Courtyards perfectly complement Colorado’s sunny clime, with calming spaces that nurture the indoor/outdoor connection. By Bruce H. Wolk The residential courtyard—that hallmark of lush Tuscan villas and beautifully tiled Mexican haciendas—is making inroads in Boulder County. This architectural element is emerging here for the same reasons that nobility and landed gentry incorporated courtyards into their homes—privacy, […]
Here are common pests in local gardens, trees and homes, and ways to prevent and eradicate them. Or, in a few cases, overlook them. By Carol O’Meara Between summer’s buzzing bees and burst-ing blooms is an army of bugs dedicated to turning your home and garden into an all-you-can-eat buffet. But you needn’t worry about […]
Anchored by something old and many things new, this Mapleton Hill garden has transitioned alongside its owners. By Carol Brock • Photos by WeinrauchPhotography.com If only tables could talk, instead of turn. If they could, the old sandstone-slab table in Sheila and Peter Dierks’ Mapleton Hill garden would have a few tales to tell. The […]
Fragrant, colorful and delicious, citrus trees are a joy to grow if you give them a little attention. Here are plant and care recommendations. By Sue Price One of Marcela Ot’alora G.’s favorite memories is drinking lime water made with the fresh limes that grew so readily in her native Colombia. But when Marcela exchanged […]
Garden styles are as varied as people. Here are six of the more common styles, and the elements that define them. By Rebecca Schneider Have you ever seen a garden that resonated so well with you that all you wanted was to sit in it and absorb the colors, shapes, sounds and smells? Gardens, like people, […]
Get a jump on your vegetable garden this spring by sowing seeds. Here’s a primer to you get started. By Carol O’Meara Photos by Weinrauchphotography.com Last year’s patch of lettuce, tomatoes and peppers proved so tasty, you’re already dreaming about this summer’s sweet, crunchy produce. But why dream when you can plan? Spring is the […]
Want flower baskets bursting with color and blooms? By Thad Johnson, Yatahai Gardens Here are Yatahai Gardens’ growing tips for the best baskets: Add Texture and Dimension. Blend straight, upright plants like geraniums, mounding plants like petunias, with trailing plants like verbena and lobelia. Always Have a Focal Flower. Include at least one bold-blossomed plant, […]
Plant more roses than you think you have space for? Why not? Inspired by Ruth Roberts’ 50-year-old Boulder rose garden, Lynn Nichols’ garden overflows with roses of all varieties. Here’s his advice for aspiring rosarians. By Mell McDonnell Photos by Lynn Nichols A visitor to Lynn Nichols’ rose garden is usually given three things: a […]
Yatahai Gardens grows everything it sells from seed—a distinction few greenhouses can claim. By Lisa Marshall Photos by Thad Johnson It’s a frigid December day, with 6 inches of snow on the ground and a chill wind ripping across Boulder County’s eastern plains. But inside a humid 74-degree greenhouse at Yatahai Gardens, Thad Johnson has […]
By Carol Brock Q. Let’s talk about the history of Long’s Gardens. Your grandfather, J.D. Long, originally started the gardens as an extension of his seed business? A. He was like a lot of people who came to Colorado in the late 1890s. He had tuberculosis. He worked at various jobs, but got a job […]
Long’s Gardens is a Boulder legacy, with roots that stretch to the early 1900s. Incredibly, it’s still run by the same family, but the challenges of running the farm have changed from generation to generation. By Carol Brock Photos courtesy of Long’s Gardens Some urbanites may entertain the romantic notion of buying a farm and […]
Creating a sustainable soil environment is crucial to growing vigorous plants. Here’s a guide to organic fertilizers that will help your soil become healthy. Text and Photos by David Wann All fertilizers are investments, but organic ones are more likely to give reliable returns. Fertilizers from natural sources release a wide spectrum of nutrients slowly […]
Boulder County homeowners are more familiar with wildlife than most urban dwellers. The best motto is “live and let live,” but a wildlife expert offers tips when unwanted animals move into your home. By Carol Brock Photo by Tony Campbell As a professional wildlife-control operator and rehabilitator, Jack Murphy has seen it all—from skunks under […]
It’s time to clear away winter cobwebs and invite in fresh spring breezes. Here’s how to make everything in your home spick-and-span. By Mary Lynn Bruny Ah, spring! The sun is shining more brightly, and if you take a close look at your home, you may see it needs some spring-cleaning. If you want to […]
Wood is a standard material on many homes’ exteriors, but more people are finding creative uses for wood indoors, where its versatility and organic beauty shine. By Lisa Truesdale Want a rustic look and feel for your home? Use lots of wood. Prefer a sleeker, more contemporary look, or perhaps dramatic elegance? Use lots of […]
An energy audit is one of the best ways to green your home, because it gives you ideas you never would have dreamed of to improve your home’s carbon footprint. By Carol Brock Photos By WEINRAUCHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM When I contacted EnergySmart to do an energy audit of our 40-year-old home, I felt good. Who doesn’t want […]
Perched on a rocky ledge in a canyon near Lyons, this tiny cottage was once the original Hoverhome before the Hover family built their mansion in Longmont. By Lisa Marshall Photos by WEINRAUCHPHOTOGRAPHY.COM On a rocky, tree-laden hill-side above the tumbling waters of the North St. Vrain River, a deeply private artist is inconspicuously preserving […]
Winter’s the time to plan your landscape for spring. Here’s how to make the most of your garden budget. By Lisa Truesdale Whether you’re starting a landscape from scratch, overhauling an existing one, or simply adding a few new features, winter is the perfect time to start planning ahead. Setting a budget is a crucial first […]
Pros and amateurs let you in on their greatest garden find that actually thrived in our miserably hot summer What’s your favorite new plant? We asked local gardeners and experts to share their newest finds so we could share them with you. Maybe you’ll discover a new plant to love in their lists. By Mary […]
Connecting with nature is a gift this gardener gladly shares with others For this Longmont gardener, connecting with nature is a gift he shares and gives thanks for. By Lisa Truesdale Jerry Vaughn and his wife, Carolyn, are both artists. But while she works with the kind of canvas that hangs on the wall, Jerry’s […]
