Conifers define hardy Front Range garden - The Denver Post

 Pat Hayward deals with plants — and more precisely, plant questions — all day as executive director of Plant Select.

Check this article out about her garden~

Molly the Witch Peony by Duane Davidson

Last year I wrote about an unusual peony, the fernleaf peony, that makes its appearance earlier each spring than its better-known cousins. Growing nearby, and blooming even earlier, is another little-known member of the peony family. This one bears the nickname "Molly the Witch," a rendering of its unpronounceable botanical name Paeonia mlokosewitschii. A half-dozen flowers began opening last weekend to join the tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and other spring bulbs blooming on my street.

Vegetable Gardening Advice From a Pro by Janet Shangraw

We’ve had a few warm days, the grass is greening up, and the trees are beginning to bud. Gardeners may be dreaming of colorful spring blooms, but the serious vegetable gardener has not only been planning the vegetable garden for months, they have prepared the beds, organized efficient irrigation, have been carefully cultivating their own select plants from seeds for weeks now, and probably have their cold season vegetables already planted.

Top 10 Landscape/Garden Trends for 2010

Chuck Montera , of the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado shared these gardening trends for 2110.

Landscape Pros Identify What’s Hot and What’s Not

Warmer temperatures are a sure sign it is time to start planning and planting!  Before you begin, be sure to review the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado’s (ALCC) top ten landscape and garden trends for 2010.  According to ALCC’s professional landscape contractor members, this year’s trends involve keeping things local – from the food you grow in your garden to the entertaining you do in your own backyard.  

Top Ten Landscape Trends for 2010

1. Eat locally – out of your own backyard.  The momentum for kitchen gardening that started in 2009 is even stronger as more plants and ways to grow them are available.  It’s now pretty and practical to plant vegetables throughout your landscape as long as their needs for water and sun are compatible.

Welcoming the Peach Blossoms by Heirloom Fan

After the devastating hailstorm which hit in the middle of the summer last year, I wondered how the trees, bushes and perennials would handle that type of trauma and still survive. After the storm, like many people, we found our trees had sustained damaged such as snapped branches and even part of the bark “skinned” on the branches and limbs. I wondered not only what this would mean to the health of the tree last year but what would happen after it went through the winter dormancy and if we would see a good recovery in the spring.

Horticulture - Indicator Plants

Horticulture Magazine has this fascinating article about using indicator plants to help with gardening. It is called phenology, the study of plant and animal activities and when they occur each year. Phenology is a real science that has many applications. In farming and gardening, it is used chiefly for planting times and pest control.
Here's the whole article:

Horticulture - Indicator Plants

Spring Garden Tour by Jerry Peterson

Here's a short garden tour of Jerry's spring garden.  Enjoy!

CSU Warns Master Gardeners Not to Advise Marijuana Growers by Carol King

With the increase of marijuana growers to supply the Medical Marijuana facilities, CSU master gardeners are being called upon to help with growing problems. CSU has issued protocols for handling these queries.  We have been instructed to not give advice.
Here's also a short article from the Denver Post:


CSU warns master gardeners not to advise marijuana growers - The Denver Post

Rose History by Jerry Peterson

Jerry Peterson shared this history of the rose which he got from the White Flower Farm Catalog: 

"Based on fossil records, the Rose family (which includes fruits such as cherries and strawberries as well as many garden perennials) has been in existence for millions of years, perhaps 90 million years. The Rose itself has been one of the most revered flowers throughout history.

Spring Rose Care by Donna Duffy

It’s finally beginning to feel like spring! Your roses are probably showing signs of life again with canes turning green and buds starting to form. But this is Colorado, and we’re not out of freeze danger yet. With that in mind, the following are some steps you can take now to help your roses get off to a good start.

Expanded White House Garden and Spring Harvesting!

There is winter harvesting  in the White House garden .

The new spring garden is being planned and planted!

Dressing for Gardening Success by Carol King

Well, dear gardener, it is that time of the year.  You know, time to shop and purchase your gardening wardrobe for the 2010 gardening season.  I found this outfit in Vogue Magazine.  It just screams REAL gardener.  I'm heading out the door as I write!

Edible Landscapes by Garden Girl

Garden Girl promotes changing lawns into edible landscapes!

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Bushwhacking! Proper Shrub Pruning by M J Lechner

Early spring is a good time to sharpen those pruners and get busy thinning and shaping the shrubs and bushes on your property. 

The first thing to consider is whether or not  blooms form on old branches or on new wood.  Forsythia, lilacs and hydrangea all bloom on last year’s growth, so they should be left alone until after they flower.  Hibiscus, many clematis and buddleias (butterfly bushes) bloom on fresh growth, so they can be thinned and shaped before the bloom season. 

Home Grown Spaghetti

April Fools!