Getting All Abuzz About Bees
In 2006 a new phenomenon in beekeeping hit the news. Both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers saw dramatic losses of bees in their apiaries, also known as beehives. This problem became known as CCD, or colony collapse disorder, and news items began to run regularly on this threat to human food production. Bee pollination is responsible for one-third of our food sources. The story is that as the bee goes, so does mankind. Today, another problem threatens bees, in that there seems to be an overabundance of people getting into apiary or beehive management without a great amount of knowledge, according[...]
Is There a Pergola in Your Future?
As summer approaches, our thoughts naturally turn to spending as much time outside as possible, and why not? Colorado has some of the best weather conditions in the country, with warm, bright days and cool, comfortable evenings. We want to make the most of these ideal conditions by turning to our backyards, oases of pleasure in our busy lives. One of the best ways to take advantage of your backyard retreat is to give it focus and purpose with a pergola. Recently, Eric Veronesi of the DeckTec team gave us a few minutes to talk about the ageless beauty and[...]
Rolling Out The Red Carpet for Hummingbirds
Wild Birds Unlimited, in Lakewood on Wadsworth Boulevard, is a wonderful shop of all things birding. There are books and videos, birdhouses and feeders. The shop has a resident cat, Oliver, and as you wander the aisles, the happy chirping of recorded bird sounds help sooth your stresses away. It's no wonder, then, that when we write a blog post about birds of all kinds, our first stop is to Wild Birds and owner, Scott Menough. Recently, we talked with Scott about the hummingbird season, which is full on at this point. Hummingbird Season "April 15th," said Scott on a[...]
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[...]
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[...]
