What’s Eating my Potted Flowers? By Vicky Spelman

A favorite morning ritual is to head outdoors with my coffee and check on the garden and the potted flowers.  It’s comforting to look at the plants and see everything growing.  What’s not comforting is to find part of the garden or potted flowers have been munched on.  

Slow the Flow by Nancy Shepard

Photo: Peggychouair Pixabay

Last year when I was researching how homeowners could get help replacing their thirsty lawns, I came across Resource Central located in Boulder. They have several conservation programs for residential homeowners: Garden in a Box, Lawn Replacement Service, Slow the Flow and more.

Tips for Heat Stress in the Garden by Vicky Spelman

Heat stress in cucurbita moschata
Photo:  iStock

Whew... it is hot in our area (Denver Metro).  Are you seeing heat stress in your plants?  Different plants can have different reactions.  Here are a few signs to look for and some tips to manage it. 

It’s Time to Arm Yourself Against Yellowjackets by Joyce D’Agostino

[Originally published June 2017]

Recently I assisted another Master Gardener at an information table at a public event. One of the people attending the event stopped by our table and saw materials about bees. She stated that she didn’t like bees and wanted none of them in her garden. One of her friends told her she was very mistaken, we all need bees to help with pollinating our gardens. This person insisted that the “bees” were very bothersome and she was concerned she could get stung. After talking with her for a few moments and asking her to describe what she was seeing, her description matched the Western Yellowjacket (Vespula spp.) Despite me telling her it wasn’t a bee, she still felt that it was part of the “bee family” and she wanted no part of any bees around her garden.

Summer Solstice by Vicky Spelman

Courtesy Pixabay

Hello Summer and the longest day of the year! 

Summer Solstice 2022 in the Northern Hemisphere arrives at at 3:13 AM on Tuesday, June 21st in Denver.  In terms of daylight, this day is 5 hours, 38 minutes longer than the December solstice.   

I'll take that house by the Native Mason Bees & Vicky Spelman

Mason bee moving in May 27, 2022
All Photos: Vicky Spelman

Recently, I found an abandoned mud dauber’s nest that I sat down on a work/storage table under the covered patio. A few days later, I noticed a lot of activity around this mud nest.  The mason bees were moving in – ready made housing for them.  

Building Berms: Lessons Learned by Nancy Shepard

2022 front yard with berm, four years after installation. Photo by Nancy Shepard

When we replaced our front yard landscape in 2018, I wanted to make our yard a little more private. We live on a corner and even though the traffic is minimal, it made sense to not only create a bit of privacy, but also give the yard a bit of visual dynamic. 

Organic Gardening in a Nutshell by Amy Norwood

Organic lawn fertilizer with an OMRI logo, Photo: Amy Norwood

Gardening season is here. If you're reading this blog post, chances are that you're a gardener who cares about the impact your garden has on nature and you want to minimize the impact. Learning about organic gardening practices and including them in your gardening routine can move you toward that goal. But what exactly are organic gardening practices?

My Winter-Time Master Gardener Work by Ed Powers

One of the African Violets grown in the winter enclosure.
We did lose some of the violets due to the moisture level
but most of them made it.

Every late fall and winter are an interesting time for me as a Master Gardener at 8,000 feet.  I enjoy gardening during the late spring and summer.  My question after summer is what is next.  

Hardening Off and Transplanting Seedlings

 

Photo by Brooke Coburn

It is time to begin to transplant tender seedlings outdoors, and seedlings that have grown indoors up to this point need special treatment before being planted outdoors. These seedlings are used to lower light levels, protection from the elements, and ample water. So they will need to adjust gradually to the outdoor environment, a process called hardening off.

Drip Watering Pots and Plant Containers by Gardener Dave

Some years ago I swore off clay pots in my landscaping layout. My reason for this is:  In our dry climate, small clay pots dry out “before you can put the hose away” – especially the unglazed ones.  Glazed pots fare a little better, but beware of the darker colors as they absorb radiant heat and can cook plant roots if they are in full sun all day.

I still like the look of unglazed clay pots, especially in groups with the largest in the center, or large-to-small arrangement. The “Italian style” pots with the thicker rounded rims are my favorites.  Hmmmm… now I’m talking about “my favorite unglazed pots”!  What convinced me to use them again after I had sworn off?

Watch Out for Hail Season! by Joyce D'Agostino

 

Photo: Joyce D'Agostino

For many of us, having to deal with hailstorms is a reality. In this area of Colorado, we are in a hail zone meaning that we can experience more than the average hail events, and some of them can wipe out your garden in minutes.