Year of the Sunflower by National Garden Bureau

Ring Of Fire by GardenTrends

Sunflowers are one of the most popular genera of flowers to grow in your garden. First-time to experienced gardeners gravitate to these bold, easy to grow flowers.

What do those seed packet or plant labels mean? The Garden Professors

There’s lots of labels on those seed packets or plants you pick up at the garden center or from your favorite catalog. Some of the information – and misinformation – you might find on those seed packets.

Early Growing Season notes and reminders By Joyce D’Agostino

Photo: Joyce D'Agostino

For those of us who regularly garden, we often are already thinking what to grow and not grow for the next season. As the seeds are sown and seedlings planted, it often doesn’t take long for gardeners to find out what is doing well and thriving.

Year of the Hyacinth by National Garden Bureau

Jan Bos Hyacinth
A tried and true performer that's big, bright and sweetly fragrant.
Longfield Gardens

Hyacinths are spring-flowering bulbs that are treasured by gardeners for their heavenly fragrance.  The blossoms open in mid-spring, at the same time as daffodils and early tulips and they come in rich, saturated colors.  

Year of the Monarda by National Garden Bureau

Jacob Cline Monarda
American Meadows

Monarda is a member of the mint family and consists of multiple species, most of which are hardy perennials and all of which are native to certain regions of North America. Summertime flowering on all these species is quite attractive to humans and pollinators.

Recording My Garden by Nancy Shepard

Photo: Nancy Shepard

I’ve been keeping various journals about my adventures in gardening for about 10 years. Before that, I just relied on memory and whatever they were selling at Home Depot. If they sold those plants at the local hardware stores, those must be right for my garden I reasoned back then. When I started writing down my mistakes and successes, gardening became a more serious endeavor.  My journals have evolved over time as I grew in my knowledge and saw more success. I can now see there are constant ingredients that have proven most helpful to me in making records about my garden. Here are some of them.

Spider mites on my houseplants – yuck! by Vicky Spelman

 

Close-up of spider mites
University of Maryland Extension

How are your houseplants doing?  See any webbing or discolored leaves?  You might have spider mites.  

Spider mites are tiny eight-legged arthropods that are related to spiders and ticks. 

Your trees and shrubs could use a drink by Vicky Spelman

Image Credit: Denver Water

Prolonged dry periods and high winds can dry trees and soil. Watering your trees and shrubs will help ensure their optimum health. Water only when temperatures are above 40º F during the middle of the day so it has time to soak in. 

How Do Birds Survive The Winter? By Cornell Lab of Ornithology - Bernd Heinrich

                                                                              Illustration by Megan Bishop

<<It seems logical that most birds flee the northern regions to overwinter somewhere warmer, such as the tropics. Their feat of leaving their homes, navigating and negotiating often stupendous distances twice a year, indicates their great necessity of avoiding the alternative—of staying and enduring howling snowstorms and subzero temperatures.

Carol O’Meara: Garden gazing ball predicts busy 2021

Courtesy: southwestandbeyond.com

As a little girl, I thought the ornaments in my grandparents’ garden were old-fashioned to the point of being fogey, for example… the green gazing ball nestled in the roses didn’t inspire my preteen mind to anything other than an eye-roll.

Now that I’m older I have more appreciation for garden tchotchke and the gazing ball has made a comeback, and I admit, I can see why.

Where To Recycle Your Christmas Tree This Year by Vicky Spelman

ColoradoTreeRecyclingDisposal

Many municipalities across Colorado have free tree recycling or composting programs for holiday pines that have served their festive purpose.  

What happens to the trees? In most cases, the trees are chipped and made into a mulch which is usually made available, free to city or county residents. 

Important: Never burn your Christmas tree in a fireplace or wood stove. Burning the tree may contribute to creosote buildup and could cause a chimney fire.

Here are four cities in Jefferson County that have Christmas tree recycling or composting programs.  Trees must be stripped of all ornaments, hardware, strings of lights and tinsel. 

ColoradoTreeRecyclingDisposal

Arvada: The city will accept trees for recycling anytime through Jan. 19.

• Lake Arbor Lake Park, 6400 Pomona Drive

• Stenger Fields at West 58th Avenue and Oak Street

Golden:  Christmas Tree recycling is provided by the City of Golden Forestry Division. Program details are distributed every December in the Golden informer.  Drop off your trees now through January 27 west of the intersection at Highway 93 & Golden Gate Canyon Road. Please place your tree near the sign posted for tree recycling. For further details, contact the City of Golden Forestry office at 303-384-8141.

Lakewood:  Tree recycling from 7 am to 3 pm., December 26th, through Sunday, January 12, 2020. Tree drop-off will take place at Lakewood's Greenhouse, 9556 W. Yale Ave. The greenhouse is located between Estes and old Kipling streets. Please follow posted signs and drop trees in the designated area. Tree recycling is free for Lakewood residents. Mulch will be available upon request.  For more information, please call 720-963-5240.

Wheat Ridge: The city has a free tree recycling program for residents that runs through the end of February. Drop sites are open from sunrise to sunset:

• Prospect Park, 11300 W 44th Ave.

• Panorama Park, W 33rd Ave & Fenton St.

For additional cities and counties in Colorado:

RecycleChristmasTrees#1

RecycleChristmasTrees#2

RecycleOldChristmasLights.

To recycle your old Christmas and Holiday Lights:  RecycleLights

Mistletoe – Everyone’s Favorite Holiday Parasite by Vicky Spelman

Photo Courtesy Pexels

The Christmas Holidays have a rich association with plants and a couple of favorites are the Christmas tree and mistletoe.  In winter when many trees and plants are bare, mistletoe stays green.