March to May Garden Punch List PowerPoint & Resources

Thank you everyone who attended my recent spring garden punch list class at Echter's Nursery & Garden Center in Arvada, CO. Many thanks to Echter's for hosting me. It's an honor to be part of the group of knowledgeable garden professionals taking part in their Meet the Experts series.  

You're in luck if you didn't attend. I've posted the PowerPoint program in this blog, along with links to resources to many of the topics I mentioned in class.

This online version is about ten slides longer than the class version with additional slides about shrub pruning.

 

Resources in order presented in the PowerPoint, plus Extra topics-

Frost Dates and Climate Summary

Downloadable Plant Designs Plant Select® and Many Native Plants

Landscape Design 

Native Plants 

Water Wise Landscaping/Xeriscaping  

Flowering Herbaceous Plants: Flowers, Ground Covers and Ornamental Grasses 

Critter Resistant Plants

Critters in your Yard burrowing types

Japanese Beetle 

Beneficial Insects and Other Arthropods

Ornamental Plants that help the Natural Enemies of White Grubs 

Tachinid Fly beneficial parasitoid of pest insects, including Japanese beetle

The Spring Tiphia: a Natural Enemy of the Japanese Beetle

Tool Care 

How to Clean and Sharpen your Garden Tools Video with Laura, Garden Answer

Pruning

Small Fruits includes grapes

Soils, Fertilizers and Soil Amendments includes composting

Soil, Water and Plant Testing Laboratory, CSU in Fort Collins 

Trees and Shrubs includes selection, planting, care, pruning, diseases, insects 

Tree Fruit

Best time to Divide Perennials from Garden Gate Magazine 

Lawns includes grass selection, aeration, fertilization, mowing, diseases, watering, weeds, pest insects and more 

Irrigation Management 

Vegetables and Herbs includes many topics

Propagation and Seeds 

Seeding and Planting Charts for Herbs, Vegetables (Cool and Warm) and Annuals from Betty's Blog

Mulches for Home Grounds 

Organic Mulches 

Mulching with Wood/Bark Chips, Grass Clippings, and Rock

Plant Health Care 

Many other Garden Topics not covered in the PowerPoint. Also try searching on my blog, I might have written about the topic. 

Most of my videos with the Denver Post are in the left column under Betty's Garden Videos.

2022 Garden Events, Non-Profit Plant Sales and Garden Tours

Perhaps you agree that it is wonderful to see public garden events, non-profit plant sales and garden tours spring back into action after two year's absence. 

Below is a list of events separated by type.

I'll add more as they come my way so please check back often.

Many independent, locally owned garden centers offer classes, either remotely or in person. There are just too many to mention in this post, so hop on your favorite store's website (or call) and find out what they are offering. 

Below is a short list of open to public, larger garden related events, seminars and hands on learning that I've seen so far. A few of them are for teens, grades 6-12 - yay!!

Garden Events -

*Multiple Dates Interpretive Nature Walks at Chapungu Sculpture Garden, Loveland, CO (Free)

*Multiple Dates May through December 2022 Guided Interpretive Trail Walk, Loveland, CO (Free) 

*Various Times in June Schweiger Ranch Open Days, Lonetree, CO (Free)

*June 16, 2022 Wild Flower Hike on Gateway Open Space, Louisville, CO (Free) 

*June 18, 2022 Schweiger Ranch Nature Walk: Birds, Lonetree, CO (Free)

*June 22, 2022 Noxious Weed ID Training, Louisville, CO (Free)

*June 23, 2022 Tiny Terrariums (Grades 6-12), Louisville, CO (Free)

*June 19-25, 2022 National Garden Railway Convention 

*June 30, 2022 Pulling for Louisville Hecla Lake, Louisville, CO (Free)

*July 9, 2022 Pulling for Louisville-Davidson Mesa, Louisville, CO (Free)

*July 11, 2022 Plant Propagation and Painted Pots for Teens, (Grades 6-12), Louisville, CO (Free)

*July 26, 2022 DIY Macrame Plant Holder (Grades 6-12), Louisville, CO (Free)

*July 27, 2022 Pulling for Louisville-Walnut, Louisville, CO (Free)

*August 13, 2022 Pulling for Louisville-Harper Lake, Louisville, CO (Free)  

*In-person

**Virtual

In addition to shopping at your favorite locally owned garden center, please consider supporting the following independent events that help out these fine non-profit organizations.

Plant Sales -  

High Plains Environmental Center Native Plant Sale, Loveland, CO online ordering begins April 1, see site for all information

 

Touring someone else's garden can be inspirational and fun. The entrance fee helps these outstanding non-profit organizations.

Garden Tours - 

June 18, 2022 Loveland Garden and Art Tour

July 9, 10, 2022 Colorado Springs Garden Tour

July 16, 2022 Evergreen Garden Tour 

July 16, 2022 Horticultural Art Society of Colorado Springs 

July 30, 2022 NoCO Urban Homestead Tour, Ft. Collins, Loveland 

Ongoing Spring through Fall FREE Self Guided Art Walk through the gardens at The Hudson Gardens & Event Center, Littleton