Time to Plant Sweet Berries and Fragrant Herbs
Berries and herbs tend to grow slowly, and because of our short growing season here, are best cultivated from starts, which are available now at garden centers, farmers markets, supermarkets and hardware stores. If you try to grow these from seed, well, it might be winter before you see anything! Keep in mind that container plants in general are considerably more exposed to the elements, (heat, cold, moisture and dryness) than plants in the ground. In Colorado it’s advisable to go with plastic pots which won’t evaporate water as quickly than the porous earthen terra cotta pots. (That being said,[...]
Thoughts About Birds
In our busy, nosey, electronic media dominated world, we are told to “stop and smell the roses.” I think we should, especially this time of year. However, there is something else that often gets overlooked in the hustle of our everyday – the birds that surround us. As you sit out on your deck, porch, patio, or go for a leisurely walk, take a moment to relax, breathe, and listen. You will notice the beautiful sounds and songs through the busy sounds of traffic, lawn mowers, and kids playing. Like gardening, bird watching is a stress reducing and relaxing activity.[...]
Spicy Lime Grilled Salmon
Try this light salmon recipe the next time you're looking for something new to try! SPICY LIME GRILLED SALMON Serves 4 Ingredients 1 lime 2 tbsp. olive oil 1 garlic clove, minced 2 tbsp. soy sauce 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes salt and pepper to taste 1.5 lbs. wild Alaskan salmon lime wedges (optional garnish) olive oil to coat grill Directions 1. Using microplane, zest lime into small mixing bowl. 2. Juice lime. Add juice to zest. 3. Whisk together juice, oil, garlic, soy sauce, red pepper flakes, salt and pepper. 4. Lay fish in small baking dish, filet[...]
Deck to Table Dining
Our March issue offered helpful tips for designing an “on deck” container garden. Now we’re ready to “get growing!” If you’re up for the container gardening adventure, the rewards are great – imagine the joys of watching plants you’ve carefully tended grow into maturity. How wonderful is a dinner party with friends and family gathered round enjoying the “fruits” (and vegetables) of your labor from the deck where they were raised? There’s just no better way to impress your guests! Salad greens such as arugula, mustard, and mesculun, sassy, baby and braising mixes as well as lettuces grow quickly and[...]
Spring Has Sprung!
I don’t know about you, but I’m ready to head outside, especially since we have “sprung forward” and the days are steadily getting warmer. With the Rockies home opener this Friday, I know summer is on its way. With summer comes all of the graduations, weddings, BBQs, and outdoor parties that are ideal for celebrating in your outdoor living environment. I can’t remember the start of a Colorado baseball season where the team has had such promise. Even though I’ll have many opportunities to see the Rockies play at Coors Field, I’m sure I’ll have many more wonderful evenings watching[...]
