July 2021 Newsletter

By Jane Shellenberger

Email Newsletter • July 20, 2021

With all the cool rain, then heat, then rain again, and now July heat (& lately, an onslaught of mosquitos since I live in flood irrigation country) I’ve been gardening like mad – with a big emphasis on weeding.

Even though most of it is hay pasture, living on a few acres means weeds quickly spread and/or morph into gigantic specimens I if I don’t stay on top of things. Most pull out easily after rain but my gardener’s hands have been sore this year.

I love my super useful, well-designed gorilla cart, battery-operated string weed whacker, Felco pruners, smaller long-handled garden shovel/spade, thin Atlas gloves, pole pruner, and reticulating sawzall. These tools make my gardening habit possible. I’d like to know about your favorites too.

Though I have yet to visit the Lauren Springer-designed Undaunted Garden at the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins this summer it’s at the top of my list. Their new butterfly house is also impressive, and the extensive rock garden is now maturely filled in. A visit is well worth the drive.

Sat, July 31

10th Annual Saguache Hollyhock Fest 10am-3pm Self-guided tours of hollyhock, flower & vegetable gardens of Saguache. saguachechamber.org • Facebook Page info@saguachechamber.org • 719 849-0240

Sat, July 31 8th Annual NoCo Urban Homestead Tour Tour local homesteads across Berthoud, Loveland & Fort Collins. fcgov.com/gardens/noco-urban-homestead-tour

We’re starting to work on our Harvest issue that will come out in the third week of August. In the meantime here are a few recent shots of my own gardens in full glow.

Mirabilis multiflora (Desert 4 o’clock), a favorite native I first saw in the Huerfano Valley, with Lonicera reticulata (Kintzley’s Ghost), an heirloom honeysuckle which has never quite grown as a vine for me.

Eremerus (FoxTail Lilies or Desert Candles)

Montmorency cherries! Plenty for us and the birds this year.

Stay cool!

Jane

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