February 2026 E-Magazine: Sunny with a Chance of Snow
- Jane Shellenberger
- 6 hours ago
- 6 min read
Last week we had a freezing, foggy morning before the sun broke through. I happened to be outside feeding my horse at that moment when the fog dissipated and the iced trees were suddenly glittery against a bright blue sky. As I walked back toward the house tiny white flakes floated down around me, melting before they reached the ground, and I looked up, wondering how it could possibly be snowing under a blue sky with no wind, but it was just the trees shedding their icy coats. It reminded me of a column that Boulder meteorologist and awesome vegetable gardener Matt Kelsch used to write for us in the early years of our print issues, “Sunny with a Chance of Snow”. It was the start of a beautiful day, unfortunately interrupted by more shockingly violent news from Minneapolis. That’s just the way it is these days - a daily whiplash of events that makes it difficult to relax, wondering what could possibly be next.
But there are trees that need watering on these warmer, dry days and garlic is coming up, along with deep green arugula and tatsoi that have overwintered, so I shift my focus. Valentines Day is approaching. (Remember that day dedicated to LOVE?)
It’s a big one for flowers so, in case you’re presented with some by your honey or you decide to give yourself a bouquet for some longer lasting cheer, we offer tips for keeping cut flowers fresh from Lori Wheat of family-owned Lafayette Florist.
Statistics show that less than 30% of family businesses survive into the third generation so here’s some history of Lafayette Florist, now in its fourth generation. In 1949, Yasutaro and Kumiko "Kate" Yoshihara came to Lafayette after being released from a Japanese Relocation Camp in Southern Colorado. Saving money for years, they were able to purchase a two-acre lot in the heart of Lafayette where they set up a small fruit and vegetable stand, and farmed the land. Successive generations have reinvented the business over the years.
The challenges of Colorado weather, continually rising energy costs, and the advent of big box stores have made life difficult for independent garden centers. A few years ago Lafayette Florist closed the garden center and shifted their focus to healthy houseplants and fresh flowers, which they take pains to source responsibly from trusted growers, and moved the business to Erie, Colorado. You can read more at lafayetteflorist.com.
Our web designer, Idelle Fisher, who is also a passionate vegetable (and native plant) grower, has written an update of a much longer piece she wrote for us on Year-Round Gardening.
Keith Funk answers seasonal questions about vole damage, Certified Wildlife Habitats, Clivias, Clematis and Garlic in his Q&A column. Feel free to email us your questions.
If anyone out there is interested in compiling our gardening calendar of monthly events and classes this year please get in touch. It’s a paid position that takes about a day and you can do it from your home while finding out about all kinds of interesting garden-related happenings.
- Jane Shellenberger
Make Fresh Cut Flowers Last
By Lori Wheat
Use a vase that holds plenty of water & keep it full. Take the vase to the sink every day and fill with fresh water.
Bacteria is the main culprit in shortened vase life. If water is murky, clean vase with an antibacterial soap, add fresh water, and replace the flowers.
Fresh flowers don’t like any heat source and don’t need sun. Keep away from sunny windows, fireplaces, & electronics. The cooler, the better!
If you are bringing fresh cut flowers home to put in your own vase, recut the stems. This fresh cut absorbs water more efficiently.
Put a fresh cut on roses every day, clean the vase and replace the water.
You can often revive a wilted rose by placing it in a bath of sink water for a few hours. Recut the stem and see if it re-hydrated.
Cut off the pistil in the center of lilies as soon as they open. Not only will blooms last longer, the messy pollen on the stamens won’t shed.
Floral preservative works well, but must be measured correctly. Purchase at a professional florist.
Cut flowers from your garden need immediate hydration above all. Make sure you put freshly cut stems into a water bath or a vase that covers as much of the stem as possible for a few hours. After hydrating, design the flowers into a vase of your choice.
Year-Round Gardening in Colorado: 2026 Update
By Idelle Fisher
This unusually mild winter has been a good one for growing in a cold frame and garden bed hoop house. In December, I sprinkled some collected corn salad/mâche and loose-leaf lettuce seeds my mini hoop house and cold frame, and all the seedlings came up in the first two weeks of January.
There are also existing lettuces, cilantro, celery, chard, kale, self-sown celery and mâche, perennial herbs like sage, winter savory, oregano and thyme that have been growing since the summer and fall. I let the celery go to seed in the summer so it self sows each year, as does the cold-hardy mâche, also known as corn salad.
While the veggies are not yet lush this time of year, it just goes to show you can easily germinate and grow cool-season greens outside year-round with a little cover and no added heat.
Garden harvest tip from my Mom:
Did you know that soaking lettuce and greens in cold water will crisp them up for longer storage in the fridge? I use a salad spinner to soak and rinse lettuce and greens for about 20-30 minutes, then spin it dry before storing in the fridge.
This will help your fresh lettuce and greens to last much longer!
By Keith Funk
Q: Three of my Feather Reed Grass clumps have fallen over sideways. When I went to clean them up, I noticed they were no longer attached to the ground. It looks like the tops were severed from the roots just below ground. What’s going on?
A: That’s pretty much a text book example of vole damage. Not uncommon this time of year. Voles look very similar to a large mouse with a short tail. They frequent open space areas but occasionally find their way into our very tasty landscapes. They are not very picky about their vegetarian meal menu so be aware that many of your favorite plants including young trees, shrubs and perennials are susceptible. You may find holes in the soil where perennials or bubs were planted, along with meandering runways in mulch or groundcovers and small holes leading to shallow tunnels.
Now that you know the enemy, how do you fight back? After trying many methods I found that a multi layered approach works best, starting with Vole repellent granules and/or predator urine granules, in conjunction with simple, traditional mousetraps baited with peanut butter. Please avoid using anything poisonous to kill them. Secondary poisoning of pets and predators eating poisoned voles is not something you want on your conscience.
Q: I’ve heard that homeowners can get their property certified as a Wildlife Habitat. How do I do that?
A: In Colorado, you can certify your property as a wildlife habitat through the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) by providing food, water, cover, and places to raise young, using native plants and sustainable practices, with local support from organizations like the Colorado Wildlife Federation and Wild Birds Unlimited. Communities, schools, and businesses can also join the NWF Community Wildlife Habitat program.
Check our Colorado Gardener Calendar for our list of events including seed swaps, gardening classes, webinars, garden tours, plant sales, and conferences.
Coming up:
Carbon Valley Regional Library's Bee Love Festival
Feb 7 • 10am-2pm • Firestone
CSU Ext. Gardening Webinar:
2025 “Best Of” Plants from the CSU Trial Gardens Feb 11 • Noon • Denver
Table Public House
Your Garden Plan Workshop
Feb 19 • 6-8pm • Denver
Do you have a Colorado Gardening class or event to submit to us? Fill out our form »
