Monday Mashup 6.29.2015

Lychnis chalcedonica 'Rosea'

This unusual, pink form of Maltese Cross has been blooming for a couple of weeks now. It's an early summer favorite of mine; I bought it many years ago from my friend, Kelly Grummons, of Timberline Gardens in Arvada. This wonderful nursery is set to close in a few months, so be sure to stop by soon and shop from their extensive collection of native, xeric and rock garden perennials.

Early July brings some of our hottest weather of the year. Here is my gardener's July check list.

Efficient watering is imperative this time of year. If you are looking to upgrade your irrigation system, consider converting to a HydraWise controller. These are designed for smaller properties (home landscapes) and can auto-adjust your system to weather conditions in your area. Plus, you can operate it from your smartphone --- how cool is that! These controllers are now available in Denver through at CPS Distributors (to the trade only), so talk to your landscape professional. Note: this is not a paid endorsement nor have I tested the product myself.

The Wheat Ridge Garden Tour is celebrating its 5th year now and going strong. Check out the web site for tickets (lunch included!) and info on the bike tour. Mark your calendar for Saturday, July 11th. I'll be volunteering first thing in the morning at Garden A. Be sure to say Hi!

Need to get away? A visit to one of these cool Colorado lakes might be just the ticket!

Have a fun and safe Independence Day!

Free Tickets!

Kick start the summer gardening season with a fun and inspiring garden tour. The Conflict Center presents the 14th annual Enchanted Gardens Tour of Northwest Denver. This tour is one of the largest in the region and has something for everyone — water features, chickens, edibles and beautiful flowers galore!

The courtyard garden at The Denver Puppet Theater is a perennial tour favorite!

When:  Saturday, June 7, 9am-4pm   Rain or Shine!
Where: The Conflict Center: 4140 Tejon Street, Denver
             Pick up your tour map, check out the huge silent auction, and purchase a snack.
Price: $15 in advance, $20 day of event includes tour and admission to an exciting after party.

Win! Leave a comment on the blog between now and midnight MST June 4th to be eligible for a random drawing. I'll announce the winner on June 5th. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you've won (I won't do anything with those email addresses besides notify the winner). If I do email you, I need to hear back from you within 24 hours or I'll pick a new winner and contact them.  

The Conflict Center is a real asset to our entire community; this garden tour benefits their school programs, which work to reduce violence and bullying in schools. Please join me in supporting this great cause.

         

When More is More . . . and Free Garden Tour Tickets!

Garden tour season is upon us, and one of my perennial favorites is the Enchanted Gardens Tour of Northwest Denver, a benefit for The Conflict Center. This tour always presents a wide array of gardens — from simple, zen-like spaces, to urban homestead farms, to lush flower fantasies. The landscapes are mostly created by dedicated homeowners, not professional designers, like me. I find them to be a wealth of inspiration, especially when I come across a true gem, like the lavishly lush and art-filled garden of Holly Fliniau.

I'm a minimalist at heart; too much stuff and clutter makes me feel overstimulated and / or claustrophobic.  But Holly, who gardens her property with her mom, Sandy Fliniau, manages to combine just the right proportion of plants to hardscape to cool stuff to keep me wanting more.

Holly and Sandy have participated in the Enchanted Gardens Tour of Northwest Denver at least twice (and graciously allowed me to take and share these photos). The gardens selected for this year's tour is top secret, but wouldn't you love to discover a wondrous landscape like this one?

The Conflict Center has generously given me a pair of tickets to give away here on the blog — a $30.00 value!  Please leave a comment on this post by midnight on Friday, May 31st, and I'll announce a winner on Saturday, June 1st.

The 2013 Enchanted Gardens Tour of Northwest Denver is Saturday, June 8th, 9am-4pm, Rain or Shine!

PS Holly and Sandy were recently featured in a nice article by Jane Shellenberger in the April issue of Colorado Gardener.