Colorado Gardening

Spring has sprung. The grass is riz. I wonder where the birdies is?

Trees are blooming. The grasses are greening. The hardy plants are returning. Ah Spring! When a friend asked about gardening, I remembered to refer her to the Sunset Western Garden Book and to my favorite reading, Colorado Gardening, Month-by-Month. For winter dreaming and planning these books are great.

However for vegetable gardening, I enjoyed the direct information in Square Foot Gardening. Making your garden productive requires a fair amount of soil augmentation work, especially where it seems our soils are either clay or sand with little humus or organic matter. A compost pile can help you make a rich soil from simple kitchen wastes and some ingredients from the nursery or hardware store. Now's a great time to be working the ground. Some folks have already planted the cold weather starts. Since Colorado weather can be unpredictable (late snows, chilly or hot summers, early snows or Indian summers) we have some extra challenges in timing the plantings and determining whether to mulch much or not. Further, the Colorado State University extension has good resources on-line and for specific questions, the extension agent can be helpful.

Finally, the Denver Botanic Gardens is a source of information and beautiful inspiration for gardeners.

Do you garden? What advice would you share with my friends who are just beginning to dig in the dirt this Spring?

Colorado Bucket List

With weather turning nicer and folks planning holidays this bucket list from Joe at Land Title caught my eye. Life's meant for living, so enjoy! Colorado has some wonderful things to experience. First, Joe's list, then some of my favorite additions. Finally, send me your Colorado additions.

Land Title's List of Things Not to Miss in Colorado:
Visit Air Force Academy * Take in a game at Falcon Field * Relax or golf at The Boradmoor * Check out Buckskin Joe's Frontier Town and Royal Gorge Scenic Railway * Explore Cave of the Winds * Visit Colorado National Monument, Grand Junction * Raft the Colorado River * Tour the Colorado State Capitol Building (the Capitol Dome is now open) * Take the train ride from Denver to Glenwood Hot Springs * Tour the Denver Mint * Ride the Durango and Silverton Narrow Guage Railroad * Hike Garden of the Gods * Tour the Grand Junction Wine Country * Visit Great Sand Dunes National Park * Enjoy High Tea at the Brown Palace * Spend at least a day at Mesa Verde National Park * Photograph the Maroon Bells in Aspen * climb or take the cog railway to the top of Pikes Peak * Take in a show at Red Rocks Ampitheatre * Drive the San Juan Skyway * Snowcat ski in Steamboat Springs

When our kids were little we explored Colorado together. Three resources were wonderful in giving us ideas that were "age appropriate" for the kids or for us to explore with friends of all ages who were visiting Colorado. Places to Go with Children in Colorado by Meitus and Thorn, divides the state up into areas. Highlights include activities, sights, and fun places to eat with costs, addresses and contact information. Real Cool Colorado Places for Curious Kids by Liggett and Mack does the same and adds friendly facts about wildlife, history, and geology. For the general audience The Colorado Guide by Caughey and Winstanley is my favorite resource. Each part of the state has a description of the area, history highlights, directions, major attractions with costs, festivals and events, outdoor activities, other attractions, accomodations, places to eat, etc. So, no matter where we went, there was a tour guide to give all of us choices for our fun times together.

What is on YOUR bucket list for Colorado? Where do you recommend visitors go to experience Colorado? Thanks for sending me your recommendations!