Spring Into Training With Your Dog
They shed, yet we love them. They often suffer "doggie breath," but it doesn't matter. If you're like most pet parents, there is no truer saying than that dogs are man's best friend. No wonder. Dogs (or any furry pet) can help lower your blood pressure, calm your anxiety, and even help get you dates. So why not take your doggie-caregiver relationship to the next level? Now is a great time to head out to your back yard and enjoy some quality training time with Champ. We spoke with Ted Terroux of Terroux Dog Training recently to get some tips and tricks for working well with your dog. First, the notion that you can't "teach an old dog new tricks" is, "a complete fallacy," said Ted. "We recently had two older dogs, perhaps 10 and 12, complete our basic training program successfully. Their owners had adopted them later in life. It took a little longer, but they still learned their stuff." Training Starts With Reward Management One of the keys to training your dog is to[...]
10 Great Ways to Vacation Near Home This Year
Is there something the rest of the world knows about Colorado that we don't? Nearly sixty million people visit our state each year to enjoy the weather, mountains, and other great attractions we have to offer. This is, after all, the land that inspired "America the Beautiful," micro-brewing as an up and coming cottage industry, and hiking in our wonderful "Fourteeners" (A fourteener is a mountain whose peak sits above 14,000 feet). Why shouldn't we "natives" enjoy some of this fun? Perhaps this is the summer you choose to stay close to home for your vacation time. Or maybe you're looking for a quick weekend get away that won't put you out-of-pocket and late for work on Monday. Here are ten attractions unique to Colorado you can enjoy right here in the Denver area. So make the most of life just off your deck and enjoy touring near home: Parks and Outdoor Walks 1) Red Rocks State Park Just 15 miles west of Denver, Red Rocks pulls people from all around to listen to great music[...]
Dealing with the Wicked Old Weeds of the West
Faster than a controversial Twitter chain, more powerful than a Political Action Committee—Look! Down on the ground. It's a lawn, it's a garden, it's weeding time again! Yep. Weeds. Those persistent party crashers of everyone's yard are beginning to pop up once again. Before you run for your shovel or your sprays, let's make a plan for weeding that will have you enjoying your yard this year, instead of cursing the amount of work you have to do in it. What is a Weed? It's always good to start with a definition. A botany college professor once said that a rose planted in the wrong place could be called a weed. Any plant growing where you don't want it, is a weed. But seriously, here in Colorado we have a selection of nearly 100 species of wild plants growing in competition with our lawns and gardens. Dandelions, bindweed, thistles and more make their presence known from April through the end of the growing season, and gardeners are always on the lookout for more. Preventing Weeds One[...]
Featuring Water in Your Yard
Are you looking for something a little different in your back yard this year? Do you need a relaxing sound to listen to at the end of your busy day? Have you been thinking about having fish as alternative pets to allergy-inducing dogs or cats? Perhaps now is the time for you to consider the beauty and benefits of installing a water feature in your yard. Recently, we caught up with water feature specialist, Shane Hemphill to talk about what it takes to put in a beautiful fountain, waterfall or other feature. Shane has over 20 years experience in the business, and four years ago, started his own company, Art of the Yard. "There are a lot of choices in water features," said Shane. "I break them up into the following categories: Tabletop, or small fountains Contemporary features, like walls with water flowing down Pondless waterfalls, where the waterfall disappears into a rock formation Natural Eco-System, which balances water, fish, plants and filtration systems Lakes, retaining ponds, ice rinks and other large projects." These backyard additions[...]
It’s Baby Time—Let’s Keep Our Hands Off
Shh! Someone may be sleeping nearby. It's baby time in Colorado and our state is enjoying a burst of new births. But just as with humans, wild baby animals need to be treated with care. Jennifer Churchill, public information officer for Colorado's Parks and Wildlife, spent some time with your friends at DeckTec to update us on best nursery practices in the wild. "This time of year, the end of March through April, is baby season," said Jenn. "We can see all sorts of wonderful wildlife right now, especially baby birds and small mammals, out and about. The best thing to do when you see a baby critter is to let it be." Jenn said she realized this is difficult, because, as humans we want to nurture and care for babies, but Mother Nature looks after them pretty well. Jenn broke the animals you may see into these categories and care suggestions: Birds and Raptors "While it is a myth that touching a baby bird will scare its parents away permanently, you should still leave it[...]
Beer’s to You This St. Patrick’s Day
Time to get your green on. Denver will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day from today on, with parades, music, corned beef, and—beer. The Denver St. Patrick's Day parade starts at 20th and Wewatta streets this Saturday, March 15, at 9:30 am. Its festivities are free, but be aware that downtown parking spots are not. If you're more of a traditionalist, the actual holiday is Monday, March 17. And if you're looking for a fun way to celebrate, you may want to go in search of green beer. This "traditional" drink of leprechauns is a great way to celebrate the coming of spring, and is easy to make at home. Simply put a few drops of green food coloring in the bottom of your mug and add in some of the lighter colored beers available on the market—Coors light, Budweiser, or one of the Millers. Just don't ask for green beer at any of the numerous microbreweries around town. Green beer to these folks is a "sacrilege" according to Jules Hoekstra, part owner and Brew Ambassador Extraordinaire[...]
Seeding Your Vision
As the last vestiges of winter cling about our yards, tiny rays of hope for a bright spring emerge. Crocuses have begun to dot the landscape, and buds are starting to show when you step close to trees and bushes. It feels as though gardeners are beginning to line up at the starting gate in a race for plantings to begin. Why not put your enthusiasm on a fast track by indulging in a trip to your local garden center and splurging on a few packets of seeds? Although we are still early in the planting season, believe it or not, now is the time to plan your garden, especially if you want to grow vegetables and flowers from seed. We talked to Chris Ibsen of O'Toole's Garden Center for some great tips on working with seeds. Chris is part of O'Toole's University, a set of classes for gardeners of all experience and knowledge levels that run on Saturdays through the end of March. Chris said that there are four kinds of seeds for gardeners[...]
Spring Cleaning and Maintenance Time
Welcome to springtime in the Rockies. It won't be long before we'll be enjoying longer days and outdoor temperatures that entice us out back door to enjoy our yards and decks to the fullest. Crocuses will jump out of the soil with cheerful sparkles of purple and white and soon after, our neighborhoods will be a riot of color. But springtime is also the time for maintenance of our homes and yards. And one of the best first maintenance projects of the season is to take a walk. A walk? Really? Walking is a chore on the to-do list? Absolutely. Walking and looking around your home and yard is one of the best first tasks of spring. As Vince Stover of DeckTec put it, "Would you really neglect a room of your home for four months, then suddenly hold a party in it without checking the area for safety and beauty?" Vince said it is not uncommon for people to plan their first barbeques of the year without a thorough once over of their deck. [...]
Honk if you love Canada Geese
They're big and beautiful or they're obnoxiously present. They are loud and contentious or they are pleasant and only nest protective. Whether positive or negative, it seems that just about everyone has strong feelings for the Canada goose. So we asked a couple of local bird experts to let us in on some interesting information about a bird once threatened, yet now prolific across North America. Scott Menough of Wild Birds Unlimited spoke about a specific Canada goose pair that chose to nest immediately outside the radio station where he does his Saturday morning radio show, BirdTalk. "They put up crime tape to protect the birds," said Scott on a chuckle. "Imagine. The same people who cussed on the golf course about them, watched in fascination as the goslings grew." And that pretty much sums up the problem. Canada geese are delightful to watch as their flocks fly across the sky in vee formations, or as they waddle around our lives, but the feces they leave at their favorite places make problems for people. Research has[...]
Springing Into Action with the Colorado Home & Garden Show
Yes, it's been a very cold, very snowy winter this year. And the weather reporters are not likely to give warmer reports for some time to come. But at DeckTec, spring is just around the corner. How do we know this? The Colorado Home and Garden Show starts this week and kicks off the building season for DeckTec's community. Are you ready? Will you come to the show? The Colorado Home and Garden Show runs today through February 23 and will help inspire your home improvement and garden plans for this spring. With over 1,400 booths and an acre of gardens, there's something for everyone. Here's what we mean: First, representatives from the DeckTec community will have booths to visit. Be sure to check out great fireplaces and fire pits from Colorado Comfort and our friend, Dave Hall. They have booth #314 and will be happy to help answer your questions on the best in outdoor fireplaces. Then stroll over to booth #716 where you'll talk with Peter Stuart of the California Redwood Company. He'll be[...]
Recent Works
