After hardly a winter last year, I am feeling enthusiastic about it this time around. I had to laugh thinking about this the other day. I know some of you will understand and I hope it brings you a smile too.
In sharp contrast to my midwestern upbringing, being a Coloradan means: you just might shovel snow with sandals on, there’s good reason to wear a wide brimmed hat in the winter time, you get giddy talking with friends and strangers alike about how great it is that’s going to precipitate in the winter, and the sun is so intense you can feel hot when it’s only 20 degrees Fahrenheit outside.
Hello and happy fall! It’s finally cooling down a bit which makes this is my favorite time of year with cool nights and warm days. And it’s a great time for planting!
New plants planted in the fall are afforded the opportunity to focus all their energy on getting roots established in their new home without having to put any effort into pushing out new leaves, flowers or fruit above ground. Fall planting gives plants a real jump start on establishment…
My new friend Kit Strange and I toured the state with plants, gardens and trucks as our focus. Oh yes, I did say trucks. As Kit explained, she is fascinated with anything on wheels and that I witnessed as we crossed the state: semis, old, new, and small, she loved them all. Oh, but back to the botanical aspect that makes Kit a celebrity.
Kit was introduced to me as an alpine bulb specialist for Kew Royal Botanic Gardens; if you don’t know, the premier botanic garden of the western world. My friend and mentor Panayoti Kelaidis, of Denver Botanic Garden fame, called me up and explained that he was organizing a month-long speaking tour for Kit starting in Alaska and ending in Denver. Sure, they could fly her from Durango – her second to last stop – to Denver, he explained, but then she’d miss the entirety of the Rockies.
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Drought in our region is the norm, not the exception. With thoughtful planning it doesn’t have to be a calamity. Look at how and when you water…With thoughtful planning it doesn’t have to be a calamity.Look at how and when you water. On average we use 5-10 times more water than necessary for a healthy landscape
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