originally hails from El Salvador, but has been a mainstay at Harlequin’s for 14 years – propagating, potting up and keeping our plants beautiful. Back in El Salvador he has a coffee farm with cows and other animals. Alfredo grew up on his grandfather’s dairy farm where he began learning to take care of plants and animals, and we feel blessed his skills grace us now.
Chionodoxa luciliae alba
Lovely and easy, this naturalizing Glory of the Snow is among the first flowers of the year, and will succeed in most soils and locations, forming a spreading carpet of glistening white in very early spring. Each 6” stem holds 5 to 10 pure white starry flowers. Consider planting in lawns, under fruit trees, in open ‘woodland’ gardens, rock gardens, and to under-plant early Narcissus. Foliage disappears by late spring. Native to mountainsides in Western Turkey. Cold-hardy to Zone 3, sun to part shade, deer-resistant. Plant bulbs 3” deep and 2-3” apart or 9 bulbs per square foot.
Colchicum ‘Waterlily’ – SOLD OUT!
NEW for 2023!
Waterlily Autumn Crocus
Bulb. Z5. 6-8” tall. Blooms mid-autumn. Compost-improved soil. Heirloom.
Adds plentiful, brilliant color to your fall garden. Large 3” silky, lilac-pink flowers will naturalize in your garden over the years. 1-6 flowers rise from each corm. Very hardy plant. Foliage appears in early summer, and flowers in the autumn. Toxic to dogs and cats. Wash hands after handling. Deer and rabbit resistant. Beautiful in front of shrubs, along pathways and patios and around low-growing perennials.
Ann Zelnio
loves to help Harlequin’s Gardens customers learn about plants right for Colorado. A long-time teacher and advocate for organic gardening methods (she recently earned her Organic Master Gardener certification!), Ann also has interests in regenerative agriculture and gardening to nourish the living soil; tap-dancing; cooking whole grain food.
Crocus sieberi ‘Tricolor’
Crocus sieberi ‘Tricolor’ (‘Tricolor’ botanical Crocus)
One of the most striking and earliest crocuses to flower, Tricolor’s graceful, 4”-tall blooms have a big garden impact. The fragrant flowers have rich purple petals and golden throats beautifully edged with a prominent pure white band. The golden anthers and orange stigma are prominent in the center. Born in March or early April on sturdy stems, the blooms open with the narrow, dark green leaves. Plant 4″ deep and 3″ to 4″ apart in a sunny or lightly shaded location.
EREMURUS isabellinus ‘Pinokkio’
Bulb. Z5. 2-4’ tall. Blooms late spring / early summer. Compost-improved soil.
Showy, long-lasting, tall panicles of graceful flower spikes are packed with deep orange-yellow flowers with burnt orange anthers. Shorter than other foxtail lilies. Shelter from strong winds. Place mulch on top of tubers after planting. Water consistently until after flowering. Deer and rabbit resistant. Very attractive to bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. Striking cut flower. Best in front of a dark background and combined with tall warm-season grasses, ground covers and late-flowering perennials which hide foliage when it dies back.
Fritillaria imperialis ‘Rubra Maxima’
Crown Imperial Red Fritillaria
Bulb. Z4. 2-3’ tall. Blooms early-mid spring. Compost-improved soil.
Long-lasting unusual bell shaped flowers give your garden an exotic look. This stately and striking plant has blazing orange-red flowers with purple veins. Deer and rabbit resistant. Grows well in containers. Bees and hummingbirds love this plant! Rubra maxima is best planted intermixed with perennials that flower later in the season to hide spent foliage.
Hyacinth ‘Aiolos’
Bulb. Z4. 8-12” tall. Blooms mid-spring. Compost-improved soil.
Aiolos adds class and beauty to your garden. This hyacinth is a symbol of peace, commitment and beauty. Grows well in containers. May be forced indoors. Deer and rabbit resistant. Bees, especially bumble bees adore this sweet smelling hyacinth. Toxic to dogs and cats. Wash hands after handling. Lovely as a cut flower which brings a heavenly fragrance into your home. Its showy purity blends well with most other spring bulbs.
Bagged Mulches
Fine Woodchip Mulch: Mats tight to prevent blowing by the wind, and lets less light get to weed seeds, has more nutritive potential than cedar or redwood, decomposes rapidly against the ground.
Eve Reshetnik Brawner
has always had a passion for gardening and for studying, growing, and drawing plants. She has a degree in landscape architecture and over ten years of professional experience in that field. She has delved into roses, fragrant flowers, grasses, clematis, vegetables, and herbs, and is now smitten with natives and rock gardening. Eve, with Mikl, designed the rose garden at the Boulder Dushanbe Tea House. In her “spare” time she is a musician, a fine artist and loves to spend time in nature. Eve is co-owner of Harlequin’s Gardens.
Jared Borowsky
has multiple degrees relating to horticulture (horticulture production, sustainable agriculture, natural areas management, and a permaculture design certificate). Jared is our Specialist for Trees, Shrubs and Houseplants. He is also involved in the production of our cool and warm season vegetables.
Jeff Edson
has a degree in biology and spent much of his professional life directing the cleanup of toxic waste sites, like the Rocky Mt. Arsenal. Jeff is an avid gardener and has been growing wine grapes for the past 20 years.
Jillian Gourley
has a degree in horticulture, arboriculture, and natural areas management. She is excited to help people navigate the plants of Harlequins and find what will best suit their and the plant’s needs. Jillian is fascinated with the native plants of the Rockies and particularly has interests in medicinals, edibles, and wild mushrooms.
Jose Escobar
has worked at Harlequin’s Gardens for eight years. We’re grateful for all he does behind the scenes keeping everything healthy. He loves to watch plants grow, and has been gardening since he was a teenager back in El Salvador.
Mikl Brawner
got his initial training along the creeks and woods of eastern Iowa. He studied biology at the University of Iowa, then went to India with the Peace Corps. Back in America, he managed a small organic apple orchard, and operated a tree care business. Studying plants, researching alternatives to pesticides, and developing a xeriscape garden led him from the treetops to a plant nursery. Now the evolving Harlequin’s Gardens is his lifework, helping the gardening community to bring nature into their personal lives and homes using sustainable plants, materials and methods. His current passion is soil health and energy-efficient greenhouses. He was honored with the 2009 PaceSetter Award for the Environment.
Cold Weather and Snow Preparation and Protection
As Colorado gardeners, we’ve come to expect snow in October (last year it was October 10), but September?! In the past 24 hours, we saw a temperature swing of more than 60 degrees, going from record-breaking heat to one of the earliest recorded snow falls in the state (the earliest recorded area snowfall was in 1961 when Denver received over 4″ of snow on Labor Day).
This translates into a lot of flower, fruit, and vegetable crops cut short, and a lot of unanticipated work protecting vulnerable plants, harvesting, and preserving. How many of you spent Sunday and Monday making pesto, tomato sauce, pickles, jam, and flower bouquets?[Read More]
Garden Magazine’s 2019 State of the Industry Report
This fall, Garden Magazine’s Matt Mcclellan interviewed Mikl to find out more about our sustainable approach to growing plants and how it appeals to our conscientious customers. Read the article here
Virtual Garden Tour – Dana S.
1. What percentage of the plants in the pictures do you think came from Harlequin’s Gardens?
About 30 to 40%
2. Did you create this garden (you and your family) or did you have professional help? Describe briefly
I created it.
3. What is the age of this garden? What town or area? What elevation?
3 years old- North West Longmont The elevation is 4984.
4. What irrigation method(s) do you use and how often do you water and for how long?
Nature and hand water. I have watered twice this summer, once in July & once in August. That is not counting the new plants. I go out & water some areas more than others when I hand water. Some need very little & some need to be watered longer. The rain, when we get it, has been helpful this year. I plant those with like watering needs together.
5. What is your soil like? Did you amend it? With what?
The soil here started out as heavy clay. Into that, I amended it with good top soil, with compost, & mixed in squeegy. It drains well, & since it is a rock garden, has lots of rock.
6. How big is your garden and how often do you work in your garden?
It covers my entire front yard. Not counting the small strip on the other side of the drive way. I go out now & weed once a week in the spring. As the summer goes on, maybe every 2-3 weeks now. It is mostly bind weed I battle. I go out & walk through the garden almost everyday. I weed bits here & there. The focused weeding happens less. I like that part. I also cut back & trim when I weed.
7. What has, or currently does, inspire you to garden and use sustainable practices?
I have been a lover of Xeric gardens for a long time. I lived in the Desert Southwest at points early on. I love cliffs & rocky views. I got inspired after a visit to the Western Slope. It has continued to morph as time has gone on. I visualize my designs as I go at night.
I have never liked grass, & I resent spending money on the water. It is a waste of my time to mow & feed a parasite. I grew up in Kansas on a farm, & never knew anything but grass.
8. How do you deal with “weeds”? What is your approach to insect pests and disease?
I dig them & use a pre emergent for seeds. As time goes by I need to use less & less. I don’t use it around where I feed the birds. I will kill certain insects if I find them, while I just leave others alone. If I find disease I need to deal with, I just cut it off. I have lots of bees, butterflies & birds. I encourage healthy competition.
9. Share a brief story about something you learned from your garden or plants, or inspiration received from gardening?
I have always been a gardener. Even helping my Grandmother as a child in her garden. It has always been in my DNA. When I became a Master Gardener, it just developed as I went. It took me almost ten years to figure out what I wanted my garden to be. My friend & fellow Master Gardener helped me build this one. It is almost totally complete. Started in July 2016. Like I said earlier, I have always loved digging in the dirt. It has saved my sanity. My Father built a lot with stone & I always loved the way soil & stone work together.
The trip to the Western Slope stuck with me.
10. What is your experience growing plants from Harlequin’s Gardens.
What I like about Harlequin’s, is that I know the plants will grow here. They are not Eastern plants. I source plants form different places. I like unique plants that have a certain use or look, & I Love plants that have texture. I am such a texture freak. I love cold hardy cactus & succulents. I experiment with different plants–some work & some don’t. The plants I have from Harlequin’s are plants the have both use & texture.
I have also had to be aware of cost, so I look for ways to achieve the goal, but maybe are not the perfect choice. I use sustainable & reuse hardscape. I have gotten lots of info & ideas from Harlequin’s.
11. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us and/or our community?
I think to have true joy from a garden, for me it is the feeling of the dirt & the love you feel when you look at what you have created. It brings me such peace. That is my goal.
Climate Strike 2019
“On September 20th, young people and adults across the US and world will strike to tell the UN and leaders across the world that we want climate action. By growing and uniting the multi generational climate movement, the strike is the launch of a new era for just and equitable climate action.”
Harlequin’s Gardens is joining the Climate Strike, Friday Sept. 20th, by striking while the iron is hot, increasing the focus on the Climate Crisis.
At Harlequin’s Gardens we will not be leaving our jobs on September 20. Instead we will be at work for Harlequin’s where we are always working to help you and the planet. AND we will be giving away one Free bag of compost with each purchase, on Friday, the 20th.[Read More]
Lycium (Goji Berry)
Whoever heard of Goji Berry 20 years ago? Now, with the current interest in superfoods, phytonutrients and antioxidants, Goji Berry juice and dried fruits can be found in many urban grocery stores. The 70+ species of Lycium are found on most continents and one species, Lycium pallidum, is native to Colorado. But the best known and most grown Goji is Lycium barbarum, the Chinese Wolfberry, also known as Matrimony Vine, Desert Thorn and Boxthorn. What is not commonly known is that this exotic superfood can be easily grown in Colorado.[Read More]
Narcissus ‘Mount Hood’
Breathtaking pure white flowers. Grows to 14” tall. Plant 6” deep and 6” apart in full sun to light shade. Deer and rabbit resistant.
Hardy to zone 3.
Insectary Plants: Let Nature Manage the Pests
It’s a common idea that Nature, left to its own devices, comes to some kind of balance. If one organism gets too numerous, something else will increase to reduce that population. In the case of monocultures created by humans, there is an enforced imbalance that has to be propped up with lots of energy and effort. So in the pursuit of sustainability, humans are opening our eyes to the possibility of biomimicry, imitating Nature. We are coming to the realization that biodiversity is far healthier and less energy intensive than monocultures born out of the aggressive hubris to control Nature. “Let Nature take her course.” But we can stack the deck in human favor first.[Read More]
Biological Farming & Gardening
A newer science that’s not tied to petroleum profits is emerging to challenge the industrial approach to agriculture and gardening. Enormously powerful, politically connected giants like Monsanto, Bayer, and Dupont will continue to make money, but after 60 years of dominance, the “Better Living Through Chemistry” model can no longer hide its fatal flaws. Mountains of evidence now point to the downside of chemical agriculture: poisoning the earth, driving global climate change, causing major health problems, killing pollinators, destroying the life of the soil. The good news is that a more long-range, wholistic view called Biological Agriculture and Gardening is starting to take its place.
This “new” method is based on an entirely different paradigm or model of plant culture. Instead of the bellicose mentality that birthed the pesticide-fungicide-herbicide and chemical fertilizer approach, the biological approach taps the same cooperative relationships that Nature herself has long employed successfully for survival and sustainability. Instead of seeing bacteria as germs, fungi as diseases, and insects and weeds as pests, the biological model sees Nature as brilliantly creative and diverse, and basically good. The scientific truth is that few insects, bacteria and fungi are harmful; most are beneficial or essential to plant development, plant health, and subsequently for human health.[Read More]
Curl-Leaf Mt. Mahogany
Curl-leaf Mt. Mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius)
This tall shrub or short tree is a beautiful broadleaf evergreen that is native to Colorado and much of the west up to 9000’. It’s narrow, curled leaves are an adaptation to reduce exposure to drying sun and wind; consequently it is very drought resistant, needing no irrigation after being established.The leaves are also thick, leathery, resinous and dark green above and pale below. Flowers are mostly inconspicuous and the fruit is only 1/4” long with a 2”-3” long silky tail. In dry weather these tails twist like a cork screw and with a little wind can be carried a good distance and then they will screw the seed right into the soil.[Read More]
Virtual Garden Tour – Mikl B
1. What percentage of the plants in the pictures do you think came from Harlequin’s Gardens?
Almost all.
2. Did you create this garden (you and your family) or did you have professional help? Describe briefly:
We designed the garden ourselves. It evolved over many years. It was more plant-driven design than designed on paper. Water was a limiting factor that disciplined our selection, and we grouped plants by water needs and what looked good together. Strolling through the garden (sometimes with a plant in hand) and looking often inspired design.
3. What is the age of this garden? What town or area? What elevation?
The garden, which we call a Rock Meadow, was started in 1985. It is still evolving. We are located near Boulder, in a rural area, 5300′
4. What irrigation method(s) do you use and how often do you water and for how long?
We water by sprinkler on a a hose, usually for 30 minutes at a location, 5-6 times a year, generally once a month and twice in July. We water when the garden needs water. New plants get hand watered to establish.
5. What is your soil like? Did you amend it? With what?
Our soil is gravelly with some clay; some areas have more clay. Some areas were amended with just compost, some with pea gravel, sand and compost. Newer areas have some expanded shale. We have added some rock minerals, some light fertilizers and some compost topdressing, especially in the fall. Occasionally we use compost tea.
6. How big is your garden and how often do you work in your garden?
I’d estimate the Rock Meadow is about 900 square feet. Because I’m busy, I get help with weeding and watering, and some planting. It is hard to guess how much time I spend but maybe 2-8 hours a week.
7. What has, or currently does, inspire you to garden and use sustainable practices?
I like natives and drought tolerant plants, mostly from western US and from Steppe regions of Turkey, Afghanistan, Iran, Kazakhstan, etc. Those plants that are adapted to our conditions thrive and those that don’t I let them go. The garden has kinda naturalized over the years.
8. How do you deal with “weeds”? What is your approach to insect pests and disease?
I weed with good hand tools (occasionally with a spade.) I get after grasses early in March, Bindweed in April, May and allow no seed, Ground Ivy whenever I see it. I thin flowering biennials, I don’t let weeds get too big before removing them. I think some weeds are ok, like edible purslane. Wet years I’m less tolerant of weeds. I garden organically and almost never spray anything for insects. I have lots of benefical insects in the garden.
9. Share a brief story about something you learned from your garden or plants, or inspiration received from gardening?
After 11 years, my Agave parryi started pushing up a bloom stalk. It grew so fast and so dramatic people started coming to visit it. Finally, it reached 11 feet tall with a 3′ candelabra-like bloom of orange-yellow cup shaped flowers that attracted both people and a Bullock’s Oriole.
10. What is your experience growing plants from Harlequin’s Gardens?
The plants that I get from Harlequin’s, though perhaps smaller and maybe not in flower, are the most dependable to establish. Once they are in the ground, they grow well and are more drought tolerant and tough.
11. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us and/or our community?
I look forward to visiting other gardens on this virtual garden tour. Also, I hope Harlequin’s can continue to survive, because I enjoy the naturalness of the setting and the helpful and friendly staff.
2018 Taste of Tomato Results
This year’s Taste of Tomato was a blast! We love the new location at Growing Gardens’ Barn, with its’ beautiful view of the Flatirons, easy access, and wonderful staff. The tasting featured 44 different varieties of tomatoes, with Aunt Ruby’s German Green winning the greatest number of votes. Participants brought in some wonderful new varieties this year, including Brad’s Atomic Grape, Thornburn’s Terracotta, and Indigo Cherry. Look for the most popular varieties from this year and previous years when you come to buy your organic tomato starts next spring at Harlequin’s Gardens. Every year we grow 80+ great varieties for all kinds of uses and growing conditions![Read More]
Narcissus ‘Thalia’
Lovely, snow-white, fragrant, award-winning Triandrus Narcissus ‘Thalia’ is a gracious, natural beauty that has been a perennial favorite since its introduction in 1916. Thalia bears two to three, pendant, star-shaped flowers per stem, poised above slender, deep green foliage. Also known as the ‘Orchid Narcissus’, this demure heirloom has graceful, spreading, slightly recurved flower petals encircling a long, slightly ribbed, cup-shaped crown. Unlike most ‘white’ narcissi, Thalia opens white and remains white. As long-lived Thalia naturalizes and matures over the years, it may bear up to five flowering stems per bulb in mid-spring.
Plant in full sun or part shade, in fertile, well-drained soil. Lends itself to virtually any garden style, from ‘wild woodland’ to formal parterre. 6-20” tall. Plant 6-8” deep, 6” apart. Deer and rodent-proof. Hardy to Zone 4.
Tulipa ‘Blueberry Ripple’ Triumph Tulip
Blueberry Ripple Tulip
Bulb. Z3. 14-16” tall. Blooms mid-spring. Compost-improved soil.
A Triumph of a Tulip indeed! Very unusual flower with dark purple flames rippling up white petals. Grows well in containers. Makes a stunning cut flower and has a lovely fragrance. Toxic to dogs and cats. Wash hands after handling. Plant with other white or purple blooms such as candytuft, snow-in-summer, grape hyacinths and snowdrops to enhance their dramatic effect in your garden.
A Xeriscape Harvest
For most people, harvest time brings to mind a cornucopia of veggies and fruits. For me, the end of this 2009 growing season has been a fruition of over 20 years of cultivating a xeriscape where most of the trees and shrubs have been watered 5 times a year or less. These self-imposed watering restrictions have demonstrated which plants can survive and thrive under serious water shortages. I have done this both to encourage water conservation in Colorado and to demonstrate that a dry western landscape can be beautiful.
The reason why 2009 feels like a harvest year is because many of my woody plants are now mature and because with all the rain we’ve been getting, my xeriscape has never looked better at the end of summer.[Read More]
Tulipa ‘Little Beauty’ Species Tulip
These adorable Species Tulips have reddish-pink petals with glowing, blue-eyed centers.
Plant 3” deep in full to part sun. Lightly fragrant. Grows 4-6” tall. Zone 3.
Tulipa ‘Muvota’ Triumph
Muvota Triumph Tulip
Bulb. Z3. 16-18” tall. Blooms mid-spring. Compost-improved soil.
A show-stopper! The striking contrasting petals of dark red/maroon petals with dusty orange/rose edges will give your garden plenty of second glances. Plant in masses and close to walkways to maximize visibility. Stunning cut flower. Plant with large solid swatches of forget me nots, candytuft or basket of gold.
A Soil Revolution
In this article, Mikl explains why Soil Health matters.
From Peak Soil to Soil Revolution
We are having a real revolution in our relationship with our soils. The turning point is our change in focus from soil fertility to soil health. In the last 60 years of the “Green Revolution” (i.e. the petrochemical boom), soil was viewed as a physical structure and fertility was viewed as a measure of chemicals in the soil — primarily NPK, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. The petroleum industry could make these macronutrients from natural gas, which make plants grow but often in poor health. Weak plants attract insect pests and fungal diseases, so more petroleum in the forms of insecticides and fungicides added to the success of the oil industry. But this approach has led to “Peak Soil” where land is losing productivity, crops are losing nutritional value, the soil is eroding at extreme rates, and the health of animals and people has declined.[Read More]
How Do We Manage Fireblight
Colorado is said to be the worst state in the US for fireblight, and 2018 was considered by many to be one of the worst years in Colorado. Fireblight is a serious disease affecting apples, crabapples, pears, Mountain Ash and hawthorn, and sometimes quince and pyracantha (supposedly up to 73 species of plants).[Read More]
Drought Resiliency
Drought resiliency is normally thought of as the ability to spring back after a drought or maybe it means tolerant of drought. But when a plant is stressed by having little water, its ability to survive and even thrive is influenced by other factors, some of which are Health, Vitality, Strength and Immune function.
The word Sustainability has become popular as a goal, but the word is too static. A more active word is Re-generative. We can “create” gardens that not only can maintain, but also support the abilities of Life to regrow, multiply, defend itself against predators and add to the vitality of other living things around it.[Read More]
July Color in the Xeriscape Garden
Xeriscape? Are you kidding? With all the rain we’ve been getting, isn’t the drought over?
As I understand our current water situation, water restrictions are still in effect for the Denver area, Colorado Springs has had a very dry spring until July and is under water restrictions, the Western Slope has been dry, New Mexico has been dry until July; and Montana and South Dakota are having severe droughts. What this means is that the wonderful moist season we are enjoying in the Denver area depends on ephemeral conditions we cannot count on. In addition, much of our water comes from the Western Slope where weather patterns can be quite different from our own, so even if our gardens are getting watered, it doesn’t mean our reservoirs will be full. We live in a semi-arid environment and water conservation and xeriscaping will be increasingly important as our population grows, especially if global warming increases our temperatures.[Read More]
On The Dry Side
Plants that can survive and even thrive with little water are always valuable in Colorado where we get 15”-18” of precipitation most years. But when a real drought comes or when limited snowfall in the mountains means water restrictions down here, then xeriscape plants are essential in our gardens
Because the well at Harlequin’s Gardens nursery is so poor, my rockery garden has been on water restrictions for the last 25 years. Here are some plants that have performed well in my garden that is watered only 3 to 7 times a year.[Read More]
Some Drought-Tolerant Gems
Plants that tolerate or even revel in hot, dry conditions are always in vogue in Colorado. We may be blessed with moisture in the spring, as we had this year, but by June or July our vegetables need regular watering and east coast woodland plants are melting. There are some plants, however that are adapted to hot and dry conditions. Some are natives and some are from other regions of the world that have similar drought stresses as we have here.
These gems are ones that we have tested at Harlequin’s Gardens where none of our demonstration gardens are watered more than once a week, and others only 5 or 6 times a year. We can recommend these plants as successful and enjoyable under mandated or self-imposed watering restrictions.[Read More]
The 2002 Drought
Drought, Water Restrictions and Gardening: How Can They Go Together?
I think we were all caught off guard by this drought, by how fast we were forced to see dying trees and brown lawns and by the difficult discipline of watering restrictions. This was especially true in Boulder and Lafayette where mandatory restrictions began in May. Actually, 2002 is the third year in a genuine drought, which some of us without city water supplies can confirm. This year all around Boulder, Red Twig Dogwoods turned brown, linden leaves were scorched, Norway Maples suffered, many viburnums were looking very stressed, and trees in medians defoliated or died. Gardeners caught in the crunch between weeks of hot, dry weather and few opportunities to water, held off most of their planting projects; some started talking about moving away to where they could garden. For Denver and other Colorado cities, next year could be much worse.[Read More]
Three Xeric Plant Select Favorites
Here are three hardy, xeric and floriferous plants that are successful in western gardens.
Russian Hawthorn, Crataegus ambiguus was tested at the Cheyenne Horticultural Station and found to be well-adapted to the west. It is native to Armenia, Iran, Russia, Ukraine and Turkey. I have a 20 year-old specimen growing without irrigation along with many native shrubs. The mature size is 15′-20′ high and wide in our area. The branches grow quite horizontally which gives it natural character. It lends itself to a bonsai/character style, and I have been growing one in a big ceramic pot for 10 years. The finely cut leaves give a soft appearance and in May it blooms with profuse white flowers that are attractive to bees and butterflies and followed by showy red berries in August/September that are eaten by birds. Very dry conditions can result in fewer flowers and fruit. Like apples, to which Hawthorns are related, the seeds contain some cyanide, so should not be eaten, but the berries are edible and make a respected heart tonic.[Read More]
Beyond GMOs and Petroleum Farming
Four years ago I was among the group of Boulder County residents who were asking to ban GMOs on our publically-owned farm lands. The Commissioners at that time voted to add GMO Sugar Beets to the already approved GMO corn, but they also increased the acreage of land to be used for organic agriculture and agreed to take another look at neonicotinoid use if there was new evidence. There is now new evidence on GMOs, Roundup that is used on 80% of GMOs and on neonicotinoids linked to the death and weakening of all our insects, including bees.
So in 2011, in order to find out if there were practical non-toxic options to manage larger pieces of farm land (like 200-300 acres), I traveled to Ohio to an Acres USA Conference. Attending that conference were over a thousand farmers and ranchers. ACRES has been guiding eco-agriculture for 45 years now; the last conference I had attended was in 1977. I met farmers and attended talks by farmers who were managing 100-1000 acres without GMOs and without toxic chemicals.[Read More]
Xeric Perennials that Thrived During the 2002 Drought
Xeriscape Perennials Thriving in 2002 Drought
Acantholimon glumacium
Acantholimon hohenackeri
Acantholimon litwanovii
Achillea ‘Moonshine’
Achillea ageratifolia (Greek Yarrow)[Read More]
Quaking Aspens
Leave them to the Mountains OR Plant them at Home?
Populus tremuloides or Quaking Aspen is not only one of the best-known native trees here in Colorado, but it is said to be the most widely distributed tree of North America. Its narrow, roughly pyramidal form is commonly 25’-30’ tall and 15’-20’ wide, although it can get much larger. The leaves are shiny, dark green above and light gray-green beneath which makes the tree shimmer in the breezes. Also its whitish trunk adds to its attractive architecture. Then in the fall the leaves can turn a rich golden yellow which look glorious on the tree and lovely on the ground. It has a suckering habit which inclines it to clumps and which has put aspen in the running for the world’s largest being.[Read More]
Bigtooth Maple
Bigtooth Maple, Acer grandidentatum, is native to the far southwest corner of Colorado in a place known as Sleeping Ute Mountain. It is common in canyons, northfacing slopes and along mountain streams in Utah, Wyoming and west Texas from 5000′ to 8000′. Although most often listed as a separate species, Bigtooth Maple is sometimes called Western Sugar Maple, therefore, a subspecies of Acer saccharum. Its other names are Canyon Maple and Wasatch Maple.[Read More]
Bur Oak
BUR OAK—QUERCUS MACROCARPA-MOSSY CUP OAK
One of the most successful oaks for Colorado is the Bur Oak. It is adaptable to our clay soils and tolerates our alkaline conditions better than most oaks. In harsh, droughty areas this tree can be a low shrub, but on rich, river-bottom land can get 170’ high and 6’-7’ in diameter; but most often grows 50’-70’ high. The trunk is often thick and short with deeply furrowed bark, and the stout branches often extend almost straight out making the tree as broad as tall. The leaves are deeply lobed only in the bottom half and these lobes are rounded not pointed as with many other oaks. The acorns are distinctive in that there is a mossy fringe around the cap. The overall effect can be quite grand and sculptural, sometimes like a Chinese painting. The short taproot is surrounded by a massive root system which is strongly competitive. This is why old specimens often are standing alone.[Read More]
Catalpa
Western (Northern) Catalpa- Catalpa speciosa
It is surprising that a tree that looks so different from the other Colorado-adapted trees, is so successful. What stands out immediately are the huge leaves which can be 3”x 6” or even 6” x “12” and are heart-shaped. And in June, this large shade tree blooms exquisite, ruffled, bell-like, white, fragrant flowers with yellow and purplish coloration .And in the fall the passerby might be surprised to see the long thin pods 10”- 18” long.[Read More]
Champion Trees Show More Possibilities
Growing trees in Colorado, especially big shade trees, can be very challenging. Few of the specimens in our community “forests” are native to Colorado, and areas where big trees are abundant are often so different from our conditions that those trees do not adapt well here. Some of the difficulties trees face here are: alkaline soils, nutrient-poor and shallow soils, low humidity, hot and drying winter sun, strong winds, untimely wet snows in spring and fall, rapidly changing temperatures, and low rainfall. Add to these the confining root zones in which many trees are growing in urban environments, and it is easy to understand why our trees are often stressed, subject to borer and fungus problems, broken and short-lived.[Read More]
Kentucky Coffee Tree – Gymnocladus dioica
This member of the pea family (Fabaceae) can get 50’-60’ high and 30’-40’ wide, though most that I’ve seen in Colorado are under 45’. Nearly everybody thinks of this tree as interesting or picturesque.The branching is more open than most trees and the bark is gray to dark brown, rough and deeply ridged even on small branches. The leaves are bluish-green and somewhat tropical-looking being double compound, each one 18”-24” long and forked with small leaflets alternating on the stem. Fall color is yellow. As the species name implies, this tree is dioecious, having the male and female flowers on separate trees. The flowers are greenish-white, supposedly fragrant and not conspicuous. On the female trees, tough, leathery seed pods follow that are 4”-6” long and 1 1/4”-2” wide. These hang on after the leaves fall and into the winter.[Read More]
Hackberry
Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Why would anybody be interested in a tree that is just the common variety? In this case, we Coloradoans can be very interested because “common” means it will grow just about anywhere. In our harsh country that provides a good living for people planting and replanting and pruning and re-pruning trees, the Common Hackberry is somewhat of a relief. It will grow to 7000’. Our 25 below zero winters do not bother it as it is hardy to zone 2, which helps a lot in adjusting to our sudden warm-to-cold swings. It is also not picky about soils, tolerating both acidic and our usual alkaline conditions; rocky is fine, heavy clay is OK; it really likes rich, moist, but grows right along in poor, dry, windy, polluted cities. [Read More]
How to Plant a Tree
Planting a tree puts us in touch with one of the most essential parts of a tree that is often overlooked—the roots. When a seed germinates, the first part to develop is the root. The seed has stored nutrients, but if the plant is to live, it must immediately make a relationship with the nourishment of the earth. Then it can make the sprout that pushes into the sunlight to start photosynthesizing. So the first matter of importance in planting a tree is to honor its roots—their condition, their future environment and their nourishment.[Read More]
Interview with Alex Shigo
Alex Shigo is a world-renowned authority in arboriculture, the science of trees. His delving curiosity and sharp scientific analyses carried him beneath the bark into a realm previously little understood. He worked 26 years for the US Forest Service investigating decay in trees, and through the process of dissecting over 15,000 trees with a chainsaw, he has uncovered much valuable information about tree structures and tree systems that have revolutionized the practice of tree care. As he puts it in the preface to his book Tree Pruning, “A major problem throughout the history of tree pruning has been the scant attention given to pruning as it affects the health of trees, while great attention has been given to pruning as it affects the desires of man.” Even though he is busy writing, giving workshops and talks and doing consulting, he agreed to answer some pressing questions for The Colorado Gardener.[Read More]