A Stellar Wildflower Year by Sandy Swegel People often ask how long do seeds last, but they usually are referring to seeds in packets. The question I’m astonished by this year is “How long do seeds last in the soil?” Colorado is a pretty dry place and there aren’t that many plants that reseed prolifically […]
If You Feed the Bugs, You Feed the Birds by Sandy Swegel I learned something really new this week. This week I learned that birds like to eat bugs. Well, duh, you say. Think about it. One of the great images we have of spring is the mama bird dangling a worm over the gaping beaks of […]
Taking Care of Your Wildflower Seeds When it’s Dry by Sandy Swegel One of the most popular mixes of wildflower seeds that we sell is the Drought Tolerant Mix. It’s a good combination of both perennial and annual flowers that can handle some stressful situations and still make beautiful flowers. Growing drought-tolerant plants may be […]
Wildflower Seeds by Sandy Swegel Giving and receiving flowers is one of the great joys of Valentine’s Day. Everyone, men and women, adults and children, loves to get flowers and for a gardener, it’s easy to have an abundant supply of flowery love to give away. As you’re planning your garden now, be sure to […]
Seed Starting by Sandy Swegel It’s Time. Even here in snowy Colorado, it’s time. Even if some weird polar vortex has kept you housebound and you’ve lost track of what day it is…it’s time. Time for starting your perennials. Spring really is on its way. One of the interesting aspects of a culturally liberal place […]
The Star of the Garden by Sandy Swegel Some plants are meant to be the star of the garden. Dahlias, for example. You can see them from across the yard and they elicit gasps of delight at their beauty. While stars do make the garden, they only really dazzle when surrounded by a strong supporting […]
The Importance of Both Bees by Becky Hansen Bees are one of our agricultural industry’s most important resources and indeed one of our planet’s most important resources and the survival of the human race is in the hands of the pollinators. The pollinator issue is a hot topic these days, but, there is more to […]
Celebrate These Hard Workers! Six years ago the U.S. Senate’s unanimous approval and designation of this week in June as “National Pollinator Week” marked a necessary step toward addressing the urgent issue of declining pollinator populations. Pollinator Week has now grown to be an international celebration of the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, […]
No Longer Ignore These Pollinators Blue Mason (Osmia lignaria) or Orchard bees who have previously been all-but-ignored by the general public have recently enjoyed a newfound popularity. And why shouldn’t they? The non-aggressive little pollinators are not only top-notch pollinators, but they’re also early-risers, hardworking and some of the friendliest bees anywhere. Mason bees are […]
Heirloom Vegetable Recipe Linguine Carbonara From the Gardens of Mike Scott of Eagle Rock Backyard Farms Ingredients: 3/4 pound linguine 4 ounces pancetta or 4 slices bacon, chopped 1 head cauliflower 1/2 cup peas (preferably fresh) 2 teaspoons olive oil 1/4 cup half and half or milk 2 egg yolks, beaten 3/4 cup grated […]
