Zink Metal Art is the collaborative effort of Charlotte and Ben Zink, who have made their whimsical and flowing designs of metal for home and garden for the past 16 years in Berthoud, CO.
Their steel garden sculptures are graceful, original, very easy to install, and affordable, and similar designs are available as smaller garden ornaments, indoor wall-pieces and as pendants on necklaces. Charlotte also makes wonderful cards and tiny paintings with similar free-flowing designs. All make great gifts!
One of the earliest harbingers of spring are flowering bulbs, which people and bees all seem to welcome. One aspect of bulbs that may be underrated is their scent. Many bulbs are fragrant, bringing an added dimension to their enjoyment. Some of our most fragrant bulbs include:
We know it’s not necessarily easy to access the ‘Holiday Spirit’ this early in the season, especially in the midst of local wildfires and a pandemic. These emergencies have separated us from each other, but in meaningful ways, they have also brought us together. Here at Harlequin’s Gardens and beyond, we have seen a real increase in mindfulness and caring for others. 
Welcome to Spring, to Harlequin’s Gardens and to another year of the challenges and joys of being alive on Earth, along with the opportunities, work, and healing rewards of gardening. It is both curious and common sense that as we nurture, we ourselves are nurtured.
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Welcome to Spring and welcome to another season at Harlequin’s Gardens. We would not be here without you, and it is your vision and support that is helping us to grow and expand our service to the community and to the planet.
Many of you already know that our own Engrid Winslow makes jams, jellies and chutneys that make you close your eyes and sigh with pleasure. She uses fresh, organic fruit, (local whenever possible) and very little sugar, so the fruit flavors shine. She makes the classics as well as many delicious originals, like Sweet Cherry with Orange, Meyer Lemon Honey Marmalade, Peach Honey Vanilla Bean, and Wild Blueberry Lemonade, to name just a few. You’ll find delicious uses for Engrid’s preserves, in breakfasts, hors d’oevres, salad dressings, glazes, and desserts.
Longmont chocolatier and pastry chef Robin Autorino refers to her award-winning artisan chocolate creations as edible art – art for your eyes and your mouth. She combines her exceptional artistry and fine ingredients to create little masterpieces that taste as good as they look. We love them, and are offering assortments of her truffles in handsome boxes of 4, 6, 8 or 12. “I want my ganache to be bold,” Robin says. “I want the Key lime pie truffle to give you some pucker. I want the espresso to bring you the same comfort as your morning cup.”
Chocolate to live for! Ritual Chocolate is a quality-focused small-batch craft chocolate started out in Denver and is now made in Park City, Utah. Their old-world, artisan approach and dedication to every detail of the complex process produces chocolate as delicious, distinctive and memorable as fine wine – meant to be savored. Ritual’s single-origin chocolate is hand-crafted by traditional methods with ethically-sourced cacao from several choice growers around the world. Unlike most chocolatiers, who buy their beans already roasted, or even fully processed, Ritual starts with raw beans and they hand-sort, roast, winnow, mix, refine, conche, age, temper, mold and wrap (bet you didn’t know how much goes into making a really good chocolate bar!). We offer 4 varieties of their single-source organic bars. Combine with some Askinosie Sipping Chocolate and Victoria’s Truffles for a chocolate-lover’s dream gift!
The only other product in this category not made in Colorado, we felt compelled to go a bit farther, to Springfield, Missouri, to bring you the finest single-origin artisan Sipping Chocolatesand chocolate bars available. Askinosie’s products are also ethically-sourced, well beyond Fair-Trade requirements, and they engage in a truly progressive relationship with their Missouri staff and with the cacao growers and their communities. We offer their heavenly Single Origin Sipping Chocolate and their unique, original Gingerbread Spice chocolate bar. Sipping chocolate is just like drinking a chocolate bar- thick, rich, and indulgent. Simply mix with milk or heavy cream and enjoy.
Slow honey is a raw honey produced by Donald Studinski, dba Honeybee Keep. Don is a beekeeper and permaculture enthusiast who applies permaculture philosophy to beekeeping and manages Colorado’s first Certified Naturally Grown apiaries. His hives are located from Golden to Nederland to Erie. Don is a respected and popular mentor, teacher and author. His book “Beekeeping Mentor in a Book”, a monthly guide for Colorado Beekeepers, is available in our Bee Barn whenever we are open.
We at Harlequin’s Gardens have loved and supported bees for a long, long time. We also know that many of our customers keep bees, or would like to learn more about how to support bees and other pollinators and how to keep honeybee hives. So, early this year we transformed the back portion of our building into The Bee Barn (painted the color of honey, of course!).
Our new Bee Barn is full of a good selection of products including
We love West Count gloves! They are made from recycled plastic bottles, are very durable and stand-up to several seasons of tough gardening. They are machine washable and retain their shape. And they come in great colors! We carry their Work Glove, Landscaper Glove, Waterproof Glove, Rose Gauntlet, Mud Glove and Grip Glove, all in a range of sizes. If you give these gloves as a gift, be assured that the recipient is welcome to exchange them for a different in-stock size, as long as they are still unused and in their original packaging.
The Stella Natura Wall Calendar is an easy-to-use, informative and beautiful planting and gardening calendar that shows the best times to take advantage of the cosmic influences of the moon, sun and planets. This is a research-based system that is used by Biodynamic farmers and gardeners. We have been using this calendar for 22 years and believe it has helped with germination of seeds, root development of cuttings, and healthy plant development. More than just a calendar – it’s packed with valuable information and insights for successful growing, from seed to harvest.
Reviewed by our Deb: This is the best all-around tool ever! Whenever I go out into the garden with no particular task in mind (other than peace of mind putzing) I grab this tool. It can dig, saw into fat roots, slice into bindweed roots with the pointed tip, it’s wonderful. I have a sheath for it which slides nicely onto a regular belt or garden-tool belt. I love using if for planting bulbs as I can make a deep, small hole. If I could only have one tool forever…I would choose this one.
Lois is a longtime member of the Boulder Potters Guild. She has been exploring techniques with clay for many years and has developed a style that is both earthy and charming. This year we feature her wonderful salt-fired cups decorated with birds and other wildlife that remind us of ancient cave paintings. We also continue to offer Lois’s elegant hand-made embossed greeting cards and holiday tree ornaments.
Arel Mishory has a long and interesting history in art and craft. After college she traveled in Mexico, Israel and Europe, learning local crafts and customs, sketching ideas in journals that she still refers to years later. She and her husband have had a weaving and textile studio in Israel, and then a porcelain button and jewelry studio in New Mexico for many years. Now Arel is in Denver, making small paintings, painted metal amulets, personal and house-blessings, clocks, cards, etc., and they are all delightful! They draw on the folk art themes she studied in her travels, and her Jewish faith.
Our dear friend Lynn Mattingly is a renowned fiber artist, and has been practicing and teaching quilting for decades. An exceptional sense of color-combining, a fabulous collection of fabrics and a mastery of design and craftsmanship combine to make Lynn’s work really special. We love seeing her beautiful pot-holders hanging on our stove, and they have held up in our kitchen for a very long time. Lynn lives just over the hills in Paonia.
Our friend Lynn also makes these artful painted fabric garlands or ‘prayer flags’ with the always-appropriate message of Peace. Drape them on your holiday tree, across the top of a doorway or window, or any place where you’ll enjoy their beauty and soothing sentiment. 3” high on silk ribbon approx. 48” long.
We love this! A great natural way to keep food fresh and safe, and reduce our reliance on plastic. Abeego uses durable, natural hemp/cotton fabric, which they infuse with a blend of 100% natural, simple ingredients – pure beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin, all known for their preservative properties, to make a versatile, breathable wrapping or cover for storing foods. Using gentle pressure and the warmth of your hands, shape the flat square to tightly cover a bowl of leftovers, wrap up cheese, form around produce, baked goods, etc. Abeego is malleable and slightly adhesive at room temperature and will stiffen when cool, holding the shape you created. The beeswax coating is fluid-resistant, keeps food fresh longer than plastic, and is easy to clean. With proper care, you can expect Abeego to last over a year. Each 3-pack contains a 7”, 10”, and a 13” sheet. Made in Canada.
In his color photography, Martin Tobias has captured some amazing, special moments in nature. He has a keen eye, and the patience and persistence to be in the right place at the right time (in other words, it’s no accident). From Martin’s bio – “Thank you for taking the time to view a little of nature’s beauty through my lens, and for savoring with me some of the few, never-to-be-repeated moments to which I’ve tried to give permanence!” We think you will appreciate his remarkable photos of herons, owls, pelicans, and local landscapes, sold matted or framed. Martin lives in Niwot.
A fusion of whimsy, gesture, pattern, texture and patina characterizes Willi Eggerman’s works in clay, which she conceives as functional sculpture – useful pieces with enough presence to stand alone as objects of aesthetic interest for contemplation. To make her organic, botanically-inspired porcelain pieces, she employs a wide variety of techniques. “The seed pod has special appeal to me as a symbol of women, and specifically motherhood. I view seed pods as small sculptures, performance art even, as they form, swell, open, and eventually disintegrate. They are (like women) beautiful, strong, and very practical in getting their job accomplished.”
Our friend Tricia Grable is an artist and has been working in fiber arts and painting for many years. This year we will have her wonderful cards and her vibrant fruit and vegetable print napkin sets.
Shari Moraga is practically our neighbor in Boulder. She calls her work ‘illustrations in thread’. She uses her sewing machine to ‘draw’ and ‘paint’ her light-hearted illustrations of vegetables, honeybees and hives, bicycles, and more on sturdy cotton tea towels, aprons for gardeners and cooks, and zipper bags.
Jen Grant creates these cheerful and artful flags with her original designs – display your affection for wildflowers, bees, birds, etc by garlanding an doorway, deck, porch, window or wall. Hand-made in Lafayette, CO.
Boulder clay artist Mary Lynn Schumacher makes almost mythical forms and figures that evoke stories, animated with delight and imagination. She is an acclaimed artist who has been making functional and sculptural objects in clay for over 25 years, and is a long-time member of the Boulder Potter’s Guild. We have some of Mary Lynn’s wall nichos, which can be used in the home or garden as small personal shrines, a place to perch a votive candle, a flower or other ‘offering’, as well as other wall-mounted pieces for home or garden, unique planters (wonderful for houseplants, especially succulents!), and holiday tree ornaments.
Our friends Thea Tenenbaum and Raffaele Malferrari are well known around Boulder and beyond for their charming tradition-based Italian majolica pottery. We asked them to design and create some small candleholders with a bee motif, to fit the beautiful Niwot Honey Farm beeswax taper candles we carry. They make a delightful gift for almost anyone (especially paired with the beeswax tapers). And this year we’re delighted to have exquisitely detailed bee mugs, spoon-rests and dessert bowls!
Theresa Haberkorn, acclaimed woodcut printmaker, has made Boulder her home for two decades. Her masterful prints are found in exhibits and collections nation-wide, and she teaches her art form as well. Theresa brings her art to household items as well, hand-crafting an artful wall calendar, greeting cards and hand-made books.
From within his solar-powered studio in the foothills beyond Lyons, artist Lane Dukart creates one-of-a-kind stoneware bells and chimes, each individually cast and hand-carved with original designs, inspired by the natural beauty that surrounds him. He applies only natural oxides to accentuate the clay’s inherent earthy tones and the rustic textures of his carvings. The durable stoneware clay is fired to over 2000 degrees F, making it impervious to the elements, able to withstand rain, snow and wind, and can be hung outdoors. The gentle tones evoked by the movement of the bells and chimes are soothing and pleasing. Each finished composition is unique.
Made with reverence, skill and healing intention by our friend Furry Foote, the elder who lives in the foothills, these traditional Native American smudge sticks are finely crafted of aromatic herbs (mostly natives) grown in her own organic garden. Each herb is included for its specific medicinal and/or spiritual qualities: purifying, giving thanks, cleansing, infection-fighting, head-ache relief, etc.
Give a gift that’s out of this world! Our friend Fred Hall is a first-class rock hound. He is especially intrigued with fossil wood and meteorites and is offering both in our Holiday Gift Market this year. These stony meteorites (all found in the Sahara region) originated in the asteroid belt. They’re about 4.566 billion years old — comparable with Earth’s age — and are bits of small asteroids that didn’t separate into crust, mantle, and melted metal core, so the iron-nickel metal is sprinkled through the silicate rock like pepper in scrambled eggs. So when you look at these, you are seeing some of the oldest things in the solar system! Some of the pieces will also have some black fusion crust on the surface from their journey through Earth’s atmosphere.
The fossil wood specimens are all from Utah, and date from the Jurassic Morrison formation, about 145 million years old, while others are from the Triassic Chinle layer, about 210 million years old. Colors come from trace bits of iron oxides, manganese, and other ions. Often the preservation of structures is so detailed that the individual tracheids making up the rings and rays of the wood are still visible under good magnification!
Leon Loughridge is an accomplished watercolor painter and woodblock print artist whose beautiful work is exhibited nationally and is included in many museum and private collections. He has decades of experience sketching ‘en plein air’ and has compiled a group of products to aid the artist working out of doors. His excellent softcover book, ‘Traveling with Watercolors’ shows how to develop a plein air sketch with three levels of values. His traveling watercolor kits are perfect, compact sets of watercolor supplies, all housed in sturdy zippered cases, with the contents held in place so they will not fall out. He also offers a light-weight wood traveling easel. Leon publishes his books and prints through his publishing house, Dry Creek Art Press, located in Denver.
Shelley Goddard has lived in Boulder for over 35 years and has been involved in a wide variety of creative local business ventures. She founded Boulder Arts and Crafts, one of the nation’s oldest and most successful artist cooperatives, and in the early 1990’s opened “As You Wish”, the vanguard stores for the “Paint Your Own” pottery concept. Shelley has enjoyed teaching a variety of art and business classes since the early 1970’s and works from her home studio.
In her Denver studio, Sarah makes delicate and feminine jewelry featuring semi-precious stones, pearls and fine metals. Her expert wire-wrapping and metalworking create elegant settings for the stones, making her pieces luxurious-looking yet affordable.
Jennifer Grant’s fine semi-precious bead necklaces and bracelets beg to be worn every day. The small beads are crocheted into a super-fine and slightly stretchy cord. They are so charmingly simple, and almost weightless, making them easy to wear with everything. I know people who never take them off.
Boulder artist Karen Edgerly is an accomplished silversmith working in silver combined with copper and brass that she etches, casts or form-folds and sets with precious or semi-precious faceted stones to make sparkly everyday-wearable necklaces, earrings, bracelets and rings. Karen also teaches her craft at pARTiculars in Lafayette.
Ann Mitchell loves to sew! And she loves to recycle. So it’s only natural that she would put the two together and create fun fashion by re-purposing high-quality wool and cashmere sweaters to make wonderful one-of-a-kind jackets, coats, ‘arm cozies’ and cashmere baby caps. We also carry her very cozy and flattering fleece hats.
In her line of children’s clothing, Sweet Ann Marie’s, she makes adorable aprons, reversible dresses, onesies, baby booties and more!Ann sews up a storm in her Lafayette, CO studio.
We’ve known Cheryl for many years in the context of her expertise in Roses (she grows about 500 of them in her home garden), and Morris Dancing (Cheryl, husband and kids have all danced with the Maroon Bells Morris Dancers at our May Day Festivals). A few years ago we discovered that she is also a multi-talented craftswoman. Her whimsical ornaments are original designs, meticulously hand-dyed, painted and beaded, sewn on a 1948 Singer sewing machine, and stuffed. They are double sided so they look good from all angles. Because of the nature of the hand dyeing and hand painting, no two ornaments are ever exactly alike. This year she has added delightful faerie ornaments. Cheryl also makes felted Acorn Earrings, made with real acorn caps, dainty Czech Glass Flower Earrings, and
Our own Engrid Winslow makes these warm and beautifully patterned soft wool slipper-socks, based on traditional Scandinavian designs and knitted using Swedish twined knitting techniques which make them thick, warm and durable so they can be worn as house slippers. They are made with 100% wool and are machine washable in cold water and should be laid flat to dry. Sizes range from women’s shoe sizes 6 to 9. She is also offering ‘regular’ socks in a washable wool/poly blend in lovely color blends with reinforced heels and toes, in sizes for women and men. Quantities are limited – the early bird gets the socks!
This year, in addition to her fabulous quilted items, our friend Lynn has brought us some of her luxurious and exuberantly hand-painted silk scarves. Lynn is all about color, and this is nowhere more evident than in these lovely scarves.
Jessica Thomas has developed several lines of very beautiful and affordable jewelry that are like musical variations on a theme, with graceful, original motifs used in many ways, all of which fit together perfectly to present a look that harkens to ancient, indigenous and mystical symbolism. Her pieces are right on trend, yet absolutely distinctive and original. Her long necklaces are simultaneously dramatic and feminine. Okay, enough words – you just have to come see them!
Dana Birke works from her little studio in the Boulder foothills. With this vantage point, her inspiration comes from the nature surrounding her – the simplicity and jewel-tones of the wildflowers, aspens, stones and skies. She uses fine metals (often recycled) and gemstones to make subtly elegant jewelry that is easy to wear, regardless of your age or style.
Fort Collins resident Shea Henke is an adventurous and artful young man who began making jewelry and dream-catchers from salvaged wire at the age of 9. Over the years he has studied numerous techniques and now works extensively with jewelry design, metals and fibers. Shea has also traveled from Alaska to the Amazon, and brought home new materials and inspirations. He will be graduating from college this December with a degree in Business and Nonprofit Management. We think his heart and his art are in the right place!
Michele Keller of Denver applies her metalworking artistry to brass and bronze to make bold and highly wearable (and affordable) rings, bracelets and necklaces that go from daytime casual to evening dress-up with ease.
Founded in 2000 by our friend Pamela Lambert in Boulder, novAurora Natural Skin Care makes unscented skin-care products for men and women from pure, botanical, body-friendly ingredients – organically grown where available – that promote skin health and beauty, regenerate skin on the cellular level. And stimulate the body to produce its own life-giving nutrients, while doing no harm to the environment or other living beings. Their products include: Soap-free Facial Cleanser (Eve’s favorite), Lotion Potion (for potters and gardeners), Pure Organic Jojoba Oil, Odorless Organic Shea Butter, Weekend Warrior Balm with MSM. All novAurora products are non-toxic, vegan, gluten-free, and never tested on animals.
Barbara Schumacher is a watercolor artist and the mother of clay artist MaryLynn Schumacher (see Art & Home section) and 3 other daughters. She has been designing and making hiking sticks since 1999, after finding a nearly perfect fallen stick on a hiking trail. Barbara’s wood is always found in its fallen state and never cut down. Each of her hiking sticks is unique, featuring such designs as petroglyphs, trees, birds, paw prints. When you give someone you love (yourself?) one of BJ’s sticks, you help keep them safer on the trail, and give them a walking companion for life!
Scary? Maybe. Cool? Definitely.
Sweet Fruit from the Bitter Tree
New and hot-off-the-press! At 29 years old, The Boulder Irish Session is a Boulder ‘institution’ and is still going strong. They are an informal, dynamic gathering of top-notch Front Range musicians who come together on Sunday evenings at Conor O’Neil’s Pub in downtown Boulder to share tunes and songs of the Celtic tradition. Over the years, the Session has gained many loyal followers who know they will always hear some of the best, most spirited live traditional Irish and Celtic music in the region on any given Sunday, comparable to sessions in Galway and County Clare. Harlequin’s Gardens co-owner Eve Brawner is one of the founding members of the Boulder Irish Session and is still a ‘regular’ there, playing English concertina, and singing.
Elena, whose music has been compared to Kate Wolf, has played individually and with a number of groups in the Denver/Boulder area, including the Mother Folkers. Her traditional and original music has been a longtime contribution to numerous peace, justice, and environmental gatherings and events. Based in the activist tradition, her music expresses an emotional and spiritual dimension and connection that inspires us to continue working for a better world. Reflecting Elena’s fluency in both Spanish and English (she works full time as a professional interpreter), the CD’s songs- mostly in English, with a couple in Spanish- also serve as a bridge between languages, cultures and people. And Elena’s lovely voice is and warm and sweet.
Jon is one of the rising stars of Traditional Irish music and solo finger-style guitar as well as banjo, and has studied and performed to much acclaim in Ireland and Europe as well as Colorado. Jon’s musical journey started early in his life, including rock and electronic dance music, but after moving to Boulder in 2003, he fell deeply in love with Traditional Irish music. His impeccable technique and the grace and passion of his playing are dazzling. Jon teaches and performs solo and as a duo with the equally talented Adam Agee on fiddle, and can sometimes be found at the Boulder Irish Session at Conor O’Neil’s on Sunday evenings.
Enjoy home-made cookies, jam samples and a cup of hot cider while you shop local in a warm, rustic and relaxed atmosphere.
Safe and Fun Toys, Clothing, & Books for Kids
Unique Hand-made Jewelry, Hats, Socks, Gloves, Scarves, by local artisans
Locally hand-made Ceramic Planters for your succulents and other house-plants
Beautiful Holiday and other Greeting Cards by local artists
Locally hand-crafted Quilts, Potholders, Placemats, Table Runners, Aprons, Napkins
Fine locally-crafted Ceramic Mugs and other Clay Art
Excellent Books by award-winning local authors
Delicious Specialty Foods by the best local producers, including Harlequin’s Exclusives and fabulous Chocolates!
items!
Sondra Finch, a new artist for us, just brought in a big armload of fabulous, fun hand-knitted hats and head bands!
Mark Andreas, author of the very popular and inspiring ‘Sweet Fruit from the Bitter Tree’ brought us his hot-off-the-press new book, “Waltzing with Wolverines: Finding connection & cooperation with troubled teens’.
Ann Mitchell brought in wonderful new skirts and tops made from re-purposed garments.
Beth Gallovic recently dropped off delightful stuffed, re-purposed fabric turtles, great as toys and as pillows.
AND, gorgeous, one-of-a-kind, meticulously hand-made silk Bandhani Scarves from Gujarat, India are ON SALE for 25% off! Last chance! 
Harlequin’s Gardens Gift Certificates are always a perfect gift for any Front Range gardener (okay, maybe not perfect for someone who only grows a water garden) and are always available. Come in to buy gift certificates and shop our Holiday Market, or follow the instructions on our website to order by phone or mail. If you need a gift certificate during the months when we are closed (November, January, February) you are welcome to order it by mail or phone. See Gift Certificates at 
Spring-blooming Bulbs, 50% off
Ritual Chocolate bars,15% off
Books – We have a number of great books including the textbook for the Boulder County Beekeepers’ Beekeeping Class, which will start in January. One book that is extremely popular is the recently published Beekeeping, Mentor in a Book by local beekeeper Donald Studinsky. This is a valuable, month by month guide to beekeeping packed with valuable information including the recipe for making your own sugar patties.
