The nation’s first net-zero greenhouse is being built and tested at a local organic farm by a Boulder firm, which hopes to develop it for residential applications so homeowners can grow vegetables year- round—without the associated astronomical energy costs. It’s an odd disconnect: If you grow your own food, chances are you’re going to have […]
Are your garden gloves too sweaty, too porous or too prone to pricking? We had Master Gardeners test four popular gloves to see which ones were just right for the job. By Carol O’Meara A gardener’s hands are a dead giveaway that he or she works with the earth: scraped and pricked, with split nails […]
It’s hard to love plants that die off, never produce or need constant babying. Sometimes you gotta give your plants “tough love,” and let ’em figure it out on their own. Here are some that thrive on tough lovin’. By Panayoti Kelaidis As senior curator at Denver Botanic Gardens, I always hear the same complaint: […]
Many cultures depend on plants for their healing, regenerative and recuperative properties. But do plants also have the power to attract love, ward off evil and restore happiness? Want to know the real secret to surviving this struggling economy? Put a little poverty-protection in your cupboard: a jar of alfalfa. Having nightmares? Tuck some anise […]
For many people, a garden is a canvas they fill with more than flowers, to the pleasure or dismay of neighbors. Here are some local landscapes that have inspired both awe and ire. When Cheri Bost sees a yard full of interesting decorations, she starts reeling off numbers. A birdbath gets one point, but a […]
Shade gardens require a little extra TLC to be successful. Whether you’ve got tree shade, dappled shade or deep shade, here are some suggestions for growing plants in it. Shade gardening—nobody ever said it was easy, but why’s it so darn hard? First it’s too wet, then it’s too dry. The resulting straggly, struggling plants […]
This backyard was completely re-landscaped to make it user-friendly for the owner and her dogs. Here is her advice for creating a dog-friendly yard. Photos by Ryan James One day, Barbee James looked at her backyard terraces flush with flowers, sweeping down a slope to merge with an emerald expanse of open space just beyond […]
Fragrant and beautiful, lavender has many wonderful uses. In addition to the tastiest lemonade you’ll ever drink, Richelle Reilly (pictured here) has come up with lots of uses for fresh lavender, which she grows and sells along with fresh cut flowers at McReilly Farms, open weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Pick up a […]
The following substances are highly toxic to puppies and adult dogs, and should always be avoided in a dog-friendly landscape: Cocoa mulch: “Even though it’s not a plant, it’s one of the most common poisonings from backyard gardens,” says Dr. Jenelle Vail of the Humane Society of Boulder Valley Veterinary Clinic. “Cocoa mulch is made […]
Summer’s the time to enjoy your yard, and creating an outdoor room lets you enjoy it even more. Here are some tips for making an outdoor room you’ll really want to live in. Spending balmy summer days on your patio sounds great—unless you have wretched chairs, no shade and shabby views. Whether you only have […]
Turning a century-old dairy barn into a cozy home and a pasture into a flower farm took all the grit and know-how of these handy homeowners. But they say getting back to the land made it all worthwhile. Now that it’s a sweet comfortable home, you’d never know that cows occupied this former dairy barn […]
These barbecue accessories can help you fire up a feast in no time. They also save labor, and add flavor and flair to all your alfresco meals. By Rebecca Schneider There’s nothing like food hot off the grill. The aromas, the flavors and the great outdoors all add up to memorable dining. But when your […]
This organic garden stays healthy because its soil creatures are happy with the homeowners’ till-free techniques. Barbara Miller caught the gardening itch at an early age. Her childhood chore was tending the family strawberry patch and selling the berries. “I sold quarts on the roadside for a quarter,” recalls the Boulder gardener. “That was a […]
The secret to a great garden lies just beneath your feet. Hardy blooms start with healthy soil, and spring is the ideal time to get your dirt in tip-top shape. “The bottom line is that soil is a living system, providing the fundamental support for all terrestrial life,” says Dr. Jean Reeder, retired soil scientist […]
With all of the time and effort we spend on our gardens, we sometimes forget that Mother Nature is the best gardener of all. Here is an illustrated guide to her creations, some of which thrive in urban gardens, too. Illustrations by Hilary Forsyth, courtesy Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks Wildflowers unfailingly appear year […]
If you think gardening is just a bunch of work, think again and you may discover this pastime’s therapeutic benefits. If gardening is more work than pleasure to you, take stock: You may not be doing it right. Planting a flower may not seem like therapy, but countless studies show that gardening promotes healing and […]
What better place to have a wedding than your own home, especially if you’re on a budget. After all, home is where the heart is. You’ve finally snagged the perfect partner. You’re wearing the ring and you’ve picked the date, but the hotel ballrooms and country club spaces don’t feel quite right. Maybe it’s time […]
If there’s one bulb that goes off in your head, it should be green. Energy-efficient lighting is a relatively quick way to reduce energy consumption, green your home and save cash in the long term. Edison’s light bulb was a techno-miracle of metal, glass and gas that revolutionized our lives. But in today’s energy-conscientious world, […]
This remodel’s eclectic mix of Mardi Gras, feng shui, rock-’n’-roll, down-home, family and New Age themes adds up to one thing: Laissez les bons temps rouler! Walk room to room in Bobbie Owens’ Boulder bungalow and you almost feel your moods shift with each new hue. In the living room, sunlit sage-green walls seem to […]
A polka-dot makeover made this teen realize the value of hard work. Photos by Elma Dornberger My name is Fiona Dornberger and I am 13. Last summer, when I was 12, I decided that I was going to remodel my bedroom. I was expecting lots of changes in the fall with a new school […]
