“To dig and delve in nice clean dirt Can do a mortal little hurt.” John Kendrick Bangs (1862-1922) American Writer Before any planting, the soil must be dry, not wet! Working with the soil when wet drastically alters the structure of the soil particles by compacting them. This does not allow for movement of oxygen, microbes, and composting arthropods/insects which are necessary for plants to... Read More
With the beautiful February thaw weather that we have been having, has everyone had a chance to get out into your yard and garden to see how things are doing? It has been an interesting winter season. There has been a fair amount of steady snowfall over the course of the last several months. So much so that in the lowest, shadiest areas of the... Read More
If you have ever ordered any kind of gardening information, especially seeds or nursery stock, your name was entered into a time honored tradition of the January garden catalog drop. For seasoned gardeners this can be an exciting time as well as a challenging time. It can be compared to a child in a candy store – so many good things to pick. For brand new gardeners overwhelming! Many of... Read More
I pinched, pruned, planted, Mulched, manured and mowed; Dug, dressed, divided, Harvested and hoed. Thinned, trimmed, transplanted, Sprayed, sowed and staked; Wheeled, watered, weeded, Rototilled and raked. Loosened, limed and layered, Gardening by the book; But one thing I neglected- I forgot to look! -Bonita Laettner Ms. Laettner’s poem is an excellent 2016 pre-garden check list! As the gardening catalogs start filling your mailbox or inbox, and... Read More
“The most noteworthy thing about gardeners is that they are always optimistic, always enterprising, and never satisfied. They always look forward to doing better than they have ever done before.” -Vita Sackville-West (1892-1962)English Writer A Late December Check List: – It’s not too late to take your Christmas Tree to a – community drop off! Mulch will be made from the discards and used in... Read More
Dry air, low precipitation, little soil moisture, and fluctuating temperatures are characteristics of fall and winter in many areas of Colorado. Often there is little or no snow cover to provide soil moisture from October through March. Trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns under these conditions may be damaged if they do not receive supplemental water. The result of long, dry periods during fall and winter is... Read More
The word pogonip refers to an uncommon occurrence-frozen fog. The word was coined by Native Americans to describe the frozen fogs of fine ice needles that occur in the mountain valleys of the western United States and Canada. According to their tradition, breathing the fog is injurious to the lungs. What is also injurious – to lawns, trees, and shrubs, is the lack of snow cover and moisture, especially... Read More
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulchermia) Select plants with uniformly green foliage and no lower leaves missing. Moderately moist soil; water thoroughly whenever the soil feels dry to the touch. Ideal temperatures are 60F to 70F. Poinsettia plant parts are not edible, but they are not poisonous when eaten. Those whom are sensitive to latex, may develop a rash when handling poinsettias. Christmas Cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) Let the... Read More
The weather has changed, the holiday season is in full swing! Adults, children and pets will be spending more time indoors and distractions abound. It is a good time to assess the location of all houseplants and holiday plant additions. It is important to know the botanical name of all plants in your home in case any part is accidentally ingested by a child or pet. Common... Read More
Looking for the latest method to display a houseplant? The Japanese form of ‘kokedama’ might be the answer. Picture a plant without a traditional container, surrounded by a mud ball, wrapped in moss and string, and then suspended from your ceiling. This is certainly an adventurous, creative, and wonderfully messy undertaking. If you are ready listed here are the steps-let’s kokedama! MATERIALS – Clay-based akadama (bonsai soil-... Read More
