Flowers are revolutionaries. When flowering plants evolved, they swiftly transformed the planet, and their productivity sustains much of life today. From rainforests to prairies to seagrass meadows, much of the Earth’s diversity is now directly dependent on flowering plants. Without flowers, primates would not have evolved and our ancestors would never have ventured beyond the forest in grasslands. Using examples from his latest book, How Flowers Made Our World, David Haskell

Native plants that call the Front Range home are uniquely adapted to a mix of prairie and mountainous landscapes. Plants here are well adapted to high elevation, semi-arid and very sunny climates. Common Name Scientific Name Mature Size Water Exposure Wildlife Value Common Yarrow (perennial) Achillea millefolium (A.lanatum) 18”x18” low-medium sun/part shade Native pollinators, bees, and butterflies Rabbitbrush (perennial) Ericameria nauseosa (Chrysothamus nauseosus) 4’x3’ low

The Colorado Prairie is dominated by shortgrass prairie and wildflower. Taller grasses appear in swathes, and big cottonwood trees cast their shade over rivers and creeks that run through the plains. The majority of plants here have co-evolved with range animals, they send roots deep down into the soil and are able to survive low water availability and intense grazing. When conditions are right, they become vibrant with beauty. Common Name Scientific Name Mature Size Water Ex