Happy New Gardening Year 2022!

 

The photo was taken in 2004, seed prices (like everything else) have certainly gone up in price. And Rocky Mountain Seed Company is no more. 😞

Wishing you a very healthy and happy New Year, plus the best gardening season yet! 

 

 

Christmas 2021

 

Oh, the Weather Outside is Frightful - it's DRY!!

Current year new pollinator plants

We wish we had better news about December weather. Those smart weather forecasting folks at NOAA are predicting warm and dry conditions again this month. 

 

 

 

 

My water bill is creeping up there because our trees and plants aren't going to water themselves. At least we'll get some vitamin D while outside setting up the hoses and sprinkler heads.  

Even though your neighbors probably aren't watering their landscape, set a good example by your actions and then try encouraging them to do the same. Let your neighbors know that dry plants roots over the winter can lead to plant stress or death or something in between.  

Think ... wet - winter, or wet roots going into the winter season is the best way to care for your plants.   

I like to water mid-day so it soaks in well. Move the sprinkler around the drip line of trees every fifteen minutes or so. Also focus on newly planted landscapes or just the newest plants.

Additional Reading:

Colorado State University Fall and Winter Watering 

Planttalk Colorado™ Winter Watering Trees and Shrubs Video

Tree Care Guide - Denver Water

Why Should you Water Your Trees this Winter 

  

Thanksgiving Memories

Thanksgiving day holds many memories for kids and adults.

If you focus you can almost put yourself in that time and place of past Thanksgiving Day holidays. 

Time travel aside, you might agree with a critic who once said ... "parts of it I liked, parts of it I didn't."

The not so pleasant Thanksgivings for me centered around table seat location. Either I was seated at the kid's table where crying and fussing was the group consensus or positioned where two side dishes were parked near my plate - the giant tomato aspic gelatinous thing and a dressing casserole swimming with sick-looking grey particles of oysters mixed around with other unknown stuff.  

The aspic looked like a left over Halloween attempt to scare small children, no doubt it was named goblin goop or zombie jello. The oyster dish had an aroma that just didn't mesh well with savory turkey and creamy pumpkin pie. I know, I know, for some folks Thanksgiving just ain't the same without these two sides. 

My grandparents on my dad's side hosted Thanksgiving Day for most of my young childhood. My siblings would say that I was a reluctant guest (putting it mildly). Hey, the grandparents didn't have a wide selection of toys and in those days we had to play in the "other" room and keep our voices down. Those square nesting blocks got pretty old pretty fast.

Later in my teens when my parents started hosting, both sides of the family would often be invited. Those years were my favorite. My mom prepared the Thanksgiving basics with contributions from the relatives who specialized in the two dishes mentioned above. Some years a guest would bring rolls, other years my mom would make them. You could always count on everyone at the table slathering the rolls with butter then topped with her homemade strawberry jelly that was made from that year's current crop. Bonus, you'd take home a jar or two to enjoy over the winter.

Dickie (my mom's nickname, read here to find out why) was as holiday prepared as the Food Network programming schedule ten weeks out from Christmas. I think she started shopping for Thanksgiving provisions right after Halloween.

Two days before Thanksgiving she'd bake the pumpkin pies, at least two; someone else usually brought a pecan pie or two. She was the queen of pie crusts, with every complement she'd say the secret is using a little cold water which guarantees a flaky crust.  

Also a couple of days ahead, she'd tear bread slices into small pieces right into the large mixing bowl so it would be good and dried out for the dressing. The day before preparation included boiling the turkey giblets for the dressing and setting the table. Everything else was cooked, baked, mashed, sliced and ready before the 2:00 pm sit down Thanksgiving gathering.

Stocky's (my dad's nickname) role in all of this preparation included keeping the grandkids entertained, mashing the potatoes and carving the turkey with the handy electric knife. I come from a family who uses this precise tool for many meat dishes. I still have the electric knife given to me as a Christmas gift the first year after college graduation. 

It will be used this
Thanksgiving.

Just prior to sitting down, the football game was muted (if allowed to be on), then we stood, holding hands around the table to thank the Lord for our family and friends and the bounty we were about to receive. Polite passing of food, complements to gramma (my mother) and conversation ensued while everyone lovingly cleaned their plate and voiced that they didn't think they had room for pie, not.

After the family heirloom dishes were cleared and washed, a rousing card game of "31." was on anyone's mind who didn't want to get back to the football game. Players had to ante up a nickle or dime and hope that you drew high cards to be the first to knock, then after one more round of draw and discard, the person closest to 31 or who had 31 total card points took the ante. Games were short and quick and allowed for talking, laughing and memory making. 

My Dad or Uncle Hank always seemed to win. No matter, those years taught me the fun of card and board games, especially at family gatherings.

As my favorite aunts, uncle's and parents passed away over the years, Thanksgiving Day dinners became less of an event and more about plugging in with those of us left. We'd talk about the old days, savor the remaining wine or coffee and relax watching the next generation hurry and eat so they could play with their toys.

In recent years Glen and I often host Thanksgiving here in Denver with the Cahill family. We rarely travel to my sibling's homes out of state. We keep the meal fairly basic with turkey, gravy, dressing, mashed potatoes, cranberries (real, not canned), green beans and of course pumpkin pie. Sweet potatoes, as much as I love them aren't generally served, but I wouldn't turn you away, plus insist you join us if you showed up on our doorstep with a hot dish of sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows on top!

This year's Thanksgiving will be bittersweet since we just lost Glen Sr. (my father-in-law) at the age of 90. He passed away just a few days ago. The photo left was taken a few years ago at our house. Rachel and Max our niece and nephew, plus Glen Sr. and Louise ... a moment of laughter made it a fun photo and wonderful memory!

May this year's Thanksgiving Day be very special with your family (past and present) and dear friends.

Last of the Leaves 2021

Ferris is a leaf magnet

We live in central Denver with deciduous trees growing on every front yard hell strip and then some. Love the shade, love the green canopy, I even love the leaves for mulching new plantings and tucking in and over the vegetable beds.

What I don't like is the constant mess of leaves that blow and go right where I raked the hour before. Usually these leaves are from the neighbor's trees who haven't raked yet (or ever). 

It's getting near the end of the leaves falling for the season and in celebration, here's a Top Ten Classic David Letterman.

Top 10 Signs You've Hired the Wrong Kid to Rake Your Leaves

10.  He charges you by the leaf.

9.    Keeps asking where he should plug in his rake.

8.    Picks up leaves one at a time, dips them in nacho cheese, eats them.

7.    Says, "This'll just take a minute," starts soaking your lawn with gasoline.  

6.    Your neighbor calls and asks, "Who's that naked guy chasing my dog with a rake?" 

5.    Half an hour after he starts, you notice he's sitting on your back porch.

4.    You recognize his work gloves from the O.J. Simpson trial.

3.    Comes to your back door and says "I've had a long talk with the leaves, and they've decided to stay." 

2.    Constantly reminding you that he used to be famous for those "Home Alone" movies.

1.    His motto:  Rake a leaf, do a shot.

Mid-November 2021 Blooms

What's still in bloom in the garden?

We have a lovely annual container of white bacopa on the patio. Granted, it is in a protected location next to a stucco wall, but it's going strong. Ferris is looking on with approval. 

A large clump of perennial blue scabiosa is intermittently blooming among the surrounding brown and tan foliage. Both plants are being visited by slow moving, determined honeybees. 

 

A lone violet achillea bloom appears proud and determined to remind us of a summer that has come and gone. 

Cut and grow again leafy lettuce mix in a Smart Pot® keeps us provided with a fresh tasting and welcome side salad two to three times a week. 

 

Japanese Beetle 2021 Fall Wrap Up - Contribute to Their Plant Feeding Survey List

Photo by Peggy Williams

As we've experienced each summer, pest Japanese beetles die out in the fall but aren't forgotten. We know the females have laid scores of eggs in lawns, which in a short time become larvae (white grubs) that feed on turf roots until the ground gets cold sometime in late fall. They remain tucked into the soil below turf roots until next spring to early summer. After pupating in spring these new progeny will emerge from lawns as adult Japanese beetles only to frustrate gardeners for another summer. 

For a visual of the Japanese beetle one year life cycle, see the illustration below.

While they are fresh in your mind, why not take some time now and contribute to a much needed plant survey about Japanese beetle feeding preferences in our region. Up to now, no major organized list exists for those of us who are looking for a quick plant reference guide. Many thanks go to John Murgel, Extension Agent Horticulture and Natural Resources in Douglas County for putting the reporting survey together with other supported input from area gardeners and professionals. 

Below is the link to the survey, it's one plant per survey. This might take you a little time when thinking about all your landscape plants that Japanese beetles like and ones they don't bother. 

No worries if you don't have the exact cultivar or botanical name of the plant, such as blue spruce, just enter blue spruce. If you know it has a botanical and cultivar name - Picea pungens 'Baby Blue Eyes," then please include this on the form. BTW, Japanese beetles do not favor blue spruce or conifers in general.

Many thanks, please pass this information on to other gardeners who may wish to help in the survey.  

Japanese Beetle Plant Survey 

 

Japanese Beetle ONE YEAR Life Cycle, Illustration by APHIS Joel Floyd

 

 

It's Official, Fall 2021

It only took until the final day of September for temperatures to cool, leaves to begin changing colors and a reach for the sweater.  Fall in Denver has arrived ... and oh what a relief it is to be out of the 90s. I love the fall gardening season!

What happenings are up next in the garden?  

For me it's pulling out the tomato and cucumber plants and getting the beds ready for planting garlic.

It's taken me three days (over a period of a couple of weeks) to take out the eight tomato plants. I don't work as fast as I used to and I ran out of room in the compost bin. I harvested a few more almost ripe tomatoes which will still taste grand in a couple of weeks after sitting pretty in a box in the basement. You can also wrap them individually in newspaper to ripen.

As I've written earlier, it was a banner tomato year. Instead of sharing a couple of fruits with neighbors and friends, they took home small boxes. Glen and I blanched and froze a dozen or more of bags of tomatoes for later use. Life in the garden is good.

Hands down my favorite warm season crops this past summer were Tomato Mountain Rouge, Martini Cucumbers and Genovese Basil which I grow every summer without fail.

The Mountain Rouge plants were extremely disease resistant yet didn't disappoint in the taste department. The untraditional blush pink color set it apart from the pack of go - to regular winners like 'Early Girl' and 'Celebrity.'

It's been years since I planted cucumbers, mainly because with just the two of us, they can't be eaten quickly enough. Not so with the martini cukes. No need to peel, just harvest when small, slice and drizzle with olive oil and a little salt and you're set for life. I wish I could grow these inside all winter - they're that good and so care free. The plants didn't get a speck of powdery mildew all summer - dumb me, I didn't take a photo before I pulled them. 

Sure, many of the martini cukes got large if not harvested often enough. This turned out to be a win for a friend with chickens. She told me that her chickens knew they were a very special treat and got super excited when she pulled them from the bag.

The basil is still going, I cover it every night with a folded heavy floating row cover. The next day I remove the cover when it's above fifty degrees.

Edibles that are growing now include some recently seeded mixed lettuces and, as mentioned the basil - all in Smart Pots® for convenience and super healthy growth.

Seed garlic will go in this weekend.  

I hope you had a wonderful summer growing season! 😀🍅🥒🌿🍆🍉🍑🍒🍓🍎

Summer Planted Basil Growing in Smart Pots®

Fall Planted Mixed Lettuce in Smart Pot®

Tomato Tales - the Long, Hot Summer of 2021

About this time of the outdoor garden season, ask anyone who has grown tomatoes if they've had a good or bad growing season and you'll usually get a thumbs up or down response. For up, I'm talking about growing healthy plants with lots of fruit to harvest for eating, sharing or putting up. Thumbs down would include anything from puny plants, few fruit to disease, insect or squirrel issues. 

I suppose there's a middle ground in there, but I rarely hear a gardener say they had a medium tomato year ... anything is possible in the garden, just view the photo below for proof. 

From what I'm hearing from other garden friends, it's been a pretty good tomato year, at least in the Denver area. That would make it a thumbs up season. I've also heard tomato woes which I actually thought I'd be incurring. We went from cool to swelt in a matter of four days in June. This is tough on all new veg starts and for sure - ones that haven't gone in the ground yet.

Here's a quick late spring planting weather summary for context -

• Rain (several days in May) with May 30, 31 being the final rainy days of spring. These two daytime temperatures were in the mid-fifties. Then June changed quickly like the weather gods said ... "hey Pat turn off the hose and turn up the oven, and keep it there until further notice."  
  

• Dry and Hot - all of June. On June fifth, we hit 94. Pat kept the oven on high heat as directed. The rest you know, July, same, August, same, September, the same (so far). 

• Also, I have determined that our raised bed vegetable area is at least six or more degrees warmer than other parts of the landscape. All five raised beds get baked by the sun year round.

My tomato tale - 

 

The May/early June timing to get plants in the ground was difficult in my raised beds. The rainy, cool May didn't allow the beds to adequately dry out. I tried to plant. I put in two of my seed grown tomato starts the first week in June but they fried right away (despite being covered by shade cloth). They were hardened off well but they couldn't handle the heat, plus the soil was still wet. What to do, the plants needed to go in the ground soon!

 

It hit me during the middle of a sleepless night that I needed to create a raised bed planting condition that would allow the small tomato plant roots to easily establish in non-wet soil, plus be protected from the 90+ degree June (and beyond) days ahead. And do this quickly!

 

The planting technique I'm about to describe is something that ordinarily I'd never admit in public, but what the heck, I'm not shy and the results were (are) spectacular.

 

Glen, my husband was enlisted to do the heavy digging.

 

Consistent 90+ degrees can cause flowers to dry

I asked him to dig deep, wide planting holes in the raised beds and to place the excess soil around and between the planting holes. Yes, the soil was wet and it's never a good idea to dig out or in wet soil. I absolutely violated this rule and time will tell (after a hard frost or two when the plants are removed) if I did a very bad boo boo to the soil. 

 

Eight holes were dug for the eight tomato plants (six were grown by me from seed, two were purchased to replace the two that croaked). I filled the holes with sterile potting soil and added my own fertilizer. I use potting soil brands that don't have added fertilizers and a bunch of other stuff that is barely pronounceable or understood why it's added. I like being in control of my soil fertility. 

 

The tomato plants went in that evening to give them several hours (at least) of cooler temperatures over night. They were shaded as well for several weeks until they were clearly established and on their way. 

 

Through late June and into July I noticed many of the plants had dried flowers, meaning with high heat (over 90 degrees), flowers can give up forming fruit - they simply dry and drop. Remember, it's super hot in this area, so 90 for most gardens is still hot, but we're practically cooking eggs on the small rock mulch surrounding the beds. AND, 90 would have been considered a cool spell in the past three summer months, it was often 95 or higher for days on end. 

 

How'd they turn out?

The tomato plants are happy in their unusual soil manipulation surroundings. 

 

I fertilized the plants again when they began forming fruit. They were mulched well with chemical-free grass clippings (renewed as needed all summer). 

 

Watering the plants was tricky. I learned early on that I needed to water often, every other day worked the best. The plants were watered by hand until we took a short weekend trip in mid-August when I relied on the flat, soft nylon soaker hoses which are programmed on the automatic sprinkler system. The soaker hoses continue to water the plants and thank goodness, it was getting old hand watering.

 

I use strong, 5-feet tall sturdy, concrete reinforced wire tomato cages. The indeterminate varieties grew very tall, they are currently heavy with fruit. One of the determinate varieties actually collapsed on itself from the weight of the the heavy tomatoes.

 

Plants were shaded AND cloth shaded west setting sun

The finessed growing system worked, and despite the heat, the flowers eventually formed fruit and now we have a healthy crop of tomatoes. We've blanched and frozen several batches (instead of canning, which is another great way to preserve excess tomatoes). Neighbors, family and friends are delighted when they get a text from me letting them know I'm leaving tomatoes on their doorstep. 

 

Grow and Give is another excellent way to share all extra homegrown produce, not just tomatoes. 

 

Tomatoes planted - seeded indoors in April - SummerPick Hybrid, Galahad Hybrid, Mountain Rouge Hybrid, Green Zebra, Sungold and Red Racer Hybrid. The two store bought plants are Celebrity and Early Girl. The best tasting with few seeds is the Mountain Rouge Hybrid, a 2019 AAS Winner.  Second place is the Sungold, and for pure delicious taste and ease of growth - outstanding!

 

Please feel free to comment below the blog and let me know what your favorite tomatoes are from this year (or ever).

 

Two of the eight 2021 tomato plants, 'Green Zebra' left & 'Mountain Rouge Hybrid'

 

A 'Mountain Rouge Hybrid' tomato decided to grow in a most unusual shape!

Fall Planted Garlic 2021

Is it okay to be possessed when it comes to planting and growing one particular edible food every fall season? 

Sure, most of the gardeners I know including everyone in my family past and present grows tomatoes every summer. We never think twice about tomatoes evoking obsession.

Personally I think anyone who grows more than one plant of zucchini might have some misunderstandings about plant growth ... exceptions are first time gardeners who didn't follow their garden mom's advice. 

A quick search in this blog shows that I've written 12 blogs on garlic ... 12!! And that doesn't include all the mentions of garlic since 2014 when I started this blog.  

No doubt about it, I'm seriously focused on garlic and helping others learn about growing and caring for it once planted.

Please click on the link below for an easy primer on garlic growing from 2020. 

And if you really want to know the inside garlic growing tips and tricks, attend my FREE class at Echter's Nursery and Garden Center in Arvada Colorado on September 11, 2021 from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm. It's fun to meet other garlic lover growers!

I promise you a good old garlic time learning how easy it is to grow one of the best and most popular ingredients in all cuisines. It's not bad for your health either!

Time to Plant Garlic  

My garlic class at Echter's, click here.  

 

So, Will it Cool Down this Fall? How About Snow?

The ever on the mind query for gardeners ... what will the next season be like weather-wise? For us in the Rocky Mountain region next season is fall and we all want to know how much moisture will we receive and darn it, when will it cool down.  

I'm no crystal ball gazer, palm reader or diviner. The next best thing are the weather folks who gather data and measure the Ñina weather models in the Pacific Ocean. A recent quick online search is leaning toward the La Ñina pattern, not good for us in the west. Let's just hope they misread the tea leaves and the tides, they are a changin'.  

In the short term here's what they are predicting for September 2021. 

How Hot is it? Watering Tips for Hot Summers

Remember Johnny Carson and his weather jokes during his opening monologue?

He may not have said the ones below, but you get the idea.  

photo from 1075coolfm.com

How Hot is it ... Gardening Edition

It's so hot that chickens are laying hard boiled eggs.

It's so hot that cows are producing evaporated milk.

It's so hot that birds are using oven mitts to pull worms from the ground.

It's so hot that even the artificial flowers are dying. 

It's so hot I saw two trees fighting over a dog.

Keeping plants healthy and alive during extreme heat and drought is more than challenging. Throw in the variables of how, when and how much water to apply and you're ready for a nap filled with dreams of January snow.

You might give these five tips a try ...

1. Water plant root zones instead of the leaves. The exception is for container and in-ground plants growing in full sun locations and near or on hot surfaces. This location is perfect for spider mites to finish off the life of a plant, especially by August. Give the plants (s) an all over gentle spray of water to dislodge spider mites. Morning is best so the foliage dries through the day. 

For trees -- water out and beyond the drip line of the tree canopy. If your trees are growing in lawns, you're probably giving them enough water as you water the lawn since tree roots grow 2-4 times wider than the height of the tree. Read more on tree watering here.

2. New seedlings will need watering 2-3 times a day if they are located in full sun, over ninety degree locations. I'm talking about newly seeded lettuce or other crops you're seeding or planting for a fall harvest. Use a light weight floating row cover which helps keep moisture in and birds away from nibbling on the seeds. 

3. Water plants and containers slowly. If water is dumped on the plant it can run off easily. I like to slow water our containers throughout the landscape, then walk back through and water again after they've had time to soak in. I'm a hose dragger for most of the containers -- I kick myself often for not having direct sprinkler lines installed to all the landscape containers. These smaller spaghetti lines do a nice job of slow watering provided you have the run time set long enough to give them a good soak.

For lawns, water deeply and infrequently, run the system twice through on watering days so adequate moisture gets to the root zone. 

Keep in mind that cool season grasses like Kentucky blue grass can go dormant in the summer with less watering.  It won't kill the grass if you water every couple of weeks. This isn't advised if you have tree roots growing through the lawn (most people do). Read more on this topic here.

Another bonus of watering cool season grass less is this will reduce the survival rate of Japanese beetle laid eggs and their early stage larvae (you know, next year's generation of adult beetles). Read more here. 

4. Plants can wilt during the day. Do not assume it's the result of dry soil, wet soil can result in wilt and death from lack of oxygen in the soil. Use a plant water needle around vegetables and new plantings to see how dry it is. Or a simple poke with a screw driver, your finger, or trowel (carefully) around the plant can indicate soil dryness.  

5. Mulch everything to slow evaporation and help prevent surface run off. Weeds are easier to pull too. I refuse to use landscape fabric except for a couple of areas in our landscape (dog run and between raised beds under the pebble paths). Read more here.

Stay cool out there gardeners! 😎

 

Fall Vegetable Planting 2021

It's time for the third season of vegetable planting. Third season you say!? Oh, you betcha, yah.

 

 

photo from Pinterest

 

Quick review - the first season is early spring planting for the cool crops (lettuce, broccoli, etc.), next are the warm crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash, etc.) planted from mid-May to the first of June. And now it's time for another round of cool crops that get established in August and grow into fall.

 
Check the chart below. I included two warm season plants on the chart - basil and New Zealand spinach which can also be seeded right now. 

Other warm crops that can be directly seeded or transplanted (if you grew them indoors or purchased at a garden center) are summer squash, bush beans and cucumber. Check the seed package for maturity days, look for shortest, 50 days or so are ideal.

 

When nights turn cooler in late summer to fall (below 50 degrees) be sure to use a row cover or frost blanket on warm crops. The cool crops can easily handle cooler nights.

 

Japanese Beetle Class - Learn How to Manage their Feeding and Your Stress

photo by Peggy Williams

Japanese beetles were a little later showing up to our plant buffet (central Denver) than last summer.  But arrive they have. Bummer. I wish they'd forget our zip code and Colorado entirely. 

How about you - are you battling them fairly well? Or do you need some help with ways that can help reduce their numbers on your plants and your stress?

Say no more, I can help you appropriately and effectively fight back by teaching you the research-based methods to reduce their plant feeding and grub feeding on your lawn. As for your stress, I hope that by knowing what to do and when (timing), your stress will ease on out of here.                                   

In the class I cover the very inexpensive to no cost cultural practices that can help reduce J. beetle numbers. Plus I cover the specific products on garden center shelves that are effective weapons against adult J. beetles and their white grub offspring (next year's generation of adult J. beetles). I'll specifically talk about products that are super gentle on our beloved pollinators and beneficial insects.

Last, but not least, I will tell you the latest information on the biocontrol releases that have taken place the past few years to fight back adult Japanese beetles and their white grubs (also called larvae).

THIS CLASS IS NOT TO BE MISSED if you're in town. The fee is affordable and you'll take home very helpful management information.

2021 Japanese beetle class at Denver Botanic Gardens, York Street Location - OUTSIDE under a nice, cool tent!  

Tuesday, July 27, 2021 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm

Click HERE to register. 

If you cannot attend the class, click on the blogs below for immediate help!

Japanese Beetle Summer Battle Plan

Japanese Beetle August To Dos

See you soon! 😊

 

July 2021 Weather

I have to say that the fine folks at NOAA didn't exactly have last month's precipitation predicted that well. We had some lovely rainy days. No harm or foul for under predicting.

The heat was turned up though, especially in the mid part of June. The tomatoes weren't happy having to endure 95 degrees days so soon after being planted. We had thirteen days over ninety degrees, three were in the triple digits.

Let's see how they do for July.

 

 

                                                    Maps from NOAA

 

June is for Roses AND Attending the 2021 District Rose Show

June is a busy month for gardeners - seeding, planting, and getting the containers all prettied up and anything else that needs to be finished before ninety-five plus degree days settle in for the summer. When it gets that warm I pin shade cloth to the tomato cages and head to the cool basement for a nap. 

This is also the month to enjoy roses in bloom (and many other plants, no dissing them). However, roses are America's national floral emblem after all, and most gardens have a rose bush or two. 

Speaking of roses, on June 12 there's a district rose show where they judge roses and related rose categories. This is not to be missed, either to participate or just stop by to view and smell the roses.

A district show always means lots of entries, beautiful roses and many varieties on display for judging and public viewing. 

It's the Denver Rose Society's turn to host the Rocky Mountain Rose District Rose Show. It will be held on Saturday, June 12 at Denver Botanic Gardens in Mitchell Hall. The theme this year is 'A Rose in Time.'

Consider entering if you've grown some winning roses or have other rose related talents. In a show there's all sorts of fun ways to display roses for judging - vases, bowls, picture frames, floral arrangements and photography.

There's a novice class for first timers, plus junior classes for people eighteen and younger. Find out all you need to know on this link - Rocky Mountain District Rose Show. Scroll down and click on the show schedule for information on the classes and sections to enter.

If you're not the exhibitor type, come by Mitchell Hall at Denver Botanic Gardens to view the winners from 1:00 pm to 3:30 pm. It's free to view with paid admission to DBG. And if you get in to the whole rose exhibiting spirit while viewing, there's always next year to enter. 

Feel free to visit with the friendly people from the Denver Rose Society who will be on hand to answer all your questions.

Working on the rose bud, getting it posed just right to go in the vase!

Judges viewing rose arrangements

Best in Show 2015, Dave I. 'Veteran's Honor'

June 2021 Weather

Whether or not you trust, believe or hope for when it comes to weather forecasting, it's helpful to see what the "they" experts are predicting. Below is the June 2021 temperature and moisture predictions from the smart folks at NOAA.  I hope they are wrong and we have some moisture ... no hail though, hell no!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Flanders Fields

 

                                                                                        photo from integritybillingco.com

 

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae 1872-1918

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely sing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

 

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

 

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields.