tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44326357983320221542024-03-13T08:53:30.194-06:00Colorado Mountain GardenerMaster Gardeners gardening and blogging in the mountains of Colorado. For more information contact your local extension office, wwwhttp://extension.colostate.edu/staff-directory.Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.comBlogger411125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-19976535108501251912021-11-19T00:00:00.001-07:002021-11-19T00:00:00.210-07:00Don’t move firewood, It Bugs me! It really burns me up.<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif;">By
Jim Janks, <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Gunnison</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">County</st1:placetype></st1:place> Advanced Master
Gardener<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">I
have a bumper sticker on my truck that says, “Don’t move firewood, it bugs
me.” I really don’t know if those who
read it understand what is trying to be said, but if you care about our natural
and urban forests, it may be wise to take an interest in the meaning behind the
slogan. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">So,
what do I mean by not moving firewood and why would moving firewood bug me in
the first place? Let me give you a
hint. Did you know that an insect introduced
into the United States from Asia has caused the death of an estimated twenty
million Ash trees, five million of which are in the Southeast corner in the
State of Michigan? This same pest has shown up in other states (Ohio, Illinois,
Indiana, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia) via firewood and other means. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The
culprit responsible for all this damage is the Emerald Ash Borer (<i>Agrilus planipennis</i>). It is
less than the size of a penny, and has a green metallic look.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOV4kiYR1W8/YUUE6igayOI/AAAAAAAADh0/zII2CZEx02Y2ydLwaeUg7DzT5D9acYgsgCNcBGAsYHQ/s375/EAB1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="375" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOV4kiYR1W8/YUUE6igayOI/AAAAAAAADh0/zII2CZEx02Y2ydLwaeUg7DzT5D9acYgsgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/EAB1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 10.0pt;">Figure
1.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="202" path="m,l,21600r21600,l21600,xe">
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</span><!--[endif]--><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">The
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a wood-boring beetle native to China and eastern
Asia. It is likely that it came to the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United States</st1:place></st1:country-region>
via some form of wood packaging materials.
No matter how it got into the United States, it’s here. It is up to us to do our part in helping to
prevent the spread of this little critter. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">This
brings us right back to the bumper sticker.
If the EAB is going to get into <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Colorado</st1:state></st1:place>
one of the ways it is likely to come is via firewood. I once heard a lecture
from Dr. Whitney Cranshaw of <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Colorado</st1:placename>
<st1:placetype w:st="on">State</st1:placetype> <st1:placetype w:st="on">University</st1:placetype></st1:place>
who said, “The Great Plains acts as a natural barrier against the Emerald Ash
Borer.” So the most likely way that the
EAB will get here is if people bring it with them. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Colorado
is a popular vacation and recreation site.
People come to hunt, fish, camp, and enjoy other outdoor activities and
when they do, some people bring their own firewood. If they are from any of the
infected/quarantine areas, the wood they bring may also bring the Emerald Ash
Borer. It is critical for us to be informed and to inform those whom we know
that visit <st1:state w:st="on">Colorado</st1:state> not to pack firewood and
haul it to <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Colorado</st1:state></st1:place>.
It is best to leave their firewood at home and when they get here buy wood
locally. One reason for bringing in their own firewood is to save expenses. Let’s
admit that it is probably less expensive to bring your firewood in and not buy
wood locally, but at what cost? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Before
I come to the end of this article, let me make one last observation. Although
this article has focused on the Emerald Ash Borer as a potential threat, the
EAB is by no means the only pest that needs to be considered when it comes to
moving firewood. There are other bugs
and other diseases out there that are not native to our State or County. These things too could be just as threatening
to our ecosystem. It is also important
to realize, in this new global economy, that there will be new potential
threats to our environment. There will always be the possibility of new and
exotic pests arriving to create new problems for us to deal with. Not moving firewood may seem a bit trivial or
unnecessary, but to save our Ash trees and other trees, it is important that we
be proactive in our stewardship. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">There
is an Ash tree in Hotchkiss that I visited once a few years ago and I was
impressed with its size and beauty. The
first time I walked over to it I tried to put my arms around the trunk. The best I could do was to get my arms about
half way around. It would be a shame to
see this majestic wonder of life die because someone was careless or
indifferent in moving firewood.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;">Don’t
move firewood. It bugs me!<o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial Rounded MT Bold",sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-81785136003221719182021-11-05T00:00:00.001-06:002021-11-05T00:00:00.211-06:00A Helpful Tool for Watering Efficiently<p>By Kristina Hughes, Clear Creek County Master Gardener </p><p>’Tis the season to start thinking about fall and wintering watering. And in Colorado, it is always the season to think about how to water effectively and efficiently.
A few years ago, I was tasked with watering a large planter full of perennials. I directed the hose at the planter for what felt like a good long while. I went back the next day to find that the plants were wilted! I stuck my finger in the soil and it felt moist. I was perplexed. </p><p>I thought about it for a while and then dug out a tool I had hardly ever used: a soil moisture meter. It had prongs that reached 8 inches deep, much deeper than the tip of my finger could reach. When I stuck it in the planter the potting mix was very, very dry. Ah hah! This time I watered the planter until the moisture meter told me it was moist 8 inches down. The plants were much happier. </p><p>Since then, I have frequently used my soil moisture meter to make sure the soil is moist where many of the plant roots actually are, 6-8 inches down. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1eYHsS7Fmo/YUUQoCn8LiI/AAAAAAAADh8/QlO8p-oUvI0I91l6fsPYpryMExb0VSpFACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/hughes%2Bimage%2Bwater%2Befficiency.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-u1eYHsS7Fmo/YUUQoCn8LiI/AAAAAAAADh8/QlO8p-oUvI0I91l6fsPYpryMExb0VSpFACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/hughes%2Bimage%2Bwater%2Befficiency.jpeg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>And I have been surprised a few times. I was working in a native plant garden this season. We had gotten a lot of moisture in late spring, but then went through a dry spell and the soil seemed to be dry in this garden. I used the moisture meter to double check and found that the top 2-3” of soil was indeed very dry, but deeper down it was still plenty moist. And when I looked at the plants (natives, every one), they looked fine even though they had gotten no rain or water in weeks. (A testament to native plants and a thick layer of mulch!) </p><p>I have to say that the soil moisture meter has become one of my favorite tools for gardening in Colorado. It helps me assess the conditions deep in the soil without having to dig holes After all, half of most plants’ mass is underground where we humans don’t see what is going on. </p><p>The inexpensive soil moisture meters available at hardware stores (the kind I’ve been using) are definitely less robust than the expensive scientific instruments used by commercial operations, but I have found mine to be very useful especially when combined with other observations from the garden. </p><p>So that’s another tool which can help with water management in your landscape. Remember to support your woody plants with water during long spells of warm, dry weather in the fall and winter (see the PlantTalk article on winter watering below for detailed instructions).
PlantTalk 1706 - Fall & Winter Watering
https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/trees-shrubs-vines/1706-fall-winter-watering/
An assessment of Portable Soil Moisture Meters from University of California Cooperative Extension
http://ceventura.ucanr.edu/Com_Ag/Subtropical/Publications/Irrigation_229/Portable_Soil_Moisture_Meters_-_1993/</p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-42720612584822377232021-10-22T00:00:00.011-06:002021-10-22T00:00:00.229-06:00Winter Prep Tips for Gardens and Trees<p><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Kristina Kasik, Master Gardener, Gunnison, CO</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">We’ve already seen a few cold nights that have
us forgetting about gardens and thinking about winter: splitting and stacking
wood for the stove, buying better tires, prepping the plow, waxing those skis
in anticipation of the slopes. But the growing season is not exactly
over, not just yet! There are things you can do still, before the snow
flies and the ground freezes solid. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">This is the perfect time to plant. No,
I’m not crazy. Fall is a great time to plant seeds and bulbs, and
it’s sow easy! Yes, pun intended. Most of the perennial
flowers that do well in our valley, such as penstemon and columbine, need that
cold snap of winter to tell the seed when to germinate come
spring. Many annuals are the same, and putting those seeds down now
will reward you with hardier plants that require less pampering than
store-bought starters. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cosmos are a good example. Several
gardening websites call them tender annuals, meaning they should not be sown
until after danger of frost. Yet the cosmos I planted from seed three
seasons ago keep coming up from the seed they produce and drop each fall. The
seeds seem to “know” when to start growing and the resulting seedlings can
tolerate light frost, unlike transplants. The blooms will be later in the
season than transplants, but if you’re really itching for early color, let’s
talk bulbs. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">As long as the soil is not frozen you can plant
bulbs for your early spring crop of tulips, daffodils, alliums, crocus,
hyacinths, and more. I find nothing more rewarding than seeing the hardy
colorful blooms appear, even when there may still be snow on the
ground. Ideally bulbs should have a few weeks before the ground
freezing to establish themselves so they will have a good strong start in the
spring. Let’s not forget about garlic, either! This is
the one “veggie” crop that you plant just like flower bulbs: in the fall. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Don’t forget to water. Yes, water. This
is a semi-arid climate, after all. Those bulbs you just planted need some
water to get some roots going before the big freeze. The trees and shrubs
you planted last year, the perennials you planted in the
spring? Yep, they want a drink, too. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Sunny, windy days plus lack of rain wil wick
moisture from the soil and from plant roots. The leaves may be gone, but
that tree is not dead. After the leaves have fallen but before the ground
freezes (not just above-ground frost - don’t worry about that) is the perfect
time to give those trees and shrubs a deep watering, especially
evergreens. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Since evergreens keep their needles all winter,
they are even more prone to water loss because of all that extra surface
area. Younger or newly planted trees need more water than those that have
had several years to establish a large, deep root system. Not sure
when to water or not? Try to remember this: after the leaves, before
the freeze, days above 45 degrees (I swear I </span><b style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><i>just</i></b><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> made
that up). </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">On a related note to watering, you can do a
couple of things to prevent water loss leading to damage. Trees may
benefit from some wrapping protection, especially those young
evergreens. All winter long the sun’s radiation and the wind are pulling
moisture from evergreen needles. Trees planted from a container or balled
and burlapped typically have a much smaller root system than a wild tree of the
same size would have. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">More top to less root means more water
loss. Wrap the entire tree with burlap or a similar material, or create a
screen on the south, southwest, and windward sides of the evergreen. Wraps
should be removed in the spring but screens can stay in place for another
season. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Thin-barked trees such as aspen can suffer from
frost cracks and sunscald. Frost cracks will appear as vertical
cracks in the bark, where sunscald will leave a sunken appearance where cells
under the bark have died. Both, in short, are caused by extremes of
heating and cooling, and are seen on the south and southwest-facing sides of
the main stems of very young trees. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Both can be prevented by wrapping the trunk with
a light colored paper, such as crepe paper, from about November through April. Start
from the ground up to the first branch, overlapping the paper in a diagonal
fashion. This is only necessary for the first couple of years, until
your new tree builds up a thicker bark layer. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Mulching is another great way to prevent water
loss and adds a layer of insulation to roots from extreme temperature
changes. Snow is a perfect mulch, but since we can rarely predict when or
how much snow we will get, mulching is a good idea. </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Perennial flower beds will appreciate a 2 to 4-inch
layer after the last of the plants have died and turned brown. Those
fallen leaves you raked up can be used here, or straw, or a bark or wood chip
mulch. Newer trees and shrubs can be mulched as well, but never right up
to the trunk or stem, that can hold too much moisture and cause rot. Make
a ring around the tree, starting about 6 inches away from the main stem and end
at the outermost branch tips. It's as simple as that.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Is any of this information
interesting? Like planting and growing and want to learn
more? Never gardened before and want to start? Consider taking
the Colorado Master Gardener class this winter.</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">To learn about the Colorado Master Gardener program visit </span><a href="https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/about/become-a-colorado-master-gardener-2/" style="font-family: Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">https://cmg.extension.colostate.edu/about/become-a-colorado-master-gardener-2/</a></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-68150966660988769392021-10-08T00:00:00.012-06:002021-10-08T00:00:00.189-06:00Battling with Rodents in My Garden<p>By Ed Powers, Jefferson County Master Gardener </p><div>Like many of you, I have battled pests and varmints in my garden. The last 2 years my vegetable gardens have been very disappointing. The previous 7 years I had gardens that produced very little. My major villains are mice, voles, rabbits, chipmunks and ground squirrels. Many do not eat the plant but wait until the fruit is ripe and feast, including tomatoes, squash, rutabagas and beets. Of course, deer and elk eat the whole plant.
So last year I did research to try to solve the challenge of hungry varmints in my garden. I ran across a product called a solar powered rodent repeller. Several companies sell these under other names but all are solar powered varmint repellers.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLW-SuBrXGo/YUT7UXgoRbI/AAAAAAAADhU/xyL9XkLDlXwBs6T-dQJVE6cUGuIo6vq-gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/pulsar3.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FLW-SuBrXGo/YUT7UXgoRbI/AAAAAAAADhU/xyL9XkLDlXwBs6T-dQJVE6cUGuIo6vq-gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/pulsar3.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
It uses state-of-the-art technology and chases away many types of varmints. It generates a sonic pulse that penetrates the soil and can be heard above ground. Most rotate every 30 to 33 seconds and pulses from 2-3 seconds. They are waterproof but must be pulled before cold weather sets in.
The device is environmentally friendly as it eliminates the need for poisons and traps keeping people and pets safe. It can radiate in all directions and can be heard and felt by a number of rodents that live above ground and underground. When fully solar charged, it works at night and when cloudy. I put out four, 20 feet apart to cover not only my gardens but my flowers and trees. I also put flower pots on my deck.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vp8WiE-nX_w/YUT7iEF4osI/AAAAAAAADhc/nGhL_XHcDE4RpoPHLRzU7JS4EtX2lxX7wCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/pulsar%2B1.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vp8WiE-nX_w/YUT7iEF4osI/AAAAAAAADhc/nGhL_XHcDE4RpoPHLRzU7JS4EtX2lxX7wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/pulsar%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The results have been amazing. The first two weeks we saw some activity but no damage to our plants. The varmints I saw seemed to be confused and ran away from our gardens.
None of our cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, rutabagas or beets show any damage and the fruit is great. Deer and elk are not affected by the pulse. I am doing research to see what I can do to change that.
</div>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-62045057412164174682021-09-24T00:00:00.016-06:002021-09-24T00:00:00.195-06:00Joe Pye WeedBy Cherie Luke, Jefferson County Master Gardener since 2014 <div><br /></div><div>Eupatorium purpureum which has officially been changed to Eutrochium purpureum, aka Joe Pye weed, is a North American native in the Asteraceae family. There are about 40 species in this genus.
The plants range in height from 2’-3’ for Little Joe, to up to 10’ tall and 3’-4’ wide, so give them plenty of space in your garden. They can be planted in average soil and grow well in alkaline soils. Blooms are a beautiful rosy/purple color and bloom from late summer to fall. Plant in full sun to part shade.<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlufInsHeME/YUT1-aWcC1I/AAAAAAAADhM/GLdcjZ40gNgnG4aNC50xbCpdn0Yq5k53ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/joe%2Bpie%2Bweed%2Bat%2BDBG.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlufInsHeME/YUT1-aWcC1I/AAAAAAAADhM/GLdcjZ40gNgnG4aNC50xbCpdn0Yq5k53ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/joe%2Bpie%2Bweed%2Bat%2BDBG.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xlufInsHeME/YUT1-aWcC1I/AAAAAAAADhM/GLdcjZ40gNgnG4aNC50xbCpdn0Yq5k53ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/joe%2Bpie%2Bweed%2Bat%2BDBG.JPG" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: left;"><br /></a></div></div>
The common name, Joe Pye, came from a Mohegan Indian who was an herbalist that lived in the late 1700’s in Massachusetts. Joseph recommended Eutrochium purpureum for the treatment of typhoid fever. These plants induce sweating and were useful in a number of ailments.
If you haven’t been to Denver Botanic Gardens lately, I highly recommend you make a reservation to visit. The gardens are still timing entries. The Joe Pye Weed is spectacular! And so are the rest of the gardens!
</div>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-67852956380965332862021-09-10T00:00:00.001-06:002021-09-10T00:00:00.176-06:00The Amazing Monarch Butterfly<p><span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; padding: 0in;">By Lisa Mason</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">,
<span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Horticulture Agent</span>, <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">Colorado State University
Extension, Arapahoe County</span></span></p>
<p class="xmsonormal" style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="background-color: transparent;">Monarch butterflies are an iconic species in the United States!
These bright orange and black butterflies are known for their migration in
North America</span><span style="background-color: transparent;">. How do these small creatures make the 3,000-mile journey
every year?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>Identification<o:p></o:p></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">While the bright orange butterflies can be hard to miss,
Colorado has a variety of orange-colored butterflies. You can identify a
monarch butterfly by the black veins on the wings in addition to the bright
orange color. They also have white spots on the edges of the wings. The
wingspan usually ranges from 3-4 inches long. You can identify if the butterfly
is a male or female by looking at the hind wing. If the butterfly is a male, it
will have one black spot on each hind wing along one of the center veins. If
the butterfly is female, she will not have a spot. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Monarch caterpillars have contrasting black, yellow, and
white stripes on their body. Caterpillar size varies depending on what instar,
or stage of growth the caterpillar is in.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VarWTv6Kb4A/YS-9tQx1r2I/AAAAAAAADgw/1Vcc11iWPn0RPq6tyeiQBAh15-TTudCEgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1335/Monarch_Butterfly_Credit_LisaMason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="889" data-original-width="1335" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VarWTv6Kb4A/YS-9tQx1r2I/AAAAAAAADgw/1Vcc11iWPn0RPq6tyeiQBAh15-TTudCEgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Monarch_Butterfly_Credit_LisaMason.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A female monarch butterfly. Photo: Lisa Mason</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Life Cycle<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">All butterflies including monarchs go through a lifecycle
called metamorphosis that includes an egg, caterpillar, a pupa called a
chrysalis, and an adult butterfly. When monarchs are caterpillars, their job is
to feed as much as possible. They feed exclusively on milkweed plants (<i>Asclepias</i> spp.). Once they have
fully grown, they will find a safe space to form a chrysalis. The chrysalis is
a protective covering for the caterpillar while it transforms into a butterfly.
It begins as a pale green color, then gradually turns black and orange as the
butterfly gets ready to emerge. After emergence, the butterfly will soon search
for a mate and the female will begin laying eggs on new milkweed plants.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhZ9Jre4mkY/YS--CmfCI_I/AAAAAAAADg4/8v1Yj7b1EqMwJRK44BJyz-26tT3WFc3dQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1783/Monarch_Caterpillar_Credit_LisaMason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1419" data-original-width="1783" height="255" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uhZ9Jre4mkY/YS--CmfCI_I/AAAAAAAADg4/8v1Yj7b1EqMwJRK44BJyz-26tT3WFc3dQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Monarch_Caterpillar_Credit_LisaMason.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A monarch caterpillar. Photo: Lisa Mason</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Migration<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Adult butterflies only live two to five weeks. The only
exception is the overwintering generation of monarchs that can live up to nine
months in Mexico. Once spring arrives, this overwintering generation will migrate
north to Texas and surrounding areas. The females will lay eggs for the next
generation. Once the next generation becomes adult butterflies, they continue
to migrate north. After a few weeks, they will lay eggs for another generation
further north. Typically, monarchs will have two to three generations
throughout the summer season. Once fall arrives, the fourth generation, also
known as the overwintering generation, will begin to migrate south back to
Mexico. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">How does each generation of monarch know how to navigate
migration? For other migratory species like Swainson’s hawks, they follow their
parents and large groups of hawks to the overwintering grounds in Argentina.
Scientists are still researching how monarchs are able to migrate to the same
location every year. Recent research suggests they use a combination of the
sun’s position in the sky, landmarks like mountains, and an internal magnetic
compass. Genetics may also play a role in the ability to navigate. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Monarchs have two migratory pathways in North America. The
eastern monarch population migrates from Mexico up north through the Midwest
and eastern US. The western monarch population migrates from the Pacific Coast
of California to the states west of the Rocky Mountains. While Colorado is not
one of the main migratory corridors, you can still see monarchs throughout our
state.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Butterfly Mimicry<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Other species look similar to the monarch butterfly include
the queen butterfly (<i>Danaus gilippus</i>)
that hosts on milkweed and dogbane plants in the Apocynaceae family, and the
viceroy butterfly (<i>Limenitis archippus</i>)
that hosts on plants in the Salicaseae family including willows, cottonwoods,
and poplars. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">These three butterflies look similar for one reason:
mimicry! The contrasting orange and black colors serves as a warning to
predators that the insect may be distasteful and potentially toxic. Milkweed is
full of a compound called cardenolides. When a caterpillar feeds on milkweed
plants, the cardenolides stay in the body of the monarch, which makes it
distasteful and toxic to predators like birds. The predators learn to stay away
from insects with the bright coloring. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For a long time, scientists suspected viceroy
butterflies mimicked monarchs in a form of Batesian mimicry meaning that the viceroy appeared toxic and
distasteful to predators based on coloring and wing shape, but they were not
actually toxic or distasteful. Further research indicates that the monarch,
viceroy, and queen butterflies may exhibit Müllerian mimicry, meaning all three
can be distasteful or toxic to predators and they mimic each other. More
research is needed to fully understand this mimicry relationship between the
butterflies because variations in the butterfly’s colors, wing shape,
distastefulness, and toxicity vary among different regions and caterpillar host
plants.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ujXXXGpDDc/YS--QU65QcI/AAAAAAAADg8/auAC24gzi94NOAz3UoOiZzKRpeGeQPtAgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Viceroy%2Bbutterfly%2B-%2BCredit%2B-%2BLisa%2BMason.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1369" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5ujXXXGpDDc/YS--QU65QcI/AAAAAAAADg8/auAC24gzi94NOAz3UoOiZzKRpeGeQPtAgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Viceroy%2Bbutterfly%2B-%2BCredit%2B-%2BLisa%2BMason.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">A viceroy butterfly
can be differentiated from a monarch by the black, circular line through the
hind wing that is perpendicular to the other black veins. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXydG7AleCA/YS--QcQmV6I/AAAAAAAADhA/x3hxTPimhf4dVwEtqg14aCA8KeeLoswPgCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Queen%2BButterfly%2B-%2BCredit%2B-%2BLisa%2BMason.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1529" data-original-width="2048" height="239" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXydG7AleCA/YS--QcQmV6I/AAAAAAAADhA/x3hxTPimhf4dVwEtqg14aCA8KeeLoswPgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Queen%2BButterfly%2B-%2BCredit%2B-%2BLisa%2BMason.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i style="text-align: left;">A queen butterfly has more white spots on the hind wings than a monarch. Colors can be variable but often they are a darker orange color than monarch butterflies. Photos: Lisa Mason</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Supporting
Monarchs and Other Butterflies<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">You can support monarchs and other butterflies by providing
food, habitat, water, and space in your landscape. Each species of butterfly
has a different caterpillar host plant, for instance, monarchs rely on milkweed
plants for caterpillar food. Black swallowtail caterpillars feed on dill and
fennel. All adult butterflies will visit a variety of other flowers for nectar.
Plant flowers that have different bloom times so you will have flowers all
season. Butterflies need sunny areas and places to shelter from wind and
weather. Planting a variety of trees and shrubs can help provide sheltering
areas. Be mindful of pesticide use because they can harm caterpillars and
butterflies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05504.pdf">Click here</a>
for more information on attracting butterflies to your landscape. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For more information on monarch butterflies, visit <a href="https://monarchjointventure.org/">MonarchJointVenture.org</a><span class="MsoHyperlink">.</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">To learn more about butterflies in Colorado, read this CSU
Co-Horts blog post called <a href="http://csuhort.blogspot.com/2020/07/the-fascinating-lives-of-butterflies.html">The
Fascinating Lives of Butterflies</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><br /> <o:p></o:p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-77220920250879567332021-08-20T00:00:00.001-06:002021-08-20T00:00:00.191-06:00 My Yellow Rose Of Colorado<p>By Ed Powers, Colorado Master Gardener</p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I have written two previous blogs about my love of cactus in which I included information about Colorado Cactus identification and information on the cactus garden I tried to complete. I am still working on that garden. In one of those previous blogs, I called our prickly Pear Cactus the Yellow Rose of Colorado because it has one of the most beautiful yellow flowers I have ever seen. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SH3v8WUtUa4/YQh0jUAGo5I/AAAAAAAADgQ/bTQM7iymOTgi6XmDn7DzntyVsr4cGScWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cactus1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SH3v8WUtUa4/YQh0jUAGo5I/AAAAAAAADgQ/bTQM7iymOTgi6XmDn7DzntyVsr4cGScWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/cactus1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6667px; text-align: start;">Potted Prickly Pear Cactus early in summer. Middle of plant is a columbine that is two years old and grown from seed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The scientific name is </span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Opuntia macrorhiza</i></span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">. They are usually yellow but sometimes purple. The pads and fruit (spent flowers) are edible. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6533px;">The pads are modified branches.</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"> And of course anyone who has dealt with the cactus is aware of their spines. </span></p></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Five years ago I found two pads joined on my deck, at the same time I was fighting varmints in my flower gardens on my deck. So I decided to do a test. I planted the pads in an urn pot that had flowers. It grew very slowly for the first four years and never flowered. However the varmints left the pot alone. I grew many different annuals </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 18.6533px;">in that pot, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">including a columbine I started from seed. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncf4Ysh60gw/YQh058-_PfI/AAAAAAAADgY/7EwpZm1DxegB6SgVSo_kqWTIXzIWhfBOACNcBGAsYHQ/s1600/cactus2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ncf4Ysh60gw/YQh058-_PfI/AAAAAAAADgY/7EwpZm1DxegB6SgVSo_kqWTIXzIWhfBOACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/cactus2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">This year something changed. Where before two to three new pads were added each this year, this year we added 10 new pads. Before we had no flowers, this year we had 28 flowers. Something else occurred, the first flowers bloomed for one day, the later flowers lasted 2-3 days and again they were a bright yellow.</span></p></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I compared the cactus in the urn to wild ones in the yard that were about the same age as my urn flower. It was 3-4 times the size of wild ones.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">So I must have converted my wild two pads to a large beautiful potted plant. My family really enjoys our Yellow Rose of Colorado.</span></p></span>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-74056580026672270502021-08-06T00:00:00.000-06:002021-08-06T00:00:00.179-06:00Time to Take a Walk Through the Wildflowers<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p>By Susan Carter, CSUE Tri River Area Horticulture and
Natural Resource Agent</p><p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">With
drought through much of Western Colorado, and lower snow amounts in many areas,
snow melt was earlier this year than normal.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">We
start our CSU Extension Native Plant Master courses at lower elevations in the
Tri River Area and head higher, beginning in April and typically into
August.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This year during the first two
classes we noticed the plants were done!</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">
</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Many shriveling from drought and others already going to seed.</span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">So once we heard and saw that the wildflowers
on the Grand Mesa were blooming, we moved that class earlier, and boy are we
glad we did.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">As I am writing this article, it is actually raining- YES!
That will help the flowers. Some of the
flowers on the Grand Mesa seemed to be a super bloom or stellar bloom at
that. The five nerved sunflower was one
of those that was amazing. It is called
five nerved as it has a mid-vein and four side veins. The flowers always face to the east, so this
is a good one if you get lost. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9VzfB7sJhI/YPHBb1aOnII/AAAAAAAADek/cZxZuUz7qvQcCQQX6W9x_uM6p5x0A7IxwCNcBGAsYHQ/s706/Susan%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="397" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-d9VzfB7sJhI/YPHBb1aOnII/AAAAAAAADek/cZxZuUz7qvQcCQQX6W9x_uM6p5x0A7IxwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Susan%2B1.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Subalpine meadow. Photo by Susan Carter</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vnWOOYVKis/YPHC1rGODNI/AAAAAAAADe0/ulwtFxUOTTs2ELZeKXYwBCknfBuL1dbngCNcBGAsYHQ/s560/Susan%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="560" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8vnWOOYVKis/YPHC1rGODNI/AAAAAAAADe0/ulwtFxUOTTs2ELZeKXYwBCknfBuL1dbngCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Susan%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>If you are new to going out into nature,
as many people are due to COVID-19, know the rules before you go. Pick up after your dogs, because it can hurt wildlife and takes the enjoyment out
of looking at plants with a big pile of dog poo there. Try to stay on trails especially if the soils
are fragile or the plants are rare. We
do go off trail in some instances to learn certain plants, but we try to avoid
stepping on plants, and step on rocks when possible. Keep your dogs on a leash, this protects them
and the wildlife. Don’t dig up or pick
flowers. Save them for others to enjoy, and so the plants can reproduce. If we all
pick or dig, it does end up having a big impact on the plants. Just look up how Washington DC had to come up
with a program to keep people from picking cherry blossoms, it was killing the
trees. If you want to dig, visit the
entity that the plants are growing on, for example BLM or USFS. They have inexpensive permits for digging or
collecting forestry products, and this allows them to record and realize if some
areas are being overused so they can protect plant populations. And keep your foraging to a minimum. The wildlife needs it to get through the
drought and winter. Visit <a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/hikingetiquette.htm">https://www.nps.gov/articles/hikingetiquette.htm</a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.nps.gov/articles/hikingetiquette.htm"></a><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2N8PB5ju4O8/YPHClh0wddI/AAAAAAAADes/HDMeye1j5AMQqy9rKnss8eNn5ciCiYkagCNcBGAsYHQ/s1422/Susan%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1422" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2N8PB5ju4O8/YPHClh0wddI/AAAAAAAADes/HDMeye1j5AMQqy9rKnss8eNn5ciCiYkagCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Susan%2B3.jpg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><br /><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IK5VJ-uNfqw/YPHETUcm9JI/AAAAAAAADfM/hJNOgLi0PmcfsAAH_wNrHxy2jjE6_eo_ACNcBGAsYHQ/s572/Susan%2B6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="572" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IK5VJ-uNfqw/YPHETUcm9JI/AAAAAAAADfM/hJNOgLi0PmcfsAAH_wNrHxy2jjE6_eo_ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Susan%2B6.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>Brephidium
exile</i>, butterfly, on Aster</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">So
back to the wildflowers, it is so fun to see all the colors and to see all the
pollinators. At higher elevations flies
and bumblebees are the two main types of pollinators. I learned something about fireweed this
year. The flower only lives two days. The first day the male parts of the flowers
mature, and the bumblebee likes to sleep on this flower overnight. The second day the female parts mature,
and guess what, the bumblebee just spread the pollen on the flower while he is
there overnight. Makes you wonder all
the different ways that plants and pollinators help each other. Some flowers, like the white flowered pea and
evening primrose, turn a different color once they are
pollinated. The evening primrose can
even be pretty as they go from white to pink or yellow to orange. This tells the pollinators to move on.</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">While walking through the wildflowers, take time to look
down. We have so many small flowers that
you might not notice. An example would be Rock <i>Androsacea</i>, Easter daisies or the trailing
daisy. It is also good to appreciate
that some plants like the Monument plant (also known as Elk weed because the
elk like to eat it), only bloom once in their life time! So there is much to appreciate while you are
taking a walk through the wildflowers.
Tread Lightly.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptX34c50WAQ/YPHLnnN1RgI/AAAAAAAADfo/Bn-lsBDznZIhrnm9uNWqoJsxewno53UvwCNcBGAsYHQ/s744/Susan%2B5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="744" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ptX34c50WAQ/YPHLnnN1RgI/AAAAAAAADfo/Bn-lsBDznZIhrnm9uNWqoJsxewno53UvwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Susan%2B5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">Note
Ladybug on Fleabane, Susan Carter photo</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynMX6zx-Ky8/YPHMGcxwy1I/AAAAAAAADf4/UW7iQOsyOac4J2syjkdTH3ZlUlrP24ZTQCNcBGAsYHQ/s891/Susan%2B10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="669" data-original-width="891" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ynMX6zx-Ky8/YPHMGcxwy1I/AAAAAAAADf4/UW7iQOsyOac4J2syjkdTH3ZlUlrP24ZTQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Susan%2B10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock <span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;"><u>Androsace</u>, photo by Susan Carter</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><p></p><p></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">From All of us on the Grand Mesa, Take care and enjoy. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgN4Kf7vTqw/YPHMkGoUFuI/AAAAAAAADgA/bygi6QGWVyI9JseBndrDX2tfSjCQjtZOwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1431/Susan%2B9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1431" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AgN4Kf7vTqw/YPHMkGoUFuI/AAAAAAAADgA/bygi6QGWVyI9JseBndrDX2tfSjCQjtZOwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Susan%2B9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span><p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-10286705298629381582021-07-23T00:00:00.008-06:002021-07-23T00:00:00.172-06:00Homegrown Arugula in January!<p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">By Lindsay Graves, Eagle County CSU Extension Master Gardener</span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Homegrown arugula in January? At 6,700’? Yep! With some low tech season extension techniques, the hardiest salad greens will overwinter in much of Colorado, so you can enjoy tasty treats in winter and early spring harvests before many gardeners can even plant!</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-324605f3-7fff-d168-fd6c-e0b7c60c3bd4"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Once you become accustomed to the taste and heft of homegrown leaves, you won't want to go back to store bought.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Let’s consider the challenges:</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Space</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harvested in fall but planted in summer. Our space is typically filled with summer veggies. Where will the greens go?</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cold</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Certain vegetables have adaptations to help them survive. Some concentrate sugars in their tissues to lower freezing point; some have extra space between their cells so ice crystals don’t cause as much damage.</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Light</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Between Nov 15 and Feb 1, days are too short for much growth, so the plants are in basically a waiting state. When growing fall greens, we have two options: grow them to near full size and hold for fall + early winter harvest, or grow them to a small size and overwinter and resume growth in the spring for late winter + early spring harvest. </span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Water</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the ground is frozen, plants can't drink water. Our dry winds pull moisture out of their tissues. </span></p></li></ul></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While formidable, the challenges can be overcome. Let’s check out the solutions.</span></p><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Planning</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Incorporate a patch of cold season greens in your planting plan. They can follow the first planting of greens, peas, or garlic. You'll want to plant in mid July for fall harvest and early Sept for spring harvest (in my garden at 6,700’).</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Starts vs Seeds</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Using starts is a great idea! Planting a 4-6 week old plant vs a seed saves you time and space. It can be hard to source seedlings in summer, so start your own. Seeds will work too though if you don't want to grow starts.</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Season Extension</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Row covers provide a more even temperature and allow plants to start growing earlier in the morning and later into the evening, so they can size up quickly. Add a row cover after day time highs drop below 85. Add plastic over the row cover when heavy snow threatens (so it doesn't rip the row cover). Plastic must be vented daily until the highs are below 60.</span></p></li></ul><li aria-level="1" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Suggested Varieties</span></p></li><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lettuce- winter density</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mache-any</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tatsoi-any</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Arugula-Speedy</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Spinach-Space for fall harvest</span></p></li><li aria-level="2" dir="ltr" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Winter Bloomsdale for spring harvest</span></p></li></ul></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Fall Greens Gardener’s Year-round Checklist</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jan-Feb</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add cold season greens to your planting plan</span></p></li><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Order cold tolerant varieties with your seed order</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mar-June</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clean your seed starting kits thoroughly after their first round of use</span></p></li><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Replenish any seeds starting supplies that were used up</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">July-Sept</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harvest something to make space for greens</span></p></li><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Apply a rich compost (like worm castings)</span></p></li><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sow greens (in ground or in starting kits). Make last sowings by Sept 15.</span></p></li><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cover (row cover after day highs below 85, plastic after day highs are below 60)</span></p></li></ul><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Oct-Mar</span></p><ul style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-inline-start: 48px;"><li aria-checked="false" aria-level="1" dir="ltr" role="checkbox" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><p dir="ltr" role="presentation" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Harvest greens on warm days when leaves are not frozen. They will resume growth after Feb 1.</span></p></li></ul></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-2G4RxKR6o/YPG0fvSz5bI/AAAAAAAADec/b2BXpd6QvcclG-lPJXtC4zUJsAiGlJcYQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Oct%2BCabbage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h-2G4RxKR6o/YPG0fvSz5bI/AAAAAAAADec/b2BXpd6QvcclG-lPJXtC4zUJsAiGlJcYQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Oct%2BCabbage.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cabbage in October</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7ltCnfGF4U/YPG0M9W0TnI/AAAAAAAADeU/Zj6upllg5_UOP3Gn-o6Kq-tdwIJCB97kQCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Oct%2BLettuce.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t7ltCnfGF4U/YPG0M9W0TnI/AAAAAAAADeU/Zj6upllg5_UOP3Gn-o6Kq-tdwIJCB97kQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Oct%2BLettuce.PNG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lettuce in October<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-38221329209555102352021-07-09T00:00:00.001-06:002021-07-09T00:00:00.179-06:00Keeping Your Aspen Trees Healthy<p>By <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Roboto, RobotoDraft, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Eric McPhail, Gunnison County CSU Extension</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Everyone enjoys watching the aspen leaves as they glitter in
the wind and change colors. But aspens do have enemies. Two of the most common are cankers and Eriophyid mites.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Cankers<o:p></o:p></u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The term canker describes an area of dead cambium (living
cells just beneath the bark) and bark, usually on the tree trunk and usually
elliptical in shape. Aspen cankers display great variety.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They can kill individual twigs, branches, and
portions of trucks when it succeeds in girdling those parts. They kill many
aspen each year in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">Colorado</st1:state></st1:place>,
and affect all sizes and ages of trees.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Cytospora is probably the most common canker-causing fungus.
Look for orange-stained areas of bleeding bark, small orange tendrils of a
jellylike material on the bark, and large patches of dead bark. Sooty-bark
cankers give the trunk a “barber pole” appearance. On close inspection, the
stripes or areas of dead, black bark crumble in one’s hand to a sooty powder.
Black cankers are large, black swollen or flared areas on the trunk that
contain concentric rings. This feature gives them the nickname of “target
cankers.” <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V36gn3m0Blw/YMps6rJFVLI/AAAAAAAADd8/eJjFtxPxhkktu4zFhant9cBm-BpMK4u5gCNcBGAsYHQ/s300/BlackCankeronAspen-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-V36gn3m0Blw/YMps6rJFVLI/AAAAAAAADd8/eJjFtxPxhkktu4zFhant9cBm-BpMK4u5gCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/BlackCankeronAspen-300x225.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black canker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Canker fungi travel from tree to tree in interesting
ways—some have their spores disseminated by wind, others by rain, still others
by insects—and humans do a good job as by well by not cleaning their pruning
shears between cuts!</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Prevention is much more profitable than attempts at control.
Avoid wounding the aspens by carving on them which means <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">almost certain death to the tree</b>! Sufficient watering also keeps
the trees from being under stress, which makes it more susceptible to insects
and disease.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If a small canker is found on a branch, prune it off.
Although pruning is preferred during the dormant season, if you must prune
during the growing season, be sure to sterilize the pruning shears by soaking
them in a 10% Clorox® solution, by spraying the blades with Lysol®
disinfectant, or by using some other alcohol product <u>after each cut</u>. </p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Small trunk cankers
can sometimes be cleaned up by removing affected tissue down to sound,
unstained wood. Seek help from a professional arborist if unsure of how to
perform this surgery. Do not attempt to remove large trunk cankers. Currently,
research by the Colorado State University Forest Service shows the usefulness
of fungicidal sprays and wound paints to be in question.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><u>Mites<o:p></o:p></u></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Mites feed on all parts of the trees. They are narrow, very
tiny (1/100 inch long), translucent, and have four legs toward the front of
their bodies. Adults appear only as a speck through a hand lens. Many mites
cause woody swellings or galls, especially around the buds of aspens.
Infestations usually occur in early summer, immediately after tree buds open.
Under ideal conditions, development from eggs to adult takes 14 days.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p>Although galls are conspicuous and unattractive, they rarely do any real
damage to plants. Furthermore, once galls start, formation is largely
irreversible. Under most circumstances, control is not recommended. Heavy
infestations that occur repeatedly over several seasons may slow the growth of
the plant or make the appearance unattractive.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Most galls are produced by insects that move to the trees as
new growth develops in the spring. They can be controlled only with sprays,
such as Sevin or Kelthane, that cover the leaves during the egg-laying period.
Repeat applications often are needed.</p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information, contact your local Colorado State
University Extension Master Gardener Program or visit Colorado State Forest Service - insects and diseases at https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/common-forest-insects-diseases/</p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-90132965206097761812021-06-25T00:00:00.001-06:002021-06-25T00:00:00.166-06:00A Wasp-Benefit Analysis – Part II: Social Wasps<i>By Lisa Mason, Arapahoe County Extension </i><div><p class="MsoNormal">In case you missed it, <a href="http://coloradomountaingardener.blogspot.com/2021/03/what-is-purpose-of-wasps.html">click
here to read Part 1</a>. We covered the purpose of wasps in the ecosystem and
answered questions on the Asian giant hornet that made headlines in 2020. Part II
will cover social wasps, their role in the ecosystem, and possible control
methods if they become a nuisance. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Wasps sometimes get a bad reputation because they can sting
and are sometimes a nuisance. We have one species of wasp that can be particularly
aggressive: the western yellowjacket. Don’t let one or two species of nuisance
wasps ruin your opinion of all wasps. Wasps are a diverse group of insects that
provide important ecosystem services such as pest control. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Social Wasps<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Social wasps are probably the most familiar wasps to people
because they are easily seen in the yard and landscape. Social wasps live in a
colony together. They have a similar lifecycle to a <a href="http://csuhort.blogspot.com/2019/11/where-do-bees-go-in-winter.html">bumble
bee</a> (<i>Bombus</i> spp.). A new colony is started each year by a
fertilized queen that survived the winter. She will lay several generations of
female workers throughout the season. Towards the mid-to-end of the summer, she
will lay eggs that are male wasps and potential queens. The males and potential
queens will leave the colony to find a mate. Once cold temperatures arrive, the
current colony will die except for the newly mated queens. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The cycle will repeat and the following spring, when the new
queens begin a new colony. Social wasps always build a new colony each year.
They never reuse old nests, which is important to note if you’re looking to
control nuisance wasps. Social wasps make their nests out of chewed up wood,
creating a paper nest. Social wasps also feed on insects like caterpillars,
providing important pest control in our backyards. The western yellowjacket is
a scavenger feeding on carrion and human sources of food such as trash.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Let’s discuss five species of social wasps that are found in
Colorado. Understanding the life history of social wasps can help you control
them if they become a nuisance in your landscape, and build appreciation for
their complex social biology, along with the pest control services they
provide.</p></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kk9VaWrvZfM/YIhTm2TNoOI/AAAAAAAADZo/AIg1ehi_NWU_knhRurnzip7K0bSV18pRACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/western%2Byellowjacket.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1872" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kk9VaWrvZfM/YIhTm2TNoOI/AAAAAAAADZo/AIg1ehi_NWU_knhRurnzip7K0bSV18pRACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/western%2Byellowjacket.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><i>A western
yellowjacket. Photo: Lisa Mason<o:p></o:p></i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Western Yellowjackets <o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/arthropodsofcolorado/Yellowjackets.pdf">Western
yellowjackets</a> (<i>Vespula pensylvanica</i>)
are a native, social wasp that you will find at your family BBQ, picnics, trash
cans, etc. They are very common in urban landscapes and can become a nuisance. Like
social wasps, they create a new colony each year. The paper comb nest is
usually underground or in a cavity that is well-protected. While yellowjackets
are commonly seen, their nesting site can be difficult to find. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Yellowjackets can be aggressive, especially when defending
their nest and are responsible for 90% of the insect stings in Colorado. They
are scavenging insects feeding on carrion, dead earthworms, garbage, human
foods including meats, and sweet, sugary foods. They also will feed on
honeydew, a sweet substance excreted by aphids and soft scale insects. Scavengers are the clean-up crew for
ecosystems and play an important role in the food web. Yellowjackets tend to
get more aggressive in the fall as food can be harder to find. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">If yellowjackets tend to be a nuisance in your landscape,
you can purchase a yellowjacket trap available at hardware and garden stores.
The traps contain heptyl butyrate which yellowjackets are attracted to. Traps
will be most effective if they are placed outdoors in the early spring to
capture the overwintering queens before they start their new colonies. Nest
removal can be a dangerous task and difficult because their nests are so
well-protected. Insecticide treatments often aren’t effective because it is
difficult to get the insecticides inside the colony. Hiring a professional is
often necessary. Remember, the colony will only last for one season. </p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-57RvYoZYPC0/YIhYbQ7t18I/AAAAAAAADZw/Tu3PBhMM948UAvSR6GT4AUQxJXBLN4gxwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1265/underground%2Bentrance%2Bto%2Ba%2Bwestern%2Byellowjacket%2Bnest.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1265" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-57RvYoZYPC0/YIhYbQ7t18I/AAAAAAAADZw/Tu3PBhMM948UAvSR6GT4AUQxJXBLN4gxwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/underground%2Bentrance%2Bto%2Ba%2Bwestern%2Byellowjacket%2Bnest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><i>An underground
entrance to a western yellowjacket nest. Photo: Nancy Bonita<o:p></o:p></i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">European Paper Wasps<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/european-paper-wasp-5-611/">European
paper wasps</a> (<i>Polistes dominula</i>) are
much less aggressive, but they often build their nests close to human activity.
They are a non-native insect that has become well-established in Colorado. They
first appeared in Colorado in the late 1990s/early 2000s. They prey on
caterpillars and other insects and feed their young live insects. Common prey
includes hornworms and cabbageworms. They also will feed on honeydew secreted
from aphids. The papery comb nests are often found under house eaves,
overhangs, sheds, pipes, and other hollow spaces in human infrastructure. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">If the paper wasp nest is located in an area that won’t be
disturbed by people, the nest can be left alone, and the wasps likely won’t be
a nuisance. The current colony won’t survive when temperatures cool in the
fall. If the nest is close to human activity, there are insecticide treatments
to destroy the nest. Following instructions on the insecticide label is
critical. Insecticides should be applied at night when most wasps are present
at the nest. The nest should be destroyed afterwards to also kill the capped
larvae in the nest. The location of the nest site should be thoroughly washed
to prevent any remaining wasps from building a new nest.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Traps that attract yellowjackets will not
attract paper wasps. There are no effective trap methods for paper wasps.</span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_jiQ8dvslQ/YIhYsN3cE2I/AAAAAAAADZ4/bF77w4nYdwsKzFAUHNJJxVQX2qlAfcnJACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/European%2Bpaper%2Bwasp.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="2017" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_jiQ8dvslQ/YIhYsN3cE2I/AAAAAAAADZ4/bF77w4nYdwsKzFAUHNJJxVQX2qlAfcnJACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/European%2Bpaper%2Bwasp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><i>A European paper wasp.
Photo: Lisa Mason<o:p></o:p></i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Baldfaced Hornets and Aerial
Yellowjackets<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a href="https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/arthropodsofcolorado/Baldfaced-Hornet.pdf">Baldfaced
hornets</a> (<i>Dolichovespula maculata</i>)
and <a href="https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/arthropodsofcolorado/Baldfaced-Hornet.pdf">aerial
yellowjackets</a> (<i>Dolichovespula
arenaria</i>) are common in Colorado but are less likely to be a nuisance
around human activity. They are only aggressive when their nest is threatened.
They develop a large papery comb nest usually high in large trees and shrubs. They
feed on caterpillars, other insects, and honey dew. If you find a nest in your
tree or shrub, it may look intimidating, but the nest can likely be left alone
if the nest can be left undisturbed. These two wasps can be common visitors in
our landscapes but often go unnoticed by people.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwVIG8Cm2gs/YIhY6KClRgI/AAAAAAAADZ8/w11dFaADt_QEMZaOChgFXUXpPP8eBRB_ACNcBGAsYHQ/s640/baldfaced%2Bhornet%2Bnest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bwVIG8Cm2gs/YIhY6KClRgI/AAAAAAAADZ8/w11dFaADt_QEMZaOChgFXUXpPP8eBRB_ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/baldfaced%2Bhornet%2Bnest.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><i>A baldfaced hornet
nest. Photo: </i><a href="https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1671"><i>Joe Boggs</i></a><i>, Ohio State
University Extension<o:p></o:p></i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5WeG0vx36ws/YIhZFlNrNII/AAAAAAAADaE/H6CcXVsLoq0EK3GStBkTk5I2zeny5yUCgCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/baldfaced%2Bhornet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="426" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5WeG0vx36ws/YIhZFlNrNII/AAAAAAAADaE/H6CcXVsLoq0EK3GStBkTk5I2zeny5yUCgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/baldfaced%2Bhornet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal"><i>A baldfaced hornet. Photo:
</i><a href="https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1671"><i>Joe Boggs</i></a><i>, Ohio State
University Extension<o:p></o:p></i></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Western Paper Wasp<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">The
western paper wasp (<i>Mischocyttarus
flavitarsis</i>) is a native paper wasp in Colorado and the western US. They
have a similar biology to the European paper wasp. They are capable of building
paper nests close to human infrastructure and activity, but they are not nearly
as common as the non-native European paper wasp. They can sting if their nest
is threatened, they often prefer to “ram” into the person or animal that is
threatening the nest (</span><a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/25082071?seq=1"><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">Snelling, 1953</span></a><span style="line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-size: 14.0pt;">). Like other paper wasps, they prey on caterpillars,
flies, and other pests, bring the prey back to the nest to feed the young wasps
the live insects. Adult wasps may also forage for nectar on flowers.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0CMwdCwN1k/YIhZTPYfZWI/AAAAAAAADaM/jFznDIEynAs-iwkel2YxhuO6MhpK4iiLQCNcBGAsYHQ/s990/westrn%2Bpaper%2Bwasp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="742" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-L0CMwdCwN1k/YIhZTPYfZWI/AAAAAAAADaM/jFznDIEynAs-iwkel2YxhuO6MhpK4iiLQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/westrn%2Bpaper%2Bwasp.jpg" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">A Note About Insect Stings <o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Western yellowjackets are responsible for 90%+ of all stings
in Colorado. When someone says, “I was stung by a bee,” they were likely stung
a yellow jacket.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Both bees and wasps can sting. A stinger is a modified
ovipositor (the egg-laying mechanism in insects), so only females have the
ability to sting. The purpose of a stinger is defense, and in some species,
predation. Generally, insects will only sting if they are provoked or their
colony is disturbed. Both social and
solitary wasps and bees can have the ability to sting, but social insects are
more likely to sting because they need to protect their colony. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Bees<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Honey bees prefer to forage on flowers and go about their
business in their hive, but they can sting if they need to protect their hive. Honey
bees can sting only once. They have a barb at the end at the end of their
stinger that stays in your skin. The barb is attached to the internal guts of
the bee, so when the bee tries to fly away, the guts are ripped out of the bee’s
body, which kills the bee. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bumble bees have the ability to sting but will only sting if
their colony is disturbed. They can also sting more than once unlike honey
bees. Bumble bees are not aggressive and prefer to forage on flowers and go
about their business. Many native bees are not able to sting or will only sting
if handled. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><u>Wasps<o:p></o:p></u></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Wasps can sting more than once. Solitary wasps will only
sting if they are pressed up against your skin, or you try hard to provoke
them. They prefer to fly away and stay away from human activity. Social wasps
can be very defensive if their nest is disturbed. They also can sting if they
are away from their nest and provoked. The western yellowjacket is much more
likely to sting because they are scavengers and attracted to human foods and
garbage. They tend to get more aggressive in the fall when temperatures cool
down and food is harder to find. Other social wasps including the European
paper wasp are generally not aggressive unless their nest is disturbed. The
European paper wasp tends to build nests close to human activity on buildings,
sheds, and other structures, which can increase the chance of nest disturbance.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Learn More<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Western yellowjackets and European paper wasps can be a
nuisance to people and often attract attention, but these wasps and other
social wasps represent a small part of wasp diversity. Look for a future post about
solitary hunting wasps. These wasps often go unnoticed in the landscape, but
provide valuable pest control services! <o:p></o:p></p>
</div>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-17241275177804499882021-06-11T01:30:00.044-06:002021-06-11T01:30:00.207-06:00TIPS TO CONSERVE WATER IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN<p>By Yvette Henson, San Miguel Basin, CSU Extension</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Colorado has a semi-arid to arid climate with recurring
periods of drought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet, plants in the
landscape provide many benefits like cooling the air temperature around and
inside our homes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are also
physical and mental health benefits from growing gardens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growing at least some of our own food
contributes greatly to food security.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So, how do we use water responsibly to grow a garden, without waste?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">This blog posts gives some tips to conserve water in the
vegetable garden:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Grow only what you need.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Group plants with similar water needs.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Plant in blocks, not rows, to shade the soil.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Incorporate organic matter into soil before
planting to hold water.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Apply mulch, after planting, to reduce
evaporation.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Cover plantings with row cover fabric to reduce
evapotranspiration.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izxofYXdA7I/YLaHgMAN1eI/AAAAAAAADck/luNjYWWQ0cUE8DSgZ_RpGCObZgX2_enpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1633/yvette%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1633" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-izxofYXdA7I/YLaHgMAN1eI/AAAAAAAADck/luNjYWWQ0cUE8DSgZ_RpGCObZgX2_enpgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/yvette%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p align="center" class="MsoNormal">A freshly watered
vegetable garden. This
garden will benefit from an application of mulch to the fall peas to reduce
evapotranspiration.<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Some other
water conservation ideas to investigate are Hugelkultur, planting in natural depressions and paths of runoff (“rain gardens”).</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Or you can create your own depressions,
swales, and underground trenches to direct water.</span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;">Check water law before creating ponds or
other larger water holding/directing structures.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EzMbr8IRVqw/YLaILevOVeI/AAAAAAAADcs/KxpwlzpZjeIKdi_LdVJnaxvEgDB-R69mgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/yvette%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EzMbr8IRVqw/YLaILevOVeI/AAAAAAAADcs/KxpwlzpZjeIKdi_LdVJnaxvEgDB-R69mgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/yvette%2B2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">“waffle gardens,” depressions in the ground hold water
for crops, and were used by first nations peoples in the southwest. (Photo credit:
Jodi Torpey)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-align: left; text-indent: -0.25in;">When watering
your garden:<span style="text-indent: -0.25in;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Water only when needed, rather than on a
schedule.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Use a trowel or shovel to check soil moisture,
rather than guessing.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Water more deeply, to depth of the root zone,
less frequently.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Water slow-draining soils, like clay, in several
short intervals to reduce runoff. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Water during the coolest times of day or when
your garden is shaded.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t water when it is extremely windy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Don’t water automatically when you’ve received
adequate rainfall (> ½”)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Use soaker hoses or drip irrigation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .75in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .75in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Use harvested rainwater (see this Fact Sheet <a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/rainwater-collection-colorado-6-707/">https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/natural-resources/rainwater-collection-colorado-6-707/</a>
)<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">In general,
water is most critical during the first few weeks of development, immediately
after transplanting, and during flowering and fruit production. Young plants need less but more frequent
watering. Older plants use more water but
need it less frequently. They have deeper
roots and larger canopy. </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;">You can target the timing and amount of water to
add during the most critical periods of each specific crop.</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioYHTxl4Xt8/YLaI-Z6bi-I/AAAAAAAADc0/-6GLD45qgg0EyU44C1ZQhcnIBsis15XugCNcBGAsYHQ/s1280/yvette%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="225" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ioYHTxl4Xt8/YLaI-Z6bi-I/AAAAAAAADc0/-6GLD45qgg0EyU44C1ZQhcnIBsis15XugCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h225/yvette%2B3.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Root crops need
water most when roots are sizing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Water
stress can cause bolting and/or strong flavor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Fruit- and seed-bearing crops need extra water when fruit is setting and
filling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too little water can reduce
yield significantly but can also make fruit more flavorful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too much water before fruit set can delay it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bulb crops, like onions and garlic, need more
water when young and less water when maturing and none when curing (in ground).</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;">Certain plants
require more water than others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they
worth it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For example, beans and
strawberries (especially when establishing) need 0.25 to over 0.50 inches of
water per day when blooming and setting fruit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, this is variety dependent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Certain beans, like terpary beans, do not require much water.</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKdokttr-ao/YLaJWnopp7I/AAAAAAAADc8/ygn3rlf3358gvyJPUBHBgnzkdhbdAofjQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1633/yvette%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1633" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cKdokttr-ao/YLaJWnopp7I/AAAAAAAADc8/ygn3rlf3358gvyJPUBHBgnzkdhbdAofjQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/yvette%2B4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Follow your local water restrictions, garden responsibly and
reap the benefits!<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><o:p><br /></o:p></p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; text-indent: -0.25in;"></span><p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-10286077432482114352021-05-28T00:00:00.019-06:002021-05-28T00:00:00.167-06:00 Composting Considerations<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">By </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e;"><span>Denyse Schrenker, Eagle County Extension</span></span></span></div><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have a confession: I used to put grass clippings, leaves and yard waste in the garbage. Why did I waste all those great sources of organic matter? Why?!? Because it was easy and that’s what we did growing up! While I have not convinced my parents to start a compost pile, I have at least convinced them to leave their grass clippings on the lawn - a step in the right direction. What’s with their aversion to composting? Although composting is a fantastic way to convert our yard waste and some kitchen scraps into a great soil amendment and keep organic material out of our landfills, it can seem like a daunting and complicated procedure that requires a degree in organic chemistry to get right. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Home composting can be a simple and easy process, and I promise no knowledge of organic chemistry is required. A quick internet search of home or backyard composting (don’t forget the :edu!) will give you a plethora of great resources on how to compost at home. Composting in Colorado is the same as anywhere else but there are a few considerations we need to give more attention.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-d4d55f21-7fff-14c0-733f-4f7ab02514f8"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znRK5TuMBcU/YJ6-b1Uh-XI/AAAAAAAADbE/e1Ei7iRQ1wQDhkS1wdDtA_jKHE_Ksz99QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/OfficeCompostPile.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-znRK5TuMBcU/YJ6-b1Uh-XI/AAAAAAAADbE/e1Ei7iRQ1wQDhkS1wdDtA_jKHE_Ksz99QCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/OfficeCompostPile.JPG" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Office compost pile</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Dry air & low rainfall</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The organisms that are decomposing the compost materials need water to live. When parts of your compost pile dry out those microorganisms die and decomposition slows or stops in those parts until water has been added and they have had time to rebuild their populations. Water your dry brown (carbon) layers when you add them to your pile and water the pile regularly. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Your compost pile should be damp but not soggy. If you have a compost bin that is made of wire, you may notice that you have a hard time keeping the exterior of the pile from drying out. You can line the bin with plastic, or cover the pile with plastic, a tarp, or cardboard to keep the pile from drying out. Bins made of wood, plastic, metal or brick/concrete blocks will keep the pile more evenly moist and not dry out as fast. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even with bins made from these materials you may still want to cover the pile. If you cover the pile with a tarp or plastic, try to place the bin where it will be partly shaded during summer or uncover the pile on hot days. Temperatures exceeding 160℉ will cause the decomposing organisms to die. I highly recommend buying a compost thermometer so you can monitor the temperature of the pile. They are around $20 and widely available online or in hardware and garden supply stores. </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwWEzZw96uw/YJ6-2OZIPSI/AAAAAAAADbY/CgCOwhQ2AQIRdECP0Om7_kxwZLnrdHzpQCNcBGAsYHQ/s978/Compost%2BThermometer.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="950" data-original-width="978" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iwWEzZw96uw/YJ6-2OZIPSI/AAAAAAAADbY/CgCOwhQ2AQIRdECP0Om7_kxwZLnrdHzpQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Compost%2BThermometer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRUVdH6O-Nc/YJ6-2AheNeI/AAAAAAAADbc/KEfoyIY1QCEcJMxSX3GtAzDXYN18N8G6wCNcBGAsYHQ/s532/SimpleCompostThermometer.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="532" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XRUVdH6O-Nc/YJ6-2AheNeI/AAAAAAAADbc/KEfoyIY1QCEcJMxSX3GtAzDXYN18N8G6wCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/SimpleCompostThermometer.png" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Cold winters</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Our cold winters make it hard to keep backyard compost piles active during winter which extends the time it takes to reach a finished product. Do not turn your pile after November in the mountains, to retain heat and keep the process going as long as possible. In the spring turn the pile and mix in fresh materials to reactivate the process. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also suggest removing your finished compost at the end of the summer/beginning of fall so you have an empty or nearly empty bin. You can add the finished compost to your garden in the fall or wait and add it in the spring. I like to add the finished compost in the fall but wait to incorporate it until the spring, that way it acts like a mulch covering any bare soil over winter. Add your fall yard waste to the empty bin and continue to add your food waste to that bin over winter. In the spring add a brown layer (carbon source) and mix the pile. Bins made out of a more insulating material such as wood will also help prevent heat loss and keep the pile active longer into winter. Larger piles will retain heat better and stay active longer as well.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Animals</b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">We live in close contact with our wildlife neighbors, especially in the mountains. Animal pests create another composting challenge. Animal products such as meat, dairy, bones, egg yolks and fats can attract unwanted critters so do not add those materials to your compost. You might want to avoid adding peanut butter as it attracts animals as well. If you are having a hard time keeping rodents out of your wood compost bin you can line it with hardware cloth. Cover fresh kitchen scraps with a carbon layer or bury them in the pile. Covering the pile with plastic, a tarp, or cardboard will help keep animals out as well - be sure to secure the cover. You might even want to make a lid you can secure over your compost bin to keep larger animals out. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Basic Compost Troubleshooting</span></p><div align="left" dir="ltr" style="margin-left: 0pt;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none;"><colgroup><col width="144"></col><col width="168"></col><col width="312"></col></colgroup><tbody><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Issue</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Cause</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Solution</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Compost stinks like rotten eggs</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lack of air - either too wet or too compact</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Turn the pile or fluff it well and make sure it is not soggy wet.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Compost stinks like ammonia</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Too much nitrogen</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add carbon source; dried leaves/plant material, chipped woody material, sawdust, wood chips, hay/straw.</span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Materials will not decompose</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pile is too dry, too small, or particle size too large</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Check if the pile is dry - water regularly and cover if outer inches of pile consistently dry. Add more material and mix in with old material. Shred/chip large materials. </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pile is damp and smells sweet but will not heat up</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not enough nitrogen</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add nitrogen source & mix well: grass clippings, fresh plant material, coffee grounds/veggie kitchen scraps, bloodmeal, fertilizer, manure from herbivore. </span></p></td></tr><tr style="height: 0pt;"><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pile is only damp and warm in the middle</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pile is too small</span></p></td><td style="border-bottom: solid #000000 1pt; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left: solid #000000 1pt; border-right: solid #000000 1pt; border-style: solid; border-top: solid #000000 1pt; border-width: 1pt; overflow-wrap: break-word; overflow: hidden; padding: 5pt; vertical-align: top;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.2; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Add more material and mix in with the old material</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> ***If you add manure as a nitrogen source it should be from plant eating animals and you need to let the compost cure for 6 months to reduce pathogens if you want to use it in a food garden. Pathogens may still be present even after the curing process so wash all fruits and vegetables thoroughly and follow safe food handling practices. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do not add:</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Meat, dairy, bones, oils, fats, human or pet feces, plants treated with weed killers, diseased plants, weeds that have gone to seed, wood or charcoal ash, highly resinous wood & leaves (junipers, pine, spruce, arborvitae), large amounts of leaves high in tannins (oak, cottonwood)</span><p></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For more information check out: </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/composting-yard-waste-7-212/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Fact Sheet 7.212: Composting Yard Waste</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/soils-amendments-composting/1613-composting-making/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PlantTalk Colorado 1613: Composting</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="https://sam.extension.colostate.edu/topics/composting/" style="text-decoration-line: none;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://sam.extension.colostate.edu/topics/composting/</span></a></p><div><br /></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-53275648170640903332021-05-21T00:00:00.012-06:002021-05-21T00:00:00.172-06:00Another of My Favorite Native Flower Tufted Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa)<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> By Ed Powers, Jefferson County Master Gardener</span></p><span style="background-color: white;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The Tufted Evening Primrose caught my attention when I moved into my Evergreen home. My south-facing hillsides have a number of these plants. We tried to repot them and read that Evening Primrose</span><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> is available as potted plants or seeds from many sources.</span><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-size: 14.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b0qM02yv-Zk/YJ67Zr6j6WI/AAAAAAAADak/QKncAjIz4qMWYDs0JQauFQSJAQ1LtIH6gCNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="794" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-b0qM02yv-Zk/YJ67Zr6j6WI/AAAAAAAADak/QKncAjIz4qMWYDs0JQauFQSJAQ1LtIH6gCNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="182" /></a></span></div><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">They require moderate watering to keep it blooming all summer. Soil should not be heavy and must have good drainage.</span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> However our potted plants did not survive. So I decided the best way is to take care of them on the hillsides. Which we do. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-family: arial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">I did some research on them and this some of the information I found. I used background information from Garden Notes of Colorado State University.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Tufted evening primrose or </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><i>Oenothera caespitosa</i></span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">, is known commonly as tufted evening primrose, desert evening primrose, rock-rose evening primrose, or fragrant evening primrose. It is a perennial plant of the genus Oenothera, native to much of western and central North America which includes Colorado. </span><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1YxoooKlBOA/YJ67j3hYwaI/AAAAAAAADao/bJpp83Od1Qg4660kaFHlPU7oXRxADUdwQCNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="941" data-original-width="794" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-1YxoooKlBOA/YJ67j3hYwaI/AAAAAAAADao/bJpp83Od1Qg4660kaFHlPU7oXRxADUdwQCNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="203" /></a></span></div><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-size: 13.99pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="border: 0px; color: #666666; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">It </span><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">is a low-growing stemless perennial with gray-green fuzzy leaves and wonderful 3-4 inch fragrant white flowers that open in the evening and close in the mid-day heat. It grows in sunny, dry, infertile, rocky, well-drained soils. This plant is showy, and requires little water, which makes it a perfect candidate for western xeriscape gardens.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">As the name implies, this family has many species that bloom in the evening, the flowers stay open all night, and then wilt the next day. The flowers are usually white or bright yellow and attract large night-flying insects like </span><a data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="0" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fs.fed.us%2Fwildflowers%2Fpollinators%2Fpollinator-of-the-month%2Fhawk_moths.shtml&data=04%7C01%7CJennifer.Cook%40colostate.edu%7C3d5220c47a1541e6dcba08d914ae1834%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637563560238385592%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Gd6lll3AHz%2BI4YiLL9KmAdAvcPCGEkHI4MqwcNKFbaU%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hawk_moths.shtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="tbrbBB8O6E0OKsg1BcDKlpRg0vyqFEiq2EditSHTnhlKLVxv5TVRAuh/wC8QMrFV/tuHUcarNYDJS6C30q2z5D1/zYPxHEN6Mc0vhOqUSioWQg1fkBkt31iVHOwtSl87jxVeE8gYRvjo1ILnzXyQyQbQVH+H4gFttzxUHagfbrI=" style="border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/pollinator-of-the-month/hawk_moths.shtml. Click or tap if you trust this link."><span style="border: 0px; color: #245e86; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">hawk moths</span></a><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> (family Sphingidae). </span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--ItRqgtVwN4/YJ67p73yzfI/AAAAAAAADaw/Lfj-j3V6kdoAgjz4h2UIzroFVwAeK-a5gCNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="400" height="240" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--ItRqgtVwN4/YJ67p73yzfI/AAAAAAAADaw/Lfj-j3V6kdoAgjz4h2UIzroFVwAeK-a5gCNcBGAsYHQ/image.png" width="180" /></a></span></div><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.5pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8pt;"><span style="border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: arial; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In the evening-primrose family, the flowers often have a long floral tube that holds the petals well above the base of the flower. Nectar collects in the base of the tube so only long-tongued visitors can get a nectar reward. Again, hawk moths with their long coiled tongues are perfectly adapted to reach the nectar in evening-primrose flowers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 8pt;"><br /></p></span>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-7790893882033073432021-04-30T00:30:00.001-06:002021-04-30T00:30:00.204-06:00Rhubarb<p>By Cherie Luke</p><p><i>Rheum rhabarbarum</i>, commonly know as rhubarb, originated in China and
the Himalayas. It is a true harbinger of spring!
Botanically it is a vegetable because we eat its stems and not its fruit, but
it is used like a fruit in pies, tarts, crisps, and even in wine making. </p><p>Rhubarb crowns are best planted in early spring or late fall in well drained
soil with plenty of organic matter. In a sunny location in your yard, dig a hole
so the crown buds are 2-3 inches below the soil surface. Rhubarb plants
need plenty of space to grow, so plant them 4-6 feet apart. </p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWTV-gBNOgE/YHXx50vI2wI/AAAAAAAADZI/Gt_zo_GITzU8zZsGNYV3VVi_M6G7M3U8gCNcBGAsYHQ/s640/rhubarb%2Bemerging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bWTV-gBNOgE/YHXx50vI2wI/AAAAAAAADZI/Gt_zo_GITzU8zZsGNYV3VVi_M6G7M3U8gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/rhubarb%2Bemerging.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rhubarb emerging in spring</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Mulch plants with compost to provide nutrients and to retain moisture
during the summer. Keep your rhubarb patch free of weeds so it will not
likely be disturbed by diseases or insects.
The first year you should let the rhubarb grow without harvesting any of
the stalks so your plants can become established. The second year, if the
plants show vigorous growth, you can harvest a light crop. By the third year
you can harvest most of the stalks. </p><p>The leaves of rhubarb contain the toxin oxalic acid and should be kept out
of reach of children and grazing animals. The leaves can be composted
without any danger.
Rhubarb can live for 15 years or more with little attention but will benefit
from a top dressing of compost or rotted manure in fall, and also by
occasionally dividing the roots. If seeds stalks appear they should be
removed so the plants can focus their energy elsewhere. </p><p>Rhubarb requires two months of freezing temperatures to break their rest period. Rhubarb like a long
cool spring, which makes it an ideal plant for mountain gardens. It is hardy
in zones 3-8. </p><p>CSU has a short video on how to harvest your rhubarb.
https://planttalk.colostate.edu/youtube-videos/vegetablesherbs-videos/
#rhubarb</p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-28372683752375426252021-04-16T00:00:00.011-06:002021-04-16T00:00:00.333-06:00 Watch Your Woody Plants for Damage Caused by Environmental Stress<p><span face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-size: 11pt;">By Kristina Hughes, Clear Creek County Master Gardener</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">In spring of 2020 I noticed my hawthorn, lilacs and roses were struggling. They leafed out much later than usual and were growing very slowly. My neighbors were having the similar issues with their woody plants. There was much more winter dieback than usual, even on native plants.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">I consulted the Plant Diagnostic Clinic and learned that the damage was a result of the sudden, extreme freeze that had occurred in April 2020, a few months prior. There had been a warm spell and the plants had started to leaf out, then the temperature plunged more than 40F. The first round of growth and buds had frozen. The plants then tried to push out leaves again later in the spring, but by then it was very dry. Plants need water to fill out their expanding leaves and there wasn’t enough water in the soil at that time for the plants to fully expand the second set of leaves. I realized that if the plants were stuck with stunted leaves for an entire growing season they would only generate a fraction of the energy that they would normally make in a season. The entire plant would be weakened the next year.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">So I followed the advice of the Plant Diagnostic Clinic and watered my woody plants very well. It took a concerted effort to water by hand until the entire root zone down 12”-18” was moist. But I did it quickly and I watched my plants expand their leaves to full size. I knew they would have a fighting chance of recovering from the freeze damage. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1V5vpx9xtV8/YGJw4V-skGI/AAAAAAAADY8/xijs2xOkbcMM9jbI5cHIedfYDJUKLXBXgCNcBGAsYHQ/s400/hughes%2Btree%2Bdamage.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="357" data-original-width="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1V5vpx9xtV8/YGJw4V-skGI/AAAAAAAADY8/xijs2xOkbcMM9jbI5cHIedfYDJUKLXBXgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/hughes%2Btree%2Bdamage.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Gotham SSm A", "Gotham SSm B", sans-serif" style="color: #555555; font-size: 12px; font-style: italic;">Late frost damage. Photo by Dana Ellison.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">I bring this up now because stress to woody plants can take a long time to show up. The damage done during the extreme freeze of Easter 2020 can continue to appear during this growing season. This year we’ve had a dry and warm winter which has added more stress to the plants, so I’m going to continue to watch my woody plants closely this year and make sure they have enough water if they look like they’re struggling.</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;">For more information on freeze damage:</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="Verified" data-linkindex="0" href="https://nam10.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fcsuhort.blogspot.com%2F2021%2F02%2Fjeffco-clinics-top-10-plant-problems-of.html&data=04%7C01%7CJennifer.Cook%40colostate.edu%7Cdff3aac8a9e34442cd6608d8f2f9d3f8%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637526502111316386%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=gBejW%2B6uIQVoNMrELkcH0uFOqgB5f3%2F13D244%2FBvfbo%3D&reserved=0" originalsrc="http://csuhort.blogspot.com/2021/02/jeffco-clinics-top-10-plant-problems-of.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" shash="cls4DG/FtAGsHvR7Y4v6/jnLzpcGOosYPxuwl5l7o6HbnfPdujE4bDwl3+nCd1uBCGYKa7V22va/2xb6D7GCGTf3NgS5/kwchfJOJCXh90aamjotoofnof4QtNVHwVvVUupP2Rxiu3LI5bd7jfrAYiu3Zo1e6U/aeetxVfwAh/o=" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank" title="Original URL: http://csuhort.blogspot.com/2021/02/jeffco-clinics-top-10-plant-problems-of.html. Click or tap if you trust this link.">Jeffco Clinic’s Top 10 Plant Problems of 2020</a></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="1" href="https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/garden/02932.pdf" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Environmental Disorders of Woody Plants</a> (sections on drought and freeze damage)</p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"> </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #201f1e; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0px;"><a data-auth="NotApplicable" data-linkindex="2" href="https://jeffco.extension.colostate.edu/horticulture/clinic/" rel="noopener noreferrer" style="border: 0px; font: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Jefferson County Plant Diagnostic Clinic</a> diagnoses samples for a small fee</p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-58190630563373593852021-04-02T00:00:00.096-06:002021-04-02T00:00:03.966-06:00High Altitude Natives<p>By Sandy Hollinsworth, Gilpin County Master Gardener</p><p class="MsoNormal">Increasingly, mountain gardeners and homeowners living above
8,000 feet are interested in landscaping with native plants to increase success
and promote sustainable, natural habitats. Native plants are inviting to
pollinators, birds, and mammals by providing food, shelter, and nesting
material. There are many benefits to using Colorado native plants including
biodiversity, beauty, adaptability, plus many are fire-wise plants. They are
naturally adapted to Colorado’s climates, soils, and environmental conditions. By
choosing native plants, gardeners can work with nature, rather than trying to
grow plants that are not suited to our local high-altitude conditions. Native
plants are also more resistant to pests and disease when grown in areas where
they are found in nature.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXhoixt-Uv0/YFoysDlTyYI/AAAAAAAADYc/hT_BDDYNedQs72Q2gRkdax8HMH7QDPydgCNcBGAsYHQ/s204/sandy%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="153" data-original-width="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CXhoixt-Uv0/YFoysDlTyYI/AAAAAAAADYc/hT_BDDYNedQs72Q2gRkdax8HMH7QDPydgCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/sandy%2B1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The mountain region is characterized by short growing
seasons, cool nights, strong sunlight, and high winds. The soils tend to be decomposed
granite, low in organic matter, and are usually very well-drained. Many native
plants prefer particular soil textures, whether sand or clay or loamy soils.
Almost all high mountain natives do not last as long in enriched garden soils;
they grow faster and may look fabulous for a few years then die sooner. Because
native plants are adapted to native soils they will thrive without fertilizer
or soil amendments. A small amount of compost may help work the rocky soil, but
gardeners will benefit by using compost sparingly. Species like columbines and
Jacobs ladder that grow in moist forests, may benefit from more compost but
otherwise, plant natives without fertilizer and other amendments. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Another consideration is microclimates, sections that are
hotter and drier, or cooler and wetter than the rest of the property. Every
garden and property have microclimates, depending on shade, sun, slope, water,
and wind protection. Grouping plants with similar sun, water, soil and
protection requirements will add to success and help with supplemental watering
as needed. Colorado mountain natives generally require less water unless they
naturally grow in riparian areas like Bluebells, Parry’s Primrose, Scouring-rush
Horsetail or Blue-Eyed Grass. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Maintenance in your garden may be easier with natives. It is
recommended not to rake away all dead leaves and twigs as it helps protect the soil
and offers protection to overwintering pollinators. In fall it is best not to cut
back plants but instead to leave seed-heads and dead stalks for food, perches
and winter homes for native bees, beneficial insects, and wintering songbirds. Wait
to cut back dead plant stalks in early spring at the first sign of green-up. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Mulch is critical for starting native plants from seed, and
it can be a huge help in establishing nursery-grown plants too. Gravel mulch is
best for retaining soil moisture without causing crown or root rot. Next best
is locally-sourced shredded bark mulch although it can blow away. <o:p></o:p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Non-native plants that are adapted to Colorado’s climate,
including CSU Plant Select species, may be more readily available. In years
with less than normal rainfall and snow these non-native plants may need supplemental
water, again pointing out the adaptive advantage of native species. Gardening
with native plants also prevents the introduction and spread of noxious weeds.
Many noxious weeds were intentionally introduced as garden plants and can crowd
out or change the garden’s native characteristics.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0fpgjMz0tE/YFoyyYGphtI/AAAAAAAADYg/xzfZSxaucTYKNXrarQdNXwhe-ghYRkuMQCNcBGAsYHQ/s236/sandy%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="158" data-original-width="236" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-T0fpgjMz0tE/YFoyyYGphtI/AAAAAAAADYg/xzfZSxaucTYKNXrarQdNXwhe-ghYRkuMQCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/sandy%2B2.jpg" /></a></div><br /><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal">In Gilpin County, the following list of native plants are
found at 8,500 – 9,500’ on nature hikes and in established natural habitats.
Most are available at local native oriented nurseries or through CSU Extension native
plant sales. Inquire about sun and water recommendations to make sure to plant
the right plant in the right place. Seedlings will take a few years to fully
establish. Some reseed freely while others stay put and grow to their mature
spread and height over time. Wind, furry critters, birds, and domestic animals
may help spread seeds.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pussytoes<span> </span><i>Antennaria
spp</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Kinnikinnick <i>Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sulfur Buckwheat <i>Eriogonum
umbellatum </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Common Yarrow <i>Achillea
millefolium (lantana) </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Nodding Onion <i>Allium
cernuum</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pearly Everlasting <i>Anaphalis
margaritacea</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Fringed Sage <i>Artemisia
frigida<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7h9AS7962PY/YFo0rP7-CYI/AAAAAAAADYs/Um39fj226tEb2O_9qfLWmDVfkHfxIjiCwCNcBGAsYHQ/s180/sandy%2BFringed%2BSage%2BArtemisia%2Bfrigida.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="150" data-original-width="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7h9AS7962PY/YFo0rP7-CYI/AAAAAAAADYs/Um39fj226tEb2O_9qfLWmDVfkHfxIjiCwCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/sandy%2BFringed%2BSage%2BArtemisia%2Bfrigida.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fringed Sage <i>Artemisia frigida</i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rocky Mountain Columbine <i>Aquilegia
caerulea </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Blue Grama grass <i>Bouteloua
gracilis</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Harebell <i>Campanula
rotundifolia </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Indian Paintbrush <i>Castilleja
spp.</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rocky Mountain Bee Plant <i>Cleome
(Peritoma) serrulata </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Showy Fleabane <i>Erigeron
speciosus </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Wallflower <i>Erysimum
capitatum </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Blanketflower <i>Gaillardia
aristata </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Richardson’s Geranium <i>Geranium
richardsonii </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sticky Geranium <i>Geranium</i>
viscosissimum<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Prairie Smoke <i>Geum
triflorum </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Sneezeweed Helenium <i> Hymonoxys
hoopesii </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Showy Goldeneye <i>Heliomeris
(Viguera) </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Scarlet Gilia <i>Ipomopsis
aggregata </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rocky Mountain Iris<i> Iris
missouriensis</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Blue Flax <i>Linum
lewisii</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Silvery Lupine <i>Lupinus
argenteus </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bee Balm/Horsemint <i>Monarda
fistulosa </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Showy Locoweed <i>Oxytropis
lambertii </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Rocky Mountain Penstemon <i>Penstemon
strictus </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Blue Mist Penstemon<i> Penstemon
virens </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Silky Phacelia <i>Phacelia
sericea </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Jacob’s Ladder <i>Polemonium
viscosissimum </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Pasque Flower <i>Pulsatilla
(Anemone) </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Black-eyed Susan <i>Rudbeckia
hirta </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Golden Banner <i>Thermopsis
divaricarpa<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Luij4N1I8/YFo1JT9Vk3I/AAAAAAAADY0/p3XHrWStFlY0Vuss5ORyPrA17jL95eQfACNcBGAsYHQ/s228/sandy%2Bcurrent%2Bberries.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="171" data-original-width="228" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-i7Luij4N1I8/YFo1JT9Vk3I/AAAAAAAADY0/p3XHrWStFlY0Vuss5ORyPrA17jL95eQfACNcBGAsYHQ/s0/sandy%2Bcurrent%2Bberries.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Current berries</td></tr></tbody></table></i></p><p class="MsoNormal">Wax Currant <i>Ribes
cereum</i> <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Woods’ Rose <i>Rosa
woodsii </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Serviceberry <i>Amelanchier
alnifolia </i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Chokecherry <i>Prunus
virginiana</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For more information about native shrubs <a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/native-shrubs-for-colorado-landscapes-7-422/">https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/native-shrubs-for-colorado-landscapes-7-422/</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal">Almost this same list, plant photos, and some garden design
ideas are in this CSU Extension booklet:<a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/native/MountainsSm.pdf">https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/native/MountainsSm.pdf</a><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-80422316180278618492021-03-19T01:00:00.024-06:002021-03-19T01:00:04.879-06:00Just a Few of My Favorite Useful Plants<p>By Yvette Henson, San Miguel Basin, CSU Extension</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">My definition for herbs is ‘useful’ plants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Merriam Webster definition of an herb is
“any plant with leaves, seeds, or flowers used for flavoring, food, medicine or
perfume.” The past two gardening seasons, I have returned to herb gardening
like I did when I was first learning to garden, and I have been using my herbs
in many ways!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would like to share with
you my favorite herbs and how I use them. Since I garden at 8,400 feet, all these
herbs should grow well for anyone who gardens at a high elevation site, with
cooler temperatures.<o:p></o:p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbQUpMuz9UU/YDVFyBcBU9I/AAAAAAAADXk/fqN7M9KUb7Y4JvKAzlU9OwZeP9S9ehaFQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1431/Yvette%2BCalendula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1431" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vbQUpMuz9UU/YDVFyBcBU9I/AAAAAAAADXk/fqN7M9KUb7Y4JvKAzlU9OwZeP9S9ehaFQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Yvette%2BCalendula.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><p class="MsoNormal">Calendula flowers and seeds<o:p></o:p></p></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal">I will start with <i>Calendula officinalis. </i>Most people
call it by its Genus name, Calendula, but another common name is pot marigold, alluding
the fact that it is edible. It can be used
fresh in a salad or cooked with spinach or added to soup. It can also be dried and ground and used to
color rice, etc. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Calendula is useful in salves and lotions and is
scientifically proven to be good for skin. The variety that is reported to
contain high amounts of the compounds that are good for the skin, is ‘Resina’
but any <i>Calendula</i> variety will work. I use the salve for any skin
irritation—it is my favorite salve because it is so soothing. I also made a diaper cream for my
granddaughter that works well. Many
recipes can be found on the internet.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">You can find C<i>alendula</i> in shades of yellow, orange
and peach, the most common being orange.
It is a cool-season annual that grows in average soil. If happy, it will bloom continuously until a
killing frost, and will reseed itself.
The seeds can be collected and re-planted. If stored properly
(consistently cool, dry, and dark) the seeds remain viable for about nine
years.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymxixgU8s1w/YDVGB-EWYPI/AAAAAAAADXs/lmB8n7asPxUye1NEApOuoJnVJHu52CRVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s510/Yvette%2BChamomile.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="509" data-original-width="510" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ymxixgU8s1w/YDVGB-EWYPI/AAAAAAAADXs/lmB8n7asPxUye1NEApOuoJnVJHu52CRVwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Yvette%2BChamomile.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">German Chamomile, <i>Matricaria
chamomilla</i></p><p class="MsoNormal">For the past two years, I have grown <a name="_Hlk64629605">German
Chamomile, <i>Matricaria chamomilla</i></a>, from seed. When danger of frost is past, I transplant
the young, hardened-off seedlings into pots or raised beds in my garden. I love it for its abundant bloom and
delicious-smelling flowers. It is the
yellow disk flowers that contain the fragrance and oils. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Use in tea and infuse in oil for salves. Besides making a
calming tea for us to drink, a strong, cooled chamomile tea can be applied to
seedling trays at the first sign of damping-off disease, and it really
works! My daughter has eczema. She uses the salve I made her when she starts
getting an outbreak and it clears it up!
It is also a calming salve for babies.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 279.15pt; text-align: justify;">Grow chamomile
in well-drained, lean soil. Plant hardened-off seedlings into the garden after
chance of frost. Continuously remove blooms as they open to promote continuous
bloom. I dry the cut blooms in paper
bags or spread out on newspapers in a dark area. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YSgrmxIAQ_o/YDVGTtHkGoI/AAAAAAAADX0/dS6uRR7suSYSLJAeLuj7degrzD1YBVSzACNcBGAsYHQ/s1177/Yvette%2BDandelion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="833" data-original-width="1177" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YSgrmxIAQ_o/YDVGTtHkGoI/AAAAAAAADX0/dS6uRR7suSYSLJAeLuj7degrzD1YBVSzACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Yvette%2BDandelion.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">Dandelion blooms--<i>Taraxacum officinalis</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 279.15pt; text-align: justify;">We built our
house on ‘virgin’ land in a Ponderosa/Pinon/Juniper forest. I was so dismayed
when the dandelions started coming up— I did not want anything non-native
growing without my permission. Apparently,
we brought them here, because they were not there before. Although I tried to
remove them, each year they multiplied in number, until I finally gave up. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 279.15pt; text-align: justify;">Now, I pick
the young greens in early spring and sauté them in oil with a dash of lemon at
the end. What a yummy, although bitter,
green for an early spring ‘tonic’! I
also make salve by infusing the dried blooms in oil. I like the dandelion salve for lip balm and
to massage sore, dry feet and ankles. My
daughters agree that it is helpful—we do not know if it is the massage or the
dandelion oil or both, but it eases the pain.
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 279.15pt; text-align: justify;">I am not
recommending that you plant them on purpose—I am sure you can find some dandelions,
somewhere, preferably in a place where no weed killer was applied. Last year, my favorite spring mornings were
spent in the sun, watching the bumblebees collect pollen from the dandelion
flowers while I picked a bag full of blossoms.
So, why not make a few dandelion chains and blow some seeds into the
wind--“If you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em!” -- I think I may make dandelion jelly
this spring. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="tab-stops: 279.15pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-77175216876522054702021-03-05T01:00:00.034-07:002021-03-05T01:00:03.006-07:00What is the purpose of wasps?<p> By <span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Lisa Mason, Arapahoe County Extension</span></p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">What is the purpose of
wasps?</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I am asked this question
quite often. Why do we have wasps? What is their purpose? Do we need them?</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We have a couple of wasp
species that can be a nuisance to people. They tend to give wasps a bad
reputation. In reality, wasps are a fascinating, diverse group of insects that
play a critical role in our ecosystem!</span><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NP0mVgL92M/YC1lws9jwCI/AAAAAAAADW8/7R9n_NRsF3ULbq0Tk9jzqQ1H88muK_92gCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Wasp%2B1%2BSand%2BWasp%2B-%2Bcredit%2BLisa%2BMason.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1515" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0NP0mVgL92M/YC1lws9jwCI/AAAAAAAADW8/7R9n_NRsF3ULbq0Tk9jzqQ1H88muK_92gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Wasp%2B1%2BSand%2BWasp%2B-%2Bcredit%2BLisa%2BMason.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div align="center">
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable">
<tbody><tr>
<td style="padding: 0in;">
<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">A beneficial sand wasp (<i>Bembix </i>sp.)
hunts caterpillars and flies. They can often be seen visiting flowers for nectar
in the summer. Photo: Lisa Mason</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> <o:p></o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
</div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Here are some important
facts to know:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</p><ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><ul type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Two species of wasps Colorado are considered a
nuisance: The </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/arthropodsofcolorado/Yellowjackets.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Western yellow jacket</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (<i>Vespula pensylvanica</i>) and the </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/european-paper-wasp-5-611/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">European paper wasps</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> (<i>Polistes dominula</i>).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Besides those two species, wasps are a very diverse
group of insects with thousands and thousands of species documented
worldwide. How diverse? Current science says that beetles (Coleoptera) are
the largest group of organisms on the planet representing about a quarter
of all described species. However, some </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/274431v1"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">research</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> suggests that parasitoid wasps are actually the
largest group of organisms but we haven’t been able to document all the
species. </span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.npr.org/2020/08/01/881874414/beetles-dominate-as-scientists-discover-new-animal-species"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here is a fun NPR article on subject</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many wasps can’t actually sting including parasitoid
wasps and other solitary wasps.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Most wasp species are solitary insects. Only wasps in
the Vespidae family are social and live in colonies. Often, the social
wasps are brightly colored to warn predators that they are dangerous. They
will defend their nest and sting if needed.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Many other insects mimic the bright colors of social
wasps to protect them from predators. This phenomenon is known as Batesian
mimicry. Common mimics include flies in the Syrphidae family, also known
as flower flies or hover flies. You can observe these harmless insects in
flowers in the summer time.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Wasps provide valuable ecosystems services to humans
because they provide pest control in your landscape. Some wasps are
predators and others are parasitoids, meaning the wasps will lay eggs in
another host insect and consume the host. Our world would be full of pest
insects without wasps!</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">You can thank paper wasps for our current paper
production industry! In the 1700’s, paper was made from cotton and linen
until there was a shortage of those materials. A French naturalist named
Antoine Ferchault de Réaumer had observed how paper wasps use wood fibers
to make their paper nests, and thought people could do the same thing to
create paper. Paper products today are still made out of cellulose fibers
from wood (</span><span style="color: windowtext;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Insects-Did-First-Gregory-Paulson/dp/1984564625"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Paulson and Eaton, 2018</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">).</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li>
</ul><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFU9v2au27U/YC1mO7AXALI/AAAAAAAADXE/KsWKVhucbEkvwQNO_XcLVvxeVAwpuRjKQCNcBGAsYHQ/s1998/Wasp%2B2%2BEuropean_Paper_Wasp_Credit_LisaMason.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1919" data-original-width="1998" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TFU9v2au27U/YC1mO7AXALI/AAAAAAAADXE/KsWKVhucbEkvwQNO_XcLVvxeVAwpuRjKQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Wasp%2B2%2BEuropean_Paper_Wasp_Credit_LisaMason.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">European
paper wasp (</span><i style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Polistes dominula</i><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">). Photo: Lisa Mason</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><br /></span></div></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIK7-A44ZhQ/YC1miR80fDI/AAAAAAAADXM/83HoWhPHa8k7YAvaSgX2ybG2Alii4EqXgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1138/Wasp%2B3%2BSyrphid%2Bfly%2B-%2BSpilomia%2Bsp%2B-%2Bcredit%2BLisaMason_cropped.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="878" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BIK7-A44ZhQ/YC1miR80fDI/AAAAAAAADXM/83HoWhPHa8k7YAvaSgX2ybG2Alii4EqXgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Wasp%2B3%2BSyrphid%2Bfly%2B-%2BSpilomia%2Bsp%2B-%2Bcredit%2BLisaMason_cropped.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">A
syrphid fly (<i>Spilomia </i>sp.) that mimics stinging wasps but can't
sting. Photo: Lisa Mason </span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">What about the “murder
hornets”?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">The Asian giant hornet (<i>Vespa
mandarinia</i>), the world’s largest hornet, has received a lot of press
recently because a small number of individuals were found in Washington state.
While the insect may look intimidating, much of the news media is
sensationalized.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">I encourage you to </span><a href="https://www.kunc.org/environment/2020-05-12/whats-in-a-name-csu-entomologist-says-murder-hornet-title-is-all-buzz-no-sting"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">read a media interview with Dr. Cranshaw, CSU
entomologist</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. He talks about how
calling them “murder hornets” is unnecessary. Many wasps are predators and hunt
other insects. The Asian giant hornet is no different. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Much of the media has
focused on how Asian giant hornets preys on honey bees. While they can prey on
honey bees if near a hive, Asian giant hornets are generalist predators. They
will feed on a variety of insects and will be opportunistic in hunting. They
will not specifically target honey bees unless there is a hive nearby.
Beekeepers around the country have more important challenges concerning honey
bees including the </span><a href="https://honeybeehealthcoalition.org/varroa/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">varroa mite</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Will the Asian Giant
Hornet come to Colorado?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Short answer: No. We
don’t have to worry about the Asian Giant Hornet coming to Colorado for the
following reasons:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Asian giant hornets thrive in different climate
than Colorado. They need low-elevation areas and higher moisture levels.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">There are many geographic barriers preventing
the Asian giant hornet from spreading including the Rocky Mountains.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">They are unlikely to hitchhike like some other
invasive species. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-indent: -.25in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">·</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><a href="https://agr.wa.gov/about-wsda/news-and-media-relations/news-releases?article=31413"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Efforts to eradicate the hornet is Washington are
occurring now</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">What if I find an Asian
Giant Hornet in my backyard?</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Colorado has some wasp
species that large and may appear to look similar to the Asian giant hornet.
These wasps are <b><u>harmless</u> </b>and common in Colorado
landscapes. The two wasps that may look like the hornet include </span><a href="https://webdoc.agsci.colostate.edu/bspm/arthropodsofcolorado/Cicada-Killers.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cicada killers</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> and </span><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/insects/pigeon-tremex-horntail-and-the-giant-ichneumon-wasp-5-604/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">horntails</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">. Both of these wasps cannot sting you. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Cicada killers
target </span><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05590.pdf"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">cicadas</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"> when hunting and provide the prey to their young.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Horntails appear to have
a large “stinger.” This “stinger” can’t sting you at all! It is called an
ovipositor, which is adapted to drill into the bark of trees. Female horntails
lay their eggs underneath the bark of trees. They don’t harm trees and tend to
lay eggs in trees that are already stressed out.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">Solitary wasps such as
these found in your landscape are not aggressive and should be left
alone. </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">If you are looking for
the identification of a wasp found in your landscape, contact your local </span><a href="http://extension.colostate.edu/"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Extension </span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.5pt;">office
for assistance.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXxze2YtA5M/YC1mxv2616I/AAAAAAAADXQ/Uh97OGFOOcwxWxsYWBQD6pvSQQx60E8_ACNcBGAsYHQ/s1644/Wasps%2B4%2Bside-by-side%2BCredit%2BTexas%2BA%2Band%2BM%2BExtension.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="732" data-original-width="1644" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tXxze2YtA5M/YC1mxv2616I/AAAAAAAADXQ/Uh97OGFOOcwxWxsYWBQD6pvSQQx60E8_ACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Wasps%2B4%2Bside-by-side%2BCredit%2BTexas%2BA%2Band%2BM%2BExtension.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">Here is a visual of
the Asian giant hornet compared to common, harmless wasps including cicada
killers and pigeon tremex horntails. Photo: </span><a href="https://citybugs.tamu.edu/2020/06/09/cicada-killers-likely-to-stir-special-fear-this-year/" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "Times",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Texas
A&M Extension</span></a></td></tr></tbody></table><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 13.5pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 14pt;">Stay tuned for more info
on wasps!</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Look for future blog
posts about wasps! I will discuss the differences between social and solitary
wasps, and well as some common and beneficial wasps you might see in your
backyard.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Wasps can be scary to
people for a variety of reasons, but I hope to article can help instill some
appreciation for what all wasps contribute to our ecosystems.</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><ul type="disc">
</ul><ul type="disc">
</ul>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-42306673986350026802021-02-19T01:00:00.001-07:002021-02-19T01:00:02.264-07:00Indoor Plant Fun<p><span style="background-color: white; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">By Ed Powers, Jefferson County Master Gardener</span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; font-variant-ligatures: inherit;">It has been an interesting 14 months. My wife and I have been quarantined this whole time. Like a lot of people we have been catching up on things we fell behind on. We spent our whole summer working on our outdoor gardens. Our flowering plant pots were highly successful, but our vegetable garden was eaten up by the wildlife in our area. We had the garden protected with double netting but the voles and mice got through it and had a feast. So this spring we are going to dig up and turn over our raised garden soil, and find a new protection for them. </span></p><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">But our indoor plant gardens have been fun. We rely on background info from CSU factsheets and Garden Notes for information on how to take care of them. I can not say enough positive things about these resources. The types of plants we have can be very challenging. We have orchids, African violets, many types of succulents and cacti. A desert rose, miniature ficus trees, small Japanese Red Maples, indoor geraniums, pothos, ivy, mother-in-law tongue, a small nursery that I</span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: italic; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"> </span><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">start plants in, a small Japanese Black Pine that I am trying to bonsai, several Christmas cactus and a hanging bag full of outdoor plants that I brought in for the winter to see if they would make it.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zogPXrpeADo/YChr2n62MsI/AAAAAAAADWY/dg-60yK31_ADB0dQJ2jFm_5maOXWNjX9QCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/indoor%2Bplants%2B1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zogPXrpeADo/YChr2n62MsI/AAAAAAAADWY/dg-60yK31_ADB0dQJ2jFm_5maOXWNjX9QCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/indoor%2Bplants%2B1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Plants on steel shelves with only natural light.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Now you may ask how do we house and care for these plants? They are housed in our garage, turned into a sun room and workspace area. It has no heat except for heat coming through basement open areas such as doors or windows. Our sunny areas face the southwest and some northerly exposure. We have our stronger plants on steel shelving with some artificial light. We have also put bubble wrap on the windows for insulation while letting the sun light in. The temperature averages between 62 F and 67 F during the winter although when we get below 10 F outside that temperature can drop to 58 F. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXOJPE7WRHc/YChsBRGH0RI/AAAAAAAADWc/c1JlQZtQ5_keBN3LrbLEIY55PNblO4XQACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/indoor%2Bplants%2B2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iXOJPE7WRHc/YChsBRGH0RI/AAAAAAAADWc/c1JlQZtQ5_keBN3LrbLEIY55PNblO4XQACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/indoor%2Bplants%2B2.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Bubble wrap on windows for insulation and light.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">These steel-shelfed plants include all our trees, succulents, desert rose, Christmas cactus, mother-in-law tongue and Japanese Red Maples. They all seem to do well even when it is colder. Our more sensitive plants are on a plant stand draped with a plastic curtain in back and bubble wrap in front, which can be lifted and thrown over the back of the stand on warm days. The bubble wrap is two sheets 18 inches wide with openings in middle and ends, allowing circulation in the stand. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azpkqKAnt9k/YChsXR3o_pI/AAAAAAAADWo/6X7UaASHc4E2eZwiHcCF0BYaK5cwI_oaACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/indoor%2Bplants%2B3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-azpkqKAnt9k/YChsXR3o_pI/AAAAAAAADWo/6X7UaASHc4E2eZwiHcCF0BYaK5cwI_oaACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/indoor%2Bplants%2B3.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Orchids on first shelf of plant stand.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The stand has three shelves. When planting seed in early spring, I put them on the bottom shelf in trays. All shelves are lit with LED lighting. The top shelf holds the orchids, African violets, our small plant nursery and newly rooted trees, and is heated with a heat mat that is controlled by a thermostat. The second shelf does not have a heat mat. It holds geraniums, pothos and ivy. The stand usually is 65 F to 70 F. But on colder mornings it may drop to 61 F.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBxl4CatfpE/YChsjqvIo6I/AAAAAAAADWs/bx5AQYHDJE4AYARw-K3m8ouZGlXSVDIXwCNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/indoor%2Bplants%2B4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BBxl4CatfpE/YChsjqvIo6I/AAAAAAAADWs/bx5AQYHDJE4AYARw-K3m8ouZGlXSVDIXwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/indoor%2Bplants%2B4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-align: left;">Plant nursery, African violets and newly started ficus trees on first shelf of plant stand. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="border: 0px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">All in all it has been a fun time with our plants during this Pandemic and we hope to continue with our success when the Pandemic has passed.</span></p></span><br />Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-46635157218628190992021-02-05T02:00:00.027-07:002021-02-05T02:00:07.981-07:008 Ways Cover Crops Can Improve Your Garden<p><i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">By </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Patti O’Neal, Jefferson County Extension Horticulture and Urban Food Systems</span></i></p><p><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Cover cropping, a
strategy also known as green manure, has been practiced by gardeners and
farmers the world over for over 10,000 years. This organic restoration practice
can boost your garden noticeably the very first year you incorporate it into
your own best management practices and the improvements increase even more each
year as their effects accumulate. These crops are easy to use, do not need much
care beyond watering and a mowing/cutting or two and provide tremendous
advantages to the garden and gardener.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Cover crops are plants
that are considered soil builders. Here are 8 sometimes overlooked ways that
cover crops build the soil productivity in your garden:</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br />
· <b><i>Provides Beneficial insect
habitat</i></b> – pollinators, honeybees, beneficial predator insects will
all enjoy the nectar as well as the shelter these crops can provide at every
season you use them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">· <b><i>Smothers
weeds and suppresses their seed</i></b> from germinating as
well. They provide a dense mat to keep the light from reaching the
seeds.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">· <b><i>Better,
more complete soil tillage than any mechanical method</i></b><i>.</i> These
crops improve soil structure, allowing more air and water penetration. They can
break up soil compaction, loosen tight, hard, or heavy soils and create good
tilth.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">· <b><i>Provides
shade for the soil</i></b> for cooler root temperatures, less moisture
losses during hot weather.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">· <b><i>Acts
as a living mulch</i></b> when established between vegetable rows.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">· <b><i>Increases
organic matter in the soil</i></b> while feeding the microbes, beneficial
bacteria, fungi, and earthworms living in the soil.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">· <b><i>Conserves
soil moisture</i> </b>both at the surface of the soil and in the critical
root zone. The extensive root systems conserve soil by reducing erosion from
rain by slowing water flow across and through the soil. The living foliage can
also buffer wind effects.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">· <b><i>Fixes
nitrogen</i></b> from the air while recycling nutrients, preventing their
run-off and leaching from the root zone, simultaneously bringing up deeper
nutrients to plant roots that are usually unavailable.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Use seasonally
appropriate cover crops. Legumes, vetches, rye, and buckwheat are
all excellent cover crop plants. Like all plants, each cover
crop germinates and flourishes best in certain seasons. Most reputable seed
companies will sell individual crop packets or recommended mixes appropriate
for specific season plantings. Some cover crop seeds are available
locally, but seed catalogues have the widest range and generally provide good
advice and instruction on using them.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rVhokWGH0Kk/YAssXwJRviI/AAAAAAAADVg/mKQkc2GBsSEWrfg0gyeECbenLS6tdYbXgCNcBGAsYHQ/s600/cover%2Bcrops.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-rVhokWGH0Kk/YAssXwJRviI/AAAAAAAADVg/mKQkc2GBsSEWrfg0gyeECbenLS6tdYbXgCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h200/cover%2Bcrops.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you are letting a
bed or area of your garden go fallow for a season, this thousands year old
practice of planting a cover crop can help to replenish the biological
community of your soil below while providing nectar as well as shelter for
pollinators and beneficials above. Here are a couple of tips to help you be the
most successful with a green manure crop.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Allow
your crop to flower but watch carefully and do not let it go to seed or you
will be battling weeds of a different sort in the months to come.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltVLoh5QS1o/YAssykOZ1DI/AAAAAAAADVo/6q-5gosGvEomN1-xjrb4ub8Gx3w0bebiwCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/cover%2Bcrops2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="213" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ltVLoh5QS1o/YAssykOZ1DI/AAAAAAAADVo/6q-5gosGvEomN1-xjrb4ub8Gx3w0bebiwCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/cover%2Bcrops2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flowering red clover</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">If you plant early
enough in the season you can get one or maybe even two mowing’s in (If you
garden in raised beds, a weed whacker works great for this) forcing the root
material into overdrive to produce another above ground crop. This
action forces the root system further into the soil to depositing additional
nutrients while continuing to improve tilth, bringing formerly unavailable
nutrients up to the plant root zone.<o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">After your final
mowing, fork the remainder of the material under so the microbes and arthropods
you have encouraged can break it all down completely to become plant available
nutrients. Be sure and do this at least a month to six weeks before
your intended planting date for this bed. Otherwise, the increased
microbial activity will compete with the root establishment of new plants or
can even disrupt germination of seeds. You do not want to spoil all the good
work you have done.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kwc7ZkeuAVY/YAstWwLr0WI/AAAAAAAADVw/hJwfJ8EZy9M_fek-zVKORNZIUjieE0VWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/cover%2Bcrops3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Kwc7ZkeuAVY/YAstWwLr0WI/AAAAAAAADVw/hJwfJ8EZy9M_fek-zVKORNZIUjieE0VWgCNcBGAsYHQ/s0/cover%2Bcrops3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ferris helping turn the cover crop</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /><o:p></o:p></span></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-3972779241118517752021-01-22T06:00:00.038-07:002021-01-22T06:00:04.227-07:00Water Colors in the Garden<p><span style="text-align: center;">By Ginger Baer,
Gilpin County Master Gardener</span></p><p>This is the time of the year that we get flooded with our
seed catalogs. Oh, to dream of warm, sunny, gardening weather. Those catalogs do help brighten a grey
wintery day. However, when you get through the catalog and make your order,
what else can you do?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkhDK5QsEHE/X_jJFWFdFZI/AAAAAAAADT0/v868l65Ev-YWjxxEm_-9gNzm8f1SeTKuACNcBGAsYHQ/s401/Ginger%2Bwatercolor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="301" data-original-width="401" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IkhDK5QsEHE/X_jJFWFdFZI/AAAAAAAADT0/v868l65Ev-YWjxxEm_-9gNzm8f1SeTKuACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ginger%2Bwatercolor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">One of my first paintings</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">My grandmother and mother were terrific gardeners. They also were really good at using their
water colors to capture the plants that they loved so much. I have many of my
mother’s paintings in my home. I
especially love the floral ones because they are reminders of our gardens and
sunny, warm weather.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Og3FrODJEKM/X_jLxbWwNLI/AAAAAAAADU0/cvSPXscmYokfj0Tj6cxCAk-24KmHlSl2gCNcBGAsYHQ/s572/Gnger%2Bwatercolors%2B23%2B%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="384" data-original-width="572" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Og3FrODJEKM/X_jLxbWwNLI/AAAAAAAADU0/cvSPXscmYokfj0Tj6cxCAk-24KmHlSl2gCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Gnger%2Bwatercolors%2B23%2B%25282%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Two paintings by my mother, Caroline
English Stancliff</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I have gardened as long as I can remember, but only took up
painting six years ago when I retired. To get started I took classes at a
community art center. I then bought some
lesson books from my teacher to keep me going. I find this to be a great
winter-time activity. I am one of those people that needs sunshine and color in
the winter. Painting really helps. I highly
recommend it!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQsgdzV1_AI/X_jMxcV6n6I/AAAAAAAADVA/YdOj6dFG0B0cvFi0guwCNrySk4dOJ4AQACNcBGAsYHQ/s610/Gnger%2Bwatercolors%2B45%2B%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="233" data-original-width="610" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GQsgdzV1_AI/X_jMxcV6n6I/AAAAAAAADVA/YdOj6dFG0B0cvFi0guwCNrySk4dOJ4AQACNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Gnger%2Bwatercolors%2B45%2B%25282%2529.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Two more of mine. See the sunshine?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">So how do I manage to paint a picture of a flower or
vegetable when the ground is all covered in white? Let’s go back to those seed catalogs.
Shepherd’s Seeds has great photos.
Botanical Interests has real artsy graphics. If you want to get inspired,
pull out one of your catalogs and start thinking of what you love and what
would be fun to paint. My mother used to get out the White Flower Farm catalog. Some of the things that I found in her bag were
clippings of flowers right out of a catalog. As a matter of fact, I inherited
all of her art supplies.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdX2s4gIboo/X_jN64wlJUI/AAAAAAAADVI/NM5bYVv6kiItyGW1V3DzFhfVSCq1bXwOgCNcBGAsYHQ/s415/Ginger%2Bwatercolor6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="342" height="200" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdX2s4gIboo/X_jN64wlJUI/AAAAAAAADVI/NM5bYVv6kiItyGW1V3DzFhfVSCq1bXwOgCNcBGAsYHQ/w165-h200/Ginger%2Bwatercolor6.jpg" width="165" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Some of the supplies from my mother</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">Of course, there are other mediums you can use besides
watercolors. I just happened to have water colors given to me. Sometimes they are hard, but I love the
softness of them. There are oils, acrylics, pastels, colored pencils, and much
more. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">I didn’t think I could draw, let alone paint. Those lesson
books helped. So did practice, practice, practice. Don’t be shy, give it a try!
And then have many happy years of painting things from your garden.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOvlcUhDUpU/X_jORL3WpKI/AAAAAAAADVQ/TcupNrp9XhYlEKdYgeW1pzX6XAe_-9alQCNcBGAsYHQ/s537/Ginger%2Bwatercolor7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="537" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jOvlcUhDUpU/X_jORL3WpKI/AAAAAAAADVQ/TcupNrp9XhYlEKdYgeW1pzX6XAe_-9alQCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Ginger%2Bwatercolor7.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 9.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Another of mine. How Colorado is that!</span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Additional Resources:<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><b><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></b></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">This is my art instructor <a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.janetnunnwatercolors.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CJennifer.Cook%40colostate.edu%7Cdc7a5df2022a4ae2ce7408d8b40d2038%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637457315773185497%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Oh04YqJOfDZ8X67YooYpSBwgS%2F26kxAi4OIq0h1auSc%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: http://www.janetnunnwatercolors.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link."><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">http://www.janetnunnwatercolors.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Supplies can be purchased easily on-line. I have used <a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.michaels.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CJennifer.Cook%40colostate.edu%7Cdc7a5df2022a4ae2ce7408d8b40d2038%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637457315773195496%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=7%2FCYNDUrsit3S5o4yEnRJu54Do9i8UKC4lnmwQbIhwY%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: http://www.michaels.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link."><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">www.Michaels.com</span></a> and <a data-auth="Verified" href="https://nam01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.janetnunnwatercolors.com%2F&data=04%7C01%7CJennifer.Cook%40colostate.edu%7Cdc7a5df2022a4ae2ce7408d8b40d2038%7Cafb58802ff7a4bb1ab21367ff2ecfc8b%7C0%7C0%7C637457315773195496%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C1000&sdata=Z1%2Bh00VxJWuD113u%2BpyfG596lRzxxP51%2Bp1lm4JPOc0%3D&reserved=0" target="_blank" title="Original URL: http://www.janetnunnwatercolors.com/. Click or tap if you trust this link."><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;">http://www.janetnunnwatercolors.com/</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;"> <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;">
</p><p style="background: white; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: #201f1e; font-family: "Calibri",sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt;">Beginner watercolor techniques - <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"><a href="https://watercolorpainting.com/">https://watercolorpainting.com/</a></span><o:p></o:p></span></p><o:p></o:p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-79640597615156263222021-01-08T08:00:00.004-07:002021-01-08T08:00:03.887-07:00What is a Pollinator Syndrome?<p>By Lisa Mason, Arapahoe County Extension</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">In general, research has shown that plants have specific
flower traits that attract pollinators, and the plants provide the pollinator
with nectar and pollen rewards. These attractive traits can include flower
color, odor, shape, and availability of pollen and nectar. Some plants even
have nectar guides which are markings showing where the pollinator should go to
collect the reward. Different traits will attract different pollinators. Why
would a plant evolve with traits to attract pollinators? Because visiting
pollinators will facilitate plant reproduction. This relationship benefits both
the plants and the pollinators. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For example, bird pollination is called “<a href="https://ucanr.edu/sites/PollenNation/Meet_The_Pollinators/Birds_/#:~:text=When%20pollination%20is%20carried%20out,species%20of%20birds%20who%20pollinate.">ornithophily</a>.”
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Colorado, hummingbirds are primary
bird pollinators. We know that hummingbirds generally prefer to visit flowers
that are red, orange, or white. The flowers tend to be funnel-shaped, hang
loosely on the plant, and have plenty of nectar deep in the flowers. For other
birds around the world such as sunbirds, honeycreepers, and honeyeaters, the
plants tend to have strong perch support for the bird to land. <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Flowers that attract birds typically don’t have an odor,
because birds don’t need the scent to find the flowers. You might also notice
that the flower petals tend to curve outward to make it easier for a hummingbird
in flight to drink nectar.</p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUPzhJR96Do/X_em6GaREtI/AAAAAAAADTQ/Cznn5E2IlVs3E1eAX9nFzzfTdhXSXZt6QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1728/Hummer%2Bat%2BBroomfield%2BDemo%2BGarden%2B-%2BCredit%2BNancy%2BKlasky.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1728" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BUPzhJR96Do/X_em6GaREtI/AAAAAAAADTQ/Cznn5E2IlVs3E1eAX9nFzzfTdhXSXZt6QCNcBGAsYHQ/s320/Hummer%2Bat%2BBroomfield%2BDemo%2BGarden%2B-%2BCredit%2BNancy%2BKlasky.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A female broad-tailed hummingbird (Selasphorus platycercus). Note the
pollen on her head. Photo: Nancy Klasky</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />The <a href="https://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/pollinators/What_is_Pollination/syndromes.shtml">USDA Forest Service compiled a chart</a> of pollinator syndromes for the major groups of pollinators.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSdHFm2-mPw/X_enZs5kUfI/AAAAAAAADTg/QiTkFz4LvqczIZNc97ultjvWIY6HvdWbwCNcBGAsYHQ/s1194/Pollinator%2Bsyndrome%2Bchart%2Bfinal.png"><img border="0" data-original-height="1059" data-original-width="1194" height="355" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BSdHFm2-mPw/X_enZs5kUfI/AAAAAAAADTg/QiTkFz4LvqczIZNc97ultjvWIY6HvdWbwCNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h355/Pollinator%2Bsyndrome%2Bchart%2Bfinal.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">A wide variety of research is available demonstrating different
pollinator syndromes. I want to share two research studies with you.</p><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Darwin’s Prediction
of the Long-Spurred Orchid<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">In the 1860’s, Darwin studied orchids including the long-spurred
orchid, <i>Angraecum sesquipedal. </i>He predicted the flowers were pollinated by a long-tongued moth because
the flowers have a long spur approximately 12-inches long! The nectar sources are
located deep in those long spurs. When Darwin received a specimen of this
orchid, his wrote, “… good heavens what insect can suck it” (<a href="https://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/letter/DCP-LETT-3411.xml">Darwin, 1862b</a>).<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">At the time, no
pollinators had been observed pollinating these orchid flowers. Scientists
predicated pollinator could possibly be the species, <i>Xanthopan morganii,</i> and subspecies,
<i>Xanthopan morganii praedicta</i>, commonly called the Morgan’s sphinx moth
because they have a proboscis length (tongue-like tube) that averages over 8
inches long. More than 130 years later after Darwin’s prediction, documentation
of this moth pollinating the orchid was finally published beginning in 1993 (<a href="https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article/169/3/403/2416123">Arditti et al., 2012</a>). To learn more, I recommend <a href="https://academic.oup.com/botlinnean/article/169/3/403/2416123">reading this journal article</a>. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Pollinator Syndromes in Columbines<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Another research example
that we see in Colorado shows that columbines (<i>Aquilegia</i> spp.) have
adapted and evolved to attract different pollinators depending on their spur
length. This is considered a “pollinator shift” when the plant adapts to the
traits of a pollinator (<a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature05857">Whittall and Hodges, 2007</a>). </p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCQsEzRCSk4/X_en8Y5CEqI/AAAAAAAADTo/Yu_e9og4MqYJs_iiXyh-rX2QISU-HDd6wCNcBGAsYHQ/s1065/Columbine%2BPollinator%2BSyndrome_final.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCQsEzRCSk4/X_en8Y5CEqI/AAAAAAAADTo/Yu_e9og4MqYJs_iiXyh-rX2QISU-HDd6wCNcBGAsYHQ/w281-h400/Columbine%2BPollinator%2BSyndrome_final.png" width="281" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Besides the spur length, note the other traits the
columbines show to attract their designated pollinator. Image credit: </span><span face=""Calibri",sans-serif" style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/nature05857">Whittall and Hodges, 2007</a><br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Your Garden and Pollinator Syndromes<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">With anything, there are always exceptions to the rules. If
you are looking to plant flowers to attract pollinators, you can use pollinator
syndromes as a general guideline, but we recommend doing additional research
and reading about pollinator-friendly plants that grow well in your area. For
instance, to support pollinators, avoid double flowers. Many double-flowered horticultural
varieties typically do not have pollen and nectar available for flower
visitors.<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Here are some resources for pollinator-friendly plant lists:<o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Creating
Pollinator Habitat: </span><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05616.pdf"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05616.pdf</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Attracting
Native Bees to Your Yard: </span><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05615.pdf"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05615.pdf</span></a><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: .25in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="color: blue; font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Attracting
Butterflies to the Garden: </span><a href="https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05504.pdf"><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">https://extension.colostate.edu/docs/pubs/insect/05504.pdf</span></a><span style="color: blue; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Low-Water Native Plants for Pollinators: <a href="https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Low-Water-Native-Plants-for-Pollinators-brochure-6-8-15.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Low-Water-Native-Plants-for-Pollinators-brochure-6-8-15.pdf</span></a><span class="MsoHyperlink"><span color="windowtext" style="text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Low-Water Native Plants for Colorado Gardens:
Mountains 7,500’ and Above: <a href="https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Low-Water-Native-Plants-for-CO-Gardens-Mountains.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Low-Water-Native-Plants-for-CO-Gardens-Mountains.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoPlainText" style="margin-left: 0.25in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -0.25in;"><!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]-->Low-Water Native Plants for Colorado Gardens:
Front Range and Foothills:<span style="color: blue;"> </span><a href="https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Low-Water-Native-Plants-for-CO-Gardens-Front-Range-Foothills.pdf"><span style="color: blue;">https://conps.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Low-Water-Native-Plants-for-CO-Gardens-Front-Range-Foothills.pdf</span></a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">References<o:p></o:p></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Arditti, J., Elliott, J., Kitching, I. J., Wasserthall, L.
T. ‘Good Heavens what insect can suck it’ – Charles Darwin, <i>Angraecum sesquipedale</i> and <i>Xanthopan
morganii praedicta</i>. <i>Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society</i>
169, Issue 3, 403-432 (2012). <a href="https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2012.01250.x">https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.2012.01250.x</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Darwin CR 1862b. <i>Letter 3411-Darwin, C. R., to Hooker, J.
D, 25 January 1862</i>. Available at: <a href="" target="_blank">http://www.darwinproject.ac.uk/entry-3411</a><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; color: black; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Whittall,
J., Hodges, S. Pollinator shifts drive increasingly long nectar spurs in
columbine flowers. <i>Nature</i> <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">447,<b> </b></span>706–709 (2007). </span><a href="https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05857"><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05857</span></a><span style="background: white; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><br />Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-55808972164862976212020-12-18T07:30:00.001-07:002020-12-18T07:30:06.037-07:00Seedling Trees, Shrubs, and Perennial Wildflowers Available<p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Low-cost seedling trees, shrubs, and perennial wildflowers from the Colorado State Forest Service nursery are now available for order, as part of the 2021 Trees for Conservation seedling tree program. The </span><a href="https://csfs.colostate.edu/seedling-tree-nursery/buying-seedlings/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">seedlings can be purchased locally from cooperating agencies across Colorado</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. </span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This year, the nursery is offering a small collection of perennial wildflower plants. Species include </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Wild Bergamot (</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Monarda fistulosa</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">), </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Blanket Flower (</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Gaillardia aristate</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">), </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Black-Eyed Susan (</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Rudbeckia hirta), </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">and </span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">Rocky Mountain Penstemon (</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; font-style: italic; text-align: center;">Penstemon strictus</span><span lang="en-US" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: center;">).</span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoGAmP3JEQc/X9O_0ayKOoI/AAAAAAAADSk/qYJH_J768pQverw0PmPp3JQ7GPq7qAu7ACNcBGAsYHQ/s2048/Rudbeckia%2Band%2Bpenstemon%2BRJuly%2B%2B2010%2B055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qoGAmP3JEQc/X9O_0ayKOoI/AAAAAAAADSk/qYJH_J768pQverw0PmPp3JQ7GPq7qAu7ACNcBGAsYHQ/w400-h300/Rudbeckia%2Band%2Bpenstemon%2BRJuly%2B%2B2010%2B055.jpg" title="Blanket flower and Penstemon" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">Early orders are encouraged as supplies are limited this year. Check out the </span><a href="https://csfs.colostate.edu/seedling-tree-nursery/seedling-nursery-inventory/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">current inventory here</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">, but remember to </span><a href="https://csfs.colostate.edu/seedling-tree-nursery/buying-seedlings/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">make your order through your local cooperator</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 16px;">.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">The focus of the tree seedling program is to help landowners to meet conservation goals, restore forests impacted by wildfire and other disturbance, reduce soil loss, and enhance wildlife habitat. The program also allows landowners to plant vegetation in areas impacted by tree insects and diseases.</span></p><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">When considering which species to plant, landowners should consider elevation, aspect and soil type. Visit the </span><a href="https://csfs.colostate.edu/find-nursery-cooperators/"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Colorado State Forest Service website</span></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"> to find your local seedling sale and to obtain local assistance on tree species selection and ordering.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4432635798332022154.post-5976752540471853052020-12-11T07:00:00.026-07:002020-12-11T07:00:09.337-07:00BRIGHTEN UP THE HOLIDAYS WITH CACTUS!<p>By Sharon Faircloth, Jefferson County Master Gardener</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">There are several blooming plant options during the winter
holidays. A unique option is the Christmas Cactus. The <i>Schlumbergera</i> is actually an
epiphyte native to the coastal mountains of Brazil where they grow on trees and
in the cracks of rocks. The delicate 1-3”
blooms cover the stems in cascading colors from bright white, pale peach to
deep fuchsia to bright red.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gdbbMwqMVg/X9KxXmyN2cI/AAAAAAAADSI/pT1joG1f2_oNUp6TmklJ9RgVWSn4yLf5QCNcBGAsYHQ/s1752/Schlumbergera%2Btruncata2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1752" data-original-width="1429" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9gdbbMwqMVg/X9KxXmyN2cI/AAAAAAAADSI/pT1joG1f2_oNUp6TmklJ9RgVWSn4yLf5QCNcBGAsYHQ/w261-h320/Schlumbergera%2Btruncata2.jpg" title="Schlumbergera truncata" width="261" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">The genus is named for Frederic Schlumberger who grew a
variety of the cactus at his home in Rouen, France. While most often referred
to as the Christmas Cactus, a Thanksgiving Cactus (<i>Schlumbergera truncata</i>)
blooms in September and have pointy stems. Christmas Cactus (<i>Schlumbergera Buckleyi</i>)
have a more rounded stems and bloom later in December and January. The Easter Cactus (<i>Schlumbergera gaertneri</i>)
has more of a scalloped leaf stem. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CzRCE7Z40Ak/X9KxuUWqr-I/AAAAAAAADSQ/uQCNkpuD0-cnV9SWniRoduiwNe-Ss5rdQCNcBGAsYHQ/s220/Schlumbergera%2BBuckleyi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="216" data-original-width="220" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CzRCE7Z40Ak/X9KxuUWqr-I/AAAAAAAADSQ/uQCNkpuD0-cnV9SWniRoduiwNe-Ss5rdQCNcBGAsYHQ/s16000/Schlumbergera%2BBuckleyi.jpg" title="Schlumbergera buckleyi" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal">Growing the cactus is usually quite easy, about the only bad
things you can do to them is over water or give them too much sun! For most of the year, watering once a week is
plenty of attention. They like lots of cool indirect light and once they begin
to bloom, only water when dry. Blooms
last about 3-6 weeks and once the plant is finished blooming, you can
fertilize. The nub left after the bloom
drops will grow into another section of the stem.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">Unlike the traditional holiday poinsettia, the cactus
doesn’t take hiding in the closet to rebloom.
The cactus will require the cooler temperatures and short days to bloom
but the plant never stops growing and it’s not unusual to live 20 years or more.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">To stimulate growth, avoid over watering and make sure your
pot is not too large for the root system.
The plant prefers well-draining soil like a succulent mix in a terra
cotta pot. To add humidity, place
pebbles in a tray under the pot making sure the pot does not sit directly in
water. Think how they live in nature in
rock crags. You can propagate by
snipping the stem at the joint and placing directly in the soil/medium.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCcCbgs9KNk/X9Kx-V8Z12I/AAAAAAAADSY/b_uEd_NXMnEWwWgSCoFcV_5jEI91lpuNgCNcBGAsYHQ/s1431/Schlumbergera%2Btruncata.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="922" data-original-width="1431" height="206" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MCcCbgs9KNk/X9Kx-V8Z12I/AAAAAAAADSY/b_uEd_NXMnEWwWgSCoFcV_5jEI91lpuNgCNcBGAsYHQ/w320-h206/Schlumbergera%2Btruncata.jpg" title="Schlumbergera truncata" width="320" /></a></div><br />There are few issues in growing the cactus. If you have blooms drop before opening, you
are letting the plant get too dry or possibly too much of a temperature
change. If the leaf stems grow red,
there is too much direct sunlight. If
the plant base becomes woody, no worries, it’s normal!<p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">The really lovely thing about the holiday cactus is that
they often bloom more than once a year. Some months after the winter holidays,
you may be surprised by another blush of blooms. For a low maintenance unique plant, try this cactus. It’s readily available in a whole palette of
colors and will reward you throughout the year.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">For more information, check out PlantTalk Information Sheets
<a href="https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/houseplants/1353-re-blooming-christmas-cactus/">#1353</a>
and <a href="https://planttalk.colostate.edu/topics/houseplants/1336-christmas-cactus/">#1336</a>
at planttalk.colostate.edu</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>Extensionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05577684429461038663noreply@blogger.com0