Welcome to a Glorious Early Spring. It’s warm; everything is growing and there are masses of blossoms and fragrance. Please, do enjoy. Our tax dollars are funding wars our Congress did not approve and more than a majority do not want. This is not representative government. What can we do? We have to celebrate The Good, even while enduring the unbearable. We can grow healthy food and both eat it and share it.
We can plant gardens that are in harmony with our western environment and with the insects and birds. We can sing. One woman recently said that her “disgust, dismay and horror” to the current politics inspired her to join Singing Resistance Boulder which she is enjoying. We can listen to KGNU community radio for some good news, inspiration and good music. We can take care of our health, our families and our community. We can arouse courage-heart. We can keep a good posture and appreciate Nature and the real good in the world. We can let our representatives know our views, and we can practice patience: just be here. Use your voice. Change is inevitable. We welcome you to Harlequin’s Gardens and to another uncertain gardening season. We are all uneasy about the lack of snowpack and rain and unseasonably warm
conditions. We don’t have a crystal ball, but we do have 35 years of experience in growing plants in dry conditions, and we will keep you updated on our recommendations as the season progresses. Read our newsletters and share them with your friends.
They say the two best times to plant a tree are 20 years ago and today; the same could be said for a water-wise garden. The best preparations for a water-wise garden include soil amendments with compost and possibly expanded shale which hold water and permit water to penetrate and go deep. In addition, we can add mycorrhizae the beneficial fungi to bring water and nutrients to plant roots. We can choose the right plants and the right mulch to reduce evaporation, provide insulation and help keep the soil biology alive. A good local living compost and a little organic fertilizer and rock minerals will provide nutrients for the soil biology and the plants to grow tough and strong. This not only supports growth and flowering, but provides the nutrients plants need to build their own defense chemicals to repel pests and diseases. This is especially important when plants are under stress.