predators.  In on afternoon, one tiny house wren can snatch up to 500 insect eggs, beetles, grubs, or more.  This was certainly proven to me last season.  We increased the number of feeders in our shrub area and we had way fewer insect problems as well as fewer mosquitoes.