Upside Down Tulips is a fun podcast that celebrates gardening gone wrong. Every week these cheeky podcasters share their most epic garden failures and our biggest garden lessons. Awarded Best New Podcast in Colorado!
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 Douglas Land Conservancy is offering a beginning birding class in June.
Virtual sessions are June 2 and June 9 from 6 - 8pm. The Field Experience (in-person) class is June 12 from 7:30 - 11:30am at DuPont Open Space. This is Douglas Land Conservancy's Fourth Annual Birding program, designed for birding beginners or as a refresher course for intermediate birders. Please be available for all three dates when you register. You will learn how to select an app, field guide, and binoculars and also bird identification and great regional birding locations for when you head out on your own. Space is limited and the program is free; a $30 per person donation to DLC is suggested. REGISTER HERE  I plant the seed, You make it grow, You send the rain, I work the hoe. - Author Unknown
Credit: The Old Farmer's Almanac
By Chelsea Schumaker This is cheatgrass, an invasive weed that is active now and drops seeds in early summer. If you see this weed on trails, in parks, or your own yard, please pull it! It is easily identified by the droopy, brush-like seedheads, and leaves that feel velvety to the touch. Cheatgrass: 1. Is highly flammable! The presence of cheatgrass DOUBLES the risk of wildfire on a given property. It, along with other invasive grasses, has contributed to $138 billion annually in lost property and economic damages. 2. Can cause health problems for pets. Cats and dogs can inhale the seed pods, or get them lodged in their paws, ears or even eyes. 3. Ruins lawns. Cheatgrass seeds can remain viable for up to 5 years, and once established, it can be very hard to eliminate entirely, making it an issue year after year once it takes hold. The good news? Because it is non-native, the roots are very shallow - this weed pulls up very easily! Once you spot your first plant, you'll start noticing it everywhere. The seeds will finish maturing by the end of June. Let's work together to pull as many of these invasive weeds between now and end of June as possible, before the seeds are viable. Thank you for reading, and thank you in advance to all who decide to help pull up cheatgrass!  From the editors at Better Homes & Gardens, here are tips for keeping your tomatoes healthy this summer, and importantly, what to do about common tomato problems like leaf wilt and leaf spots, bottom rot, and more. Part of taking good care of your tomato plants means keeping an eye out for diseases caused by fungi, bacteria, and viruses such as leaf spots and blights. Temperature, nutrient levels, and moisture levels can also cause problems that can ruin your harvest... You can keep these potential problems from destroying your tomatoes by familiarizing yourself with their symptoms and using a few simple strategies to keep diseases at bay. With a little effort on your part, your plants can stay healthy and productive all season long.  From our friends at Floret Flower Farms
Last spring, Floret Flowers created a Favorite Bearded Iris Guide, which includes an at-a-glance planting schedule, how-to information on harvest and care of freshly cut blooms to ensure the longest vase life, and a set of printable planning cards featuring more than 30 of their favorites. Each card contains all the information you need to plan your perfect patch, including a color photo, description, height, and bloom time. Get the Guide here, courtesy of Floret Flowers.  Freezing temperatures and potential snow are expected starting Thursday night. Protect your tender plants, both in the ground and in containers, with frost cloth, sheets, lightweight blankets or quilts. A thick layer of pine needles works well also.
If possible, bring containers and hanging baskets inside (home or garage as long as the garage doesn't get too cold). Unhook your hoses from the spigot, and make sure everything is well watered NOW - this will help protect the plants, especially in ground perennials and vegetables. Frost cloth sources: Home Depot Lowes  By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director
Here's a cool garden tool that is multi-purpose and truly indispensable in the garden: the weeding, digging, and cutting knife. There are many varieties of this knife available, but you will want to be sure the one you choose has the following features:
This knives by Hori Hori are renowned for their quality. They have been made by craftsmen since 1960! Here are several to choose from: Hori Hori Hokuro Knife Hori Hori Garden Knife 7 inches Hori Hori Soil Garden KnifeNisaku NJP651 Hori Weeding & Digging Knife-Hardened HRC58 Edition  Jack of Diamonds (Heartleaf Brunnera) is a shade loving perennials that is hardy in zones 3 - 8, which means it should overwinter here.
The plant has beautiful heart-shaped leaves that are variegated in green and cream colors, and it grows to 14 inches tall. The huge 9-10" leaves overlap dramatically at the base giving it a shape similar to the snail delicacy escargot. Overall, the foliage is circular from a distance. The leaves have a heavy silver overlay with vivid wide, dark green veining pattern. From mid to late spring, baby blue, forget-me-not type blossoms are held in clusters above the foliage.Brunneras are classic perennials that are treasured for their shade tolerance and lovely blooms. They make a fantastic groundcover, though the variegated forms may be slow to spread. Try growing them in containers also so they will be close at hand when you want to snip a few blooms for a pretty bouquet. More information here. Photo credit: Proven Winners  This time of the year is a critical time for your grass; spring is when grass grows its feeder roots that capture water all season long.
Resist the urge to over-water your lawn. Do not let your roots get used to over-watering, this will have a negative effect for the rest of the summer. Over-watering will also have a negative effect on your water bill. Everyone likes to save money where they can. Over-watering can cause turf roots to remain shallow in the top inch or so of soil. Shallow roots dry out sooner, causing stress and brown spots that beg for water. By encouraging those water-seeking roots to grow deep, we help develop a healthier, more water-wise lawn. In the heat, the deep-rooted lawn will be less stressed and require less water. Tips to promote root growth:
Credit: ALCC  For the 125th time, the Strawberry Days summer festival will be returning to Glenwood Springs this June 17 - 19. Strawberry Days is one of the oldest, continuously held festivals in Colorado. It celebrates the start of the strawberry harvest season in the area. "Held annually in mid-June since 1898, Strawberry Days has grown into a week-long celebration culminating each year with a packed weekend of entertainment, artisans, a parade, and of course free strawberries and ice cream for one and all," an announcement from the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association said. Event goers can expect live music, various booths, interactive games, shops, and the crowning of 2022's Miss Strawberry Days. Find more information on the event, here. Credit: Out There Colorado  After recent snows gave them a dose of moisture, and with temperatures heating up along the Front Range, some early spring bulbs are hinting at the color to come. Crocuses, hyacinths and even some daffodils and tulips are showing their faces.
The warm days might inspire you to add some color to your landscape. However, keep in mind that April in Colorado could still bring us heavy snowfall. Wait at least six weeks to plant most annuals. If you’re really feeling the itch to get out and garden, consider planting some cold-hardy pansies. Pansies are excellent when it comes to withstanding the frost. When you go pick out your pansies:
Credit: ALCC  Douglas Land Conservancy is presenting a Discover Wildflowers Class. Learn to identify both common and lesser known wildflowers.
This is a two session class: Session One: VIRTUAL Thursday May 12 from 6:30p - 8:30pm Session Two: In-person at Dawson Butte Open Space The first virtual session will cover some basic botany information that is essential to know if you wish to learn to recognize plant families and identify wildflowers. Then the field session at Dawson Butte Open Space will help you learn the basic patterns of several of the common plant families found in Douglas County, while looking at examples of plants. During the field session, DLC will give you a list of plants found blooming at Dawson Butte in the spring and early summer as well as a flower sheet with photos of many of them. DLC is requesting signup for both sessions, not just one. RSVP here. Photo: Sego Lily  By Kathy Sullivan, Communications Director
Peony are a long-lasting plant that give gorgeous lush blooms every spring. You'll want to keep your peonies for a long time, so caring for them throughout your time of ownership is important. Colorado State University Extension has a great guide on Peony - how to grow, best soils, and issues to look out for. Quick tip - fertilize your peony in the spring, before they bloom, and mulch for protection in the fall. Read the Peony Plant Guide here.  "A well-appointed backyard might be the newest American status symbol—and some companies have seen orders for pergolas in particular increase by more than 300% over the past year.
Offering shade and structure, pergolas are a great way to add beauty and function to your outdoor space and can be placed over a deck, patio, or even in the corner of a backyard. And the good news is you don't necessarily have to invest a fortune to add a pergola to your home's exterior." From Better Homes and Gardens, here's a closer look at some of the costs associated with a pergola construction project, and tips for building one on a limited budget. Read full article here. Credit: Better Homes and Gardens |
