Christmas Tree Recycling 2024 by Vicky Spelman

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. 

Trees must be stripped of all ornaments, hardware, strings of lights and tinsel.

Tips for Care of Cut Christmas Trees by Vicky Spelman

Christmas Tree Farm Photo credit: Penn State Extension Master Gardener Program

Is your Christmas tree up? Did you get a fresh one?  Whether you cut your own tree or bought a pre-cut tree, here are some tips to make the most of your fresh tree. 

Ready to plant an Amaryllis bulb for the Holidays? by Vicky Spelman

Courtesy: University of Minnesota Extension

Have you tried growing an amaryllis bulb for the Holidays?  Whether it’s your first bulb or your tenth, there is always lots of anticipation waiting for the beefy bulb to produce a flower - easy and fun to do.

Forcing Paperwhites to Bloom by Vicky Spelman

Photo:  FreeImages

 Blooming houseplants are the best during the Winter months!  Gardeners and bulb lovers like to force bulbs to bloom during the winter holidays to brighten the days. 

Paperwhite narcissus bulbs are one of the easiest to force for cut flowers or ornamental displays in the home during the Holidays as they don’t need a chilling period to bloom, unlike tulips and hyacinths.  

Utah Juniper: Nature's Caretaker by Charlotte Coles

 

Utah Juniper All photos by Charlotte Coles

The Utah Juniper, Juniperus osteosperma, is one of nature's caretakers. Utah Juniper is a multi-trunked tree or shrub. Roots are vast and shallow growing in gravelly loam or clay alkaline soil (pH 7.4-8.0). The Utah Juniper grows 0.5 inch per year and may live up to 600 years. They are best suited for elevations of 3000-8000 feet. This monoecious tree or shrub is able to reproduce in distant areas by wind or animals. Each berry contains 1-2 seeds and the staminate are small soft cones.

The Uncertainty of Insect and Plant Apps by Danielle Alkire

"Look Mom!" All photos by D. Alkire

In my garden, I can expect to have a child excitedly describing a “weird bug” they just found (if they are not already holding it up to my face) daily.

Dill Weed in Your Garden by Jeffrey Blake

All photos by Jeffrey Blake

Dill weed (Anethum graveolens) is a valuable addition to your garden because of its culinary versatility, its ability to attract beneficial insects and pollinators, its low-maintenance nature, and its potential medicinal uses. Whether you're an avid cook or simply want to enhance your garden's biodiversity and aesthetics, dill is an herb worth considering for your garden space.

Attracting Pollinators with Bee Balm by Jeffrey Blake

 

Scarlett Bee Balm 

All photos by Jeffrey Blake

Bee Balm (Monarda spp.), also known as wild bergamot or horsemint, is a popular garden plant that is excellent for attracting pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds. Here are several reasons why Bee Balm is a great choice for attracting these beneficial insects:

How to Attract Mason Bees and Keep Them in Your Garden by Cheryl Kaumeyer Wethey

 

Note nesting tubes that are being plugged with mud. 
All photos by Cheryl Kaumeyer Wethey

Solitary Bees make up 70% of the bee population in Colorado.   Included in this category are Mason Bees, members of Osmia lignaria species.   The Mason Bee gets its name from its characteristic behavior of incorporating mud like a brick mason in building and sealing their nests. 

Holiday Gift idea to start now by Vicky Spelman

University of Minnesota Extension

While bulbs are available at the nurseries, here is a fun and easy Holiday Gift idea.  You can pot up some favorite spring bulbs and create an indoor garden for winter flowering.  

Ants and Aphids Have Each Other's Back by Angelica Elliott

 

Photo: Pexels

Late last summer, something strange caught my attention while weeding around a Cosmo plant. I noticed a black blob on the plant's main stem. As I got closer to inspect, I realized it was a thick colony of black aphids (family Aphididae), and from my experience, where there are aphids, there will likely be ants.

Simple Propagation From Cuttings by Jeffrey Blake

Photo: dreamstime.com

Last season, a neighbor brought over a basket of herbs and vegetables including some very fresh Rosemary sprigs. Since I like to grow my own herbs, I immediately took a 4-5 inch section of a Rosemary sprig and prepared it to propagate in my garden. Now I have a healthy plant in my raised bed – that I use when cooking. And now this season, I have been looking for opportunities to create a few more Rosemary plants. I am sharing here the steps I took to propagate a cutting from my new plant. You can use these generic steps to propagate almost any plant that doesn't have a woody stem.