MAY GARDEN NEWS 

News Briefs

Mother's Day Events
    Both Denver Botanic Gardens and Hudson Gardens are offering special Mother's Day events with food and entertainment.  Please see their websites for details.
     www.botanicgardens.org
     www.hudsongardens.org

Mountain Pine Beetle
     The Mountain Pine Beetle is gaining additional attention now that it is invading populated areas along the Front Range.  "Catastrophic" damage is predicted.  For information on this pest, including tips on how to prevent and control it, please see the article "Mountain Pine Beetle" at www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/insect/05528.html.

Feeding the Needy
     As you prepare to plant your vegetable garden this year, you are encouraged to plant a bit extra and then donate the vegetables to local food banks.

Jeffco Plant Clinic
     Bring plant and turf samples M - F, 8:30 to 4:30 p.m. for help with diagnosis of disease, identification of insects, plant identification and plant and pest management recommendations.  The clinic is located at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds in Golden.  Call 303-271-6620 for directions or information.  Some services and tests have a small fee.

Answers for Gardeners
     CSU Extension Service answers gardening questions by e-mail.  Go to www.ext.colostate.edu and scroll down to the bottom of the page.  Click on AnswerLink. 
     You may also get answers to your questions at www.extension.org.  This site provides customized answers to your specific needs.
     Denver Botanic Gardens has Master Gardeners available to answer questions every Tuesday and Saturday and on Free Days from March 1 - Sept. 30 from Noon - 4 p.m.  In May and June they are also available on Thursdays.  You may speak with the Master Gardeners in person at the Helen Fowler Library, call them at 720-865-3575 or send an email to gardeninghelp@botanicgardens.org.
     You may also call your county's CSU Extension Service office with questions.  Many garden centers have staff who can provide gardening advice.

CSU Lawncheck
     CSU Cooperative Extension provides help to people who are experiencing lawn troubles.  A lawn expert will come to your home and work with you to identify what is causing the lawn problems and recommend solutions.  A written report will be provided.  Only some counties are offering the service.  The minimum cost is $75 an hour.  Call your county's Extension office for more information.  (See our Resources - CSU Extension page for phone numbers.)

Hudson Gardens Offers Classes
     Hudson Gardens in Littleton has partnered with the Community Education Department of Arapahoe Community College to offer a series of classes on gardening, painting, photography and more.  See www.hudsongardens.org for details.

Do Your Part to Corral Tree Pests/Diseases
     Firewood often harbors pests and diseases.  You can do your part to limit their spread to new areas by using only local firewood.  Do not transport firewood across state lines.
 

Clearance Sale of 2008 Calendar
     Colorado Gardening has a limited number of the 2008 Colorado Gardener's Calendar available at a reduced price.  Click on the photo for more information or to purchase this calendar.

A New Book on Earth-Friendly Gardening
     Joe Lamp'l offers tips that will save water, conserve resources, promote healthy and safe plant growth, and eliminate damage to the earth in his new book, The Green Gardener's Guide. See our Bookstore page for details.

Books for Colorado Gardeners
     Colorado Gardening's bookstore offers many books dealing with gardening in Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region.  Click on the photos for more information or to purchase these books.  See our Bookstore pages for additional selections.
    
     Edible & Medicinal Plants of the Rockies
     Best Garden Plants for Colorado
     Rocky Mountain Gardener's Guide
     How to Get Started in Rocky Mountain Gardening
     Month-By-Month Gardening in the Rocky Mountains
 

Plant Select 2008
       The latest perennials and shrubs to earn the Plant Select designation have been announced.  Plant Select is a cooperative program administered by Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens, and landscape and nursery professionals throughout the region.  It annually recommends plants that have been tested and found to be especially suited to gardens in the Rocky Mountain and Plains states.  For detailed descriptions and photos of the plants please see www.plantselect.org.  These are the 2008 selections:

• Mongolian Bells Clematis (Clematis integrifolia) - a compact, mounding perennial that comes in a variety of colors.
• Seven-Son Flower (Heptacodium miconioides) - a late summer-flowering large shrub or small tree.
• Little Trudy Catnip (Nepeta 'Psfike' PPAF) - a long-blooming, very compact perennial.
• Red Birds in a Tree (Scrophularia macrantha) - a crimson-flowered perennial that is a cousin of the penstemon.
• Blue Velvet Pansy (Viola X wittrockiana) - a navy blue flowering annual
• Northern Lights Pansy (Viola X wittrockiana) - an annual whose flowers are a soft blend of lemon, lilac and blue.
• St. Theresa Seedless Grapes (Vitis x 'St. Theresa Seedless') - a hardy woody vine that produces tasty table grapes.

FireWise Communities
     Homeowners are reminded of the need to take special caution with landscapes in areas that are likely to be threatened by fire.  FireWise Communities is a highly informative website with lots of helpful information for people who live in fire-prone areas.  Visit the website at www.firewise.org.