Successful Seed Storage by Rebecca Anderson

Photo courtesy Rebecca Anderson

I confess, I'm a seed saver. Not necessarily seeds that have been harvested from plants I've grown, but I save leftover seed packets from year to year. Most years I don't need 30 zucchini plants, but it seems like such a waste to toss a nearly full packet after only using four or five seeds. I learned recently that this may be a heritable trait. My mother has cut back on her vegetable gardening over the past few years, and during a recent visit she bequeathed me with her stash of seed packets. Some of them date back to the twentieth century!  

Go Broncos! United in Orange (and Blue!) by Carol King and Donna Duffy

Jefferson County Master Gardeners: The Past and Present Come Together by Lorrie Redman

Photo courtesy of Duane Davidson, Pictured: Char Gottlieb and Mary Kirby  

Jefferson County’s thriving master gardener program started in the early 1970s, by Dr. James R. Feuchts, the Jefferson County Horticulture Agent. Extension agents wanted to reach more residents in the gardening community and the landscaping industry. Today the Jefferson County Master Gardener program supports over a 100 volunteers utilizing research based education to foster successful gardeners, develop partnerships and build stronger communities. 

1970s

• It began with 17 volunteers who finished 36 classroom hours at the Denver Botanic Gardens and reached 4500 Jefferson County residents. 
• A telephone recording system was implemented to disseminate information for the public.
• The first Demonstration and Research Garden was created on the Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
• Master Gardeners participated in solar energy tours and drought tolerant plant classes. 

1980s

• A Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic was started and is still a unique resource available for Jefferson County residences. 
• A Speakers Bureau was created to reach garden clubs and Green Industry professionals.
• 74 master gardeners participated in research projects including alternative mulches, pheromone trapping and season extenders. 

Snowflake Wonder by Elaine Lockey, former Jeffco Master Gardener

http://weather.thefuntimesguide.com/2009/01/the_snowflake.php

If you get caught outside finishing up gardening tasks when it begins to snow, chances are you aren’t too interested in stopping to admire it.  But when you have the opportunity, “snowflake watching” will transport you right back to your childhood sense of wonder.

Snow crystals are single crystals of ice while a snowflake is one or more crystals stuck together. Water molecules create a hexagonal lattice that is formed when water vapor condenses directly into ice in clouds when the temperature is freezing or below. There are several factors that influence the shape of snowflakes: humidity, temperature, and air currents.  Colder temperatures create more intricate shapes – sharper tips and more branching.

Jefferson County Master Gardeners Celebrate 40 Years of Service by Cherie Luke

Jefferson County's 2015 Class of Master Gardeners (left to right): Kerry Poppe, Lynnea Ossello, Shawn Dadisman, Bonnie Kaake, Kom Lee, Kathy Kramer, Cindy Gibson. Not pictured: Peter Drake, Michelle Morris, Megan Morris

In 1972, Dr. David Gibby, a Washington State University Cooperative Extension Agent, could not keep up with the public’s demand for basic gardening information. Dr. Gibby and other extension staff came up with the idea to train amateur gardeners. The plan was that Washington State University Cooperative Extension faculty would train the gardeners to answer home gardening questions. In return for this education, the gardeners would become volunteers. The Master Gardener program now exists in all 50 states and nationally the extension Master Gardener volunteers answer millions of questions every year. This year the Jefferson County Master Gardeners are proud to be celebrating their 40th anniversary of service to Jefferson County residents. 

Happy New Year!

Growing Bromeliads by Donna Duffy

Photo courtesy recycledh2o.net

The bromeliad is a member of a large plant family native to the warmer climates of America. Bromeliads grow in trees, attach themselves to rocks, and live on the forest floor. They vary in size from one inch to 35-feet high. In Colorado, they are easy-to-grow flowering houseplants. Planttalk Colorado offers the following tips for growing Bromeliads successfully.

Merry Christmas!

Norfolk Island Pine as a Holiday Tree by Donna Duffy

Photo courtesy thedirtdiaries.com

You may be seeing Norfolk Island pines in the garden centers and big box stores, marketed as an alternative to a typical Christmas tree. Planttalk Colorado offers the following tips for keeping your Norfolk Island pine alive and healthy during the holiday season and beyond.

Providing for Birds in the Winter by Donna Duffy

Black-capped Chickadee, photo courtesy birds gallery.net

Many different kinds of birds make their home along the Front Range of Colorado, and it doesn't take much cost or effort to attract and feed them. Joe Julian, CSU Horticulture, offers the following tips for winter feeding of birds in Colorado.

Poinsettias Bring Holiday Color and Cheer By Joyce D’Agostino

Photo CSU Co-Hort

Outside of the Christmas tree, there are few other plants that are recognized as part of the holiday season than the bright Poinsettias.

These cheerful plants originated with the Aztecs in Mexico and are now loved worldwide for bringing bright color to the dark days of winter.  At one time, only the red and some pink colors were primarily available but now due to extensive experimentation and breeding, you can find poinsettias in many sizes and colors.  Their botanical name is Euphorbia pulcherrima.a p

What is often called the petals are actually “bracts” which are actually leaves with a bright pigment.  The true flowers on the poinsettias are found in the center of the bracts. 

Caring for Your Christmas Tree by Donna Duffy

Photo courtesy nj.com

What’s your vision of a perfect Christmas tree? Some would say it needs to be full and symmetrical. Others look for well-spaced limbs strong enough to support lots of lights and ornaments. Some like natural trees, others like artificial trees. Me? I tend to gravitate toward the “Charlie Brown” trees hiding at the edges of the lot. Regardless of your preference, caring for your tree properly will keep it healthy and fresh for the longest possible time after purchase.