British Parakeet Explosion: a Gardener's Concern? by Carol King

I was reading an article about the rose-ringed parakeet which is taking over parts of Britian.  The parakeets escaped or were intentionally released from cages and have survived and begun to thrive. "So what does this have to do with a gardening blog?", you might ask. I saw this one statement speculating about why they are procreating at such a phenominal rate:
"Is it that gardeners are planting more exotic ornamental plants, effectively providing imported food to match an imported bird species?"
So speculate on that, dear gardener.  Another argument for native species!
Heres the whole article.

Late Autumn - Up Close by Donna Duffy

Typha latifolia, commonly known as Cattail

Take advantage of the last warm(ish) days of Autumn by taking a hike in the foothills. On a recent morning on North Table Mountain outside of Golden, it was so quiet that all I could hear was the dry grasses rustling in the wind and birds in the distance. The morning light made everything golden. But don't delay - soon this will be a wintry scene!

Chrysothamnus nauseosus, commonly known as Rabbitbrush

Cirsium undulatum, commonly known as Wavy Leaf Thistle

Take a Walk on the Wild Side by Donna Duffy

The wildflowers are spectacular right now,  and with the recent rain, will just be getting better! Grab your hiking boots and explore one of the many mountain parks in our area. You may see some of these lovely Colorado natives.

Look in moist areas for the beautiful foliage of this native from the Convallariaceae (Mayflower) family. It's Maianthemum amplexicaule, commonly known as False Solomon's Seal. I found this in the Boulder foothills, tucked away with with some ferns at streamside.

Look at the incredible bloom from the Hydrophyllaceae (Waterleaf) family. It's Hydrophyllum fendleri, commonly known as Waterleaf. Look for it in riparian woodlands, foothills and montane areas.

Most of us are familiar with this striking plant; it makes its presence known from a distance with its bright color. This is from the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family, and the genus is Castilleja. There are several species in Colorado, with a wide range of colors including pink, red, orange and greenish yellow.

If the bloom on this beauty looks familiar, you may have its cousin growing in your home garden. This is one of many varieties of Penstemon, also from the Scrophulariaceae (Figwort) family. This one is Penstemon secundiflorus, known as One-sided Penstemon. I've spotted it on almost every trail I've walked in the past few weeks.

Look for yellow trumpet-shaped bright yellow flowers, and you may have found Lithospermum incisum, from the Boraginaceae (Borage) family. Commonly know as Puccoon, it grows in dry areas on hillsides, in prairies and meadows.

To round out our color palette, see if you can find the pale blue flowers of Mertensia lanceolata, also in the Boraginaceae family. True to their dainty shape, these are commonly known as Chiming Bells.

Grab your boots, your camera and head for the hills or prairie! Colorado wildflowers beckon.

New to Colorado? Five Gardening Tips for Success by Donna Duffy

Welcome to Colorado! Regardless where you came from, you are likely to find gardening in Colorado different from your home state – both rewarding and challenging. Following are five tips to help you get started on the right foot.

1.    Get familiar with your soil. Colorado has 30-40 different classes of soil, and soils can vary immensely even in the same neighborhood. Before you start planting, take time to get a soil test. Colorado State University will analyze your soil sample for pH, soluble salts, organic matter, nitrate nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, iron, copper, manganese, lime and soil texture. The report will include suggestions that relate your results to fertilizer and soil management. There is a cost for this service, but in the long run, it will save you time and money as you create your landscape. Check out the following website for information about soil testing: http://www.soiltestinglab.colostate.edu/

2.    Once you know about your soil, be prepared to amend it. Soil amendment is a challenge in our semiarid, highly alkaline, heavy clay soils. Adding too much organic matter all at once can lead to the accumulation of natural, soluble salts. A better strategy is to slowly, over a period of years, add small amounts of organic amendments to the soil. Here are some other DOs and DON’Ts. DO: use organic mulches in addition to adding organic matter and minimize soil compaction by adding walkways in garden areas. DON’T: do unnecessary rototilling - it breaks up the soil structure; don’t use unnecessary pesticides; and don’t use plastic mulch.

3.    Pay attention to the microclimates in your yard. A microclimate is a variation of the climate within a localized area, like your yard. Walk around and make note of your different microclimates. Sunny south and west sides will be warmest. The east side of the house is cooler, and may be protected from wind. The north side of the house will be the shadiest, coolest and generally most damp. Dappled shade under trees will support plants that will burn in direct sunlight. Understanding your microclimates will help you put the right plant in the right place.

4.    Manage your turf wisely. Generally speaking, each time you water the lawn, apply enough water to moisten as much of the root zone as possible. With most soils, do not apply all the necessary water in a short period of time. It is typically most effective to apply only a portion of the water, then switch to another sprinkler to water another section of the lawn. This allows water to soak into the soil rather than run off. An hour or so later, apply the rest of the water. Aerating the lawn in the spring and fall will help reduce thatch and compaction. When it comes to mowing, the preferred mowing height for all Colorado species is 2.5 to 3 inches. Mow the turf often enough so no more than 1/3 of the grass height is removed at any single mowing. A great resource is CSU’s Fact Sheet on Lawn Care: http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07202.html

5. Go native! Taking a walk in Colorado's plains, foothills or mountains will bring you face-to-face with the diversity of native plants in our area. For the home garden, select native plants that fit most closely with your elevation, soil, sun and water conditions (remember your microclimates!). Most native plants do well with non-native companion plants to produce continuous bloom from spring to fall. For starters, you could consider these easy-to-grow natives: Rocky Mountain penstemon, prairie coneflower, desert goldenrod, and blue flax. Some native shrubs include Apache plume, rabbitbrush, potentilla, and western sandcherry (photo below). Check out CSU’s Master Gardener home page for extensive information about native plants, shrubs and trees: http://www.cmg.colostate.edu/

Are You Unknowingly Harboring a Noxious Weed in Your Garden? by Donna Duffy

It’s easy to get hooked on flowers that are easy to grow, especially those that seem to be refreshingly trouble-free. Unfortunately, some of these qualify as noxious weeds, and their rapid growth causes a multitude of problems. These undesirable plants reduce habitat for wildlife and native plants, alter riparian areas, and cause problems in agricultural lands. Colorado Noxious Weeds are illegal to grow, even though they may be available on the internet and in some “big box” stores. Following are three Noxious Weeds to watch out for, and native and non-invasive alternatives you can grow in their place.

Noxious Weed: Purple Loosestrife. Here are some good alternatives:

Mojave Sage (Salvia pachyphylla) – Plant Select®, 2005:  Mojave Sage is an intensely aromatic, evergreen foliage with great substance. The silver-green leaves set off persistent flowers.  The City of Lakewood has named Mojave Sage as the official city plant.

Rocky Mountain Penstemon (Penstemon strictus) - The tall showy spikes of intense blue-purple flowers last for over a month in late spring. Penstemon strictus is one of the longest lived, most easily grown of the Penstemons.

Noxious Weed: Dame’s Rocket. 
A good alternative is Pink Wild Snapdragon (Penstemon palmeri), a heat tolerant beardtongue, native to NM and AZ. One of the few fragrant Penstemons, it blooms with gigantic spikes of large, light pink flowers in early summer. Must be grown in sandy or gravelly soils, not in tight clay. Best in a dry location.

Noxious Weed: Bouncingbet. Good alternatives include:

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant (Cleome serrulata) – This annual will grow two to five feet tall. Bees and insects enjoy the nectar from the blossoms, and seeds are often consumed by morning doves.

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – Available in a variety of colors, a favorite in many Colorado gardens.

For a full list of Colorado' Noxious Weeds, go to: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/Agriculture-Main/CDAG/1174084048733

Wild About Wildflowers Part II by Gardener Cumax

Remember those cute adorable seedlings from 2 months ago? They've blasted from the soil to orbit their flower heads about 24" up. The annuals that is. Still green but in need of sunlight from the towering bachelor buttons lie some seven perennials. As predicted, when sowing annuals and perennials at the same time, annuals win out. Still be determined: if the perennials come back next year. To ensure that they will, I'm pruning back these buttons. I would pull, but everything is so tightly packed that I'll be yanking the perennials as well. In this 16' x 2' long "living mulch" I estimate there are about 500 Bachelor Buttons. I'll be happy to cut away half of them. But the gardner snake won't; s/he loves in down there.

Here's what they looked like in the spring.

Wild About Wildflowers

Wild About Wildflowers by Gardener Cumax

I'm not content to just yarden veggies. I love creating landscapes, too. My third big project this Spring is converting our front lawn into a showcase xeriscape.

The seedlings here are 3 weeks old. They just started sprouting right when the huge April 17-18 snowstorm slammed into the West Denver Metro area. Because they didn't have necks to break, they survived intact.

As you can see from the pictures I have about one seedling per inch, which means I have some serious and tedious thinning to do in a few weeks. Gardening is work but it's the best kind of work I can imagine.

Their common names are below followed by their latin name if I have it. They are perennials unless noted as annual with (A).
Baby's Breath (Gypsophila elegans (A)), Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus (A)), Dwarf Red Coreopsis (Coreopsis tinctoria), Lance-Leaved Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), Missouri Primrose (Oenothera missouriensis), Red Yarrow (Achillea millefolium, rubra), Drummond Phlox (Phlox drummondii (A)), Catchfly (Silene ameria (A)), Baby Blue Eyes (Nemophila menziesii (A)), Blackeyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Blue Flax, Clarkia, Corn Poppy, Indian Blanket (Giallardia pulchella), Lemon Mint (Monarda citriodora), Scarlet Flax (Linum grandifloram rubra (A)), Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum (A), Upright Prairiecone, Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus allioni), and Painted Daisy (Chrysanthemum carinatum (A)).

The annuals will probably provide most of the color and then the perennials will do that the following years. It's just a little different for me this year as I prefer perennials over annuals; so planting this kind of mix gets me out of my comfort zone.

Kendrick Lake Gardens by Carol King

Jefferson County Colorado Master Gardeners were treated to a visit at the Gardens at Kendrick Lake Park this week. We were given a VIP tour by Greg Foreman, Urban Parks Specialist for the City of Lakewood and two of his top aides. Located on Jewell just west of Garrison, Kendrick Lake Park is a veritable botanic garden for drought-tolerant plants. We saw more than 350 flowers, shrubs, ground covers, trees, and roses. In 2001, Greg and his staff set out to create the new western garden, using flora that makes sense in Colorado. Greg is a man on a mission: showcasing just what wonderful gardens we can create with plants appropriate to six habitat areas that encompass Colorado: plains, foothills, upper Sonoran, montane, and alpine. The one acre garden features six beds of beautiful native and non-native plants that will grow in these life zones. Many plants are from other dry areas on the planet like Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan. There are also flowers native to Texas, California, Utah and others. The Rocky Mountain region has become known for horticultural innovation of drought-tolerant species thanks in large part to people like Greg.
These gardens prove that if we choose the right plants, properly prepare the soil (this garden uses fine gravel called slurry, mixed half and half with garden topsoil) and water correctly, we can have lovely gardens that are much more appropriate to the western landscape. Mulching for moisture control is a large part of the process. This magnificent garden demonstrates several types of mulch: rock, bark, and my favorite, buffalo grass. These plantings need very little water. They water less than once a week during the hottest months and none in the fall and winter. Visits to this garden will, dear gardener, encourage even the most resistant of you to try some new kinds of plantings and perhaps join the anti-lawn, native, or xeriscape plant movements.
Incidentally, the Urban Parks Division maintains all the parks within Lakewood. It also cares for plantings in the 1,550 acres of parks, on 242 miles of street medians, all the public buildings and right of ways in the City. And all with only 34 staff members (plus some seasonal help)! Once you have visited the Kendrick Lake gardens, I am sure you will see Greg Foreman’s innovative, thoughtful hand in many public garden areas throughout Lakewood. We are fortunate to have this talented man with his dedicated staff working to make our City most beautiful. (and water wise!).

*“The word "Xeriscape," was coined by the Denver Water Department in 1981 to help make water conserving landscaping an easily recognized concept. The word is a combination of "landscape" and the Greek word "xeros," which means dry.”* It is in fact a trademarked word owned by them. Xeriscape does not mean “zeroscape”. or no water, it means wise water use. A reduction of 60% of water use is quite common when using xeriscaping principles.

* From the Colorado WaterWise Council website: www.xeriscape.org.