Sunday, December 27, 2020

January 2021

If you're a regular subscriber to this garden blog, no doubt you've noticed my scant posts the past several weeks. I've truly missed sitting down and scribbling out my garden ideas that might work for you in your garden setting.

As you've probably also gathered, I do this blog for fun and to provide garden trust worthy information for the Rocky Mountain region. I keep the content as factual and research based as possible - thank you CSU Extension and countless other quality land grant institutions and other horticulture resources. 

Special thanks always to Ms. Susan Clotfelter, formerly of The Denver Post who reached out to me out of the blue in 2012 to begin a freelance writing column entitled Garden Punch List during the busy growing season months from late March through the fall. She also encouraged me in other ways to reach new to experienced gardeners, this blog is one example. Other wonderful Denver Post editors have kept me happily busy writing Punch List and other garden related feature articles for many seasons. Thank you all.

I'm happy that this blog does not include ads, which to my mind just clutters up the content and are simply annoying. 

All this to say that I took some much needed time off from writing regularly these past couple of months to focus on other areas of my life that needed focus and my full attention. No concern needed, my family (near and far) are well, thankfully, including Glen, my husband, and Ferris the rowdy soft coated wheaten terrier. Ferris has taken up the annoying habit when he's bored of chewing on larger chunks of wood mulch which are everywhere in the side yard. Maybe it's an old age thing, he'll be eleven in June of 2021. Where does the time go?

I'm still mulling over the future of writing this garden blog on a regular basis and I'll let you know as soon as I decide. I may turn to a different writing project all together and take up other hobbies I've always wanted to try and learn. What's exciting about not knowing for sure, is it allows me plenty of time to consider all the options. 

One area I won't ever be giving up is gardening, both indoors and outside. In my book, there's simply no down side to this lifetime activity. Despite the many years of enjoyment and success with homegrown produce and smart landscape plantings, there have been scores of poor plant choices, plant death and the dreaded tomato blight. 

Gardening will always remain a passion and a joy.

In the meantime, dearest reader, there are several years of blogs that are still very applicable to every month of the gardening calendar which can easily be found and read via the search feature. All the other helpful links under the headings on the left hand side of this blog will be kept up-to-date.

Thank you for taking your time to read my garden blog over the years, it means more to me than you'll ever know.

My very best to you always.


Sunday, November 8, 2020

2021

NOAA predictions for January through March in the New Year - temperatures and precipitation.

 

 




Resources from NOAA

 

 

Monday, November 2, 2020

Assemble Porch Pots Now while it is Still Warm Outside!

It's the first week of November and along the Front Range we're still having balmy fall temperatures. 

Wow, I'm sort of, kind of happy with the sunny, warm days to rake and mow leaves for mulch, completing other fall chores and getting the outdoor winter containers (porch pots) assembled before the soil freezes. 

The photo shows one of our concrete containers with vertical willow and fir branches after a Thanksgiving snow a few years ago - nice!

I wrote a lengthy how to assemble outdoor containers in a recent Denver Post article that is easily accessible in their section called The Know

In fact, all my 2020 garden articles are posted at The Know. There are some ads, but no subscription is needed. Thank you for checking them out. 

Click here for The Know outdoor container article. 

After our containers are nice and assembled, let the rain and snowy season begin - we need moisture!!


Thursday, October 15, 2020

Putting Your 2020 Fall Garden to Bed

As the days and nights begin cooling down, it's time to embrace the fall garden to dos. Embrace, you say?  Absolutely, what's better than being outside on sunny, crisp Colorado days and getting the muscles fired up?  Raking, pulling spent vegetable foliage, renewing the compost pile and taking frequent breaks to admire your work. 

Do it all before the snow flies and fall turns to winter.

Please continue reading the rest of this article on The Denver Post's The Know, which is accessible to all without a subscription. Click here. You can find all my 2020 garden articles at The Know. Thank you!



Monday, October 5, 2020

Month to Month Planting Guide in Colorado

 

If you subscribe to this blog (thank you for doing so) - when you receive an email letting you know there's a new blog posting, often the pdf will not be operational within the email. Simply click on the title of the blog in the email and it will take you to the actual blog page. The pdf should open up by clicking on the boxed arrow icon in the upper right corner.