Harlequin’s Gardens Classes and Events for 2019
Our teachers have spent years honing their skills in Colorado and will help guide you to success. We are charging $15 (unless otherwise stated) for our classes to support our speakers and Harlequin’s educational direction. It is best to pre-register for these classes both in case they fill up, or too few people register and we have to cancel.
CHANGE THIS TEXT: Pre-payment assures your place in the class. You can register at the nursery, by mail, or by calling 303-939-9403. We are unable to take class registration by email at this time.
Most of our classes run from one and a half to two hours in length, and sometimes longer for hands-on classes or if there are a large number of questions.
Sat, Mar 2 at 1 PM – Mason Beekeeping with Tom Theobald
The importance of our native ‘solitary’ bee species to the pollination of our crops, flowers, and native plants is receiving increased attention. For over 30 years, Tom Theobald of Niwot Honey Farm has been propagating one of the most ‘useful’ species, Mason Bees (Blue Orchard Bees), and will teach how to attract and care for these gentle native pollinators. Mason Bees are not a replacement for honeybees, but they are excellent pollinators of the early fruits – cherries, apples, etc. They stay close to home, don’t sting, don’t require the year-round commitment of a colony of honeybees and provide a great way to introduce children to the world of pollinators. Harlequin’s Gardens will have filled straws (containing male and female adult bees in hibernation) for sale for $12 a straw. IMPORTANT: You must RESERVE your Mason Bee straws IN ADVANCE by calling Harlequin’s Gardens at 303-939-9403. Pre-payment of mason bee straws is required. Class cost: $15 This class will be repeated on Saturday, March 16th at 1pm.
Sun, Mar 3 at 1 PM – Planting by the Moon & Stars with Mikl Brawner
The moon and planets influence life on Earth. Mikl has been planting by the Biodynamic Calendar for 20 years with great success. Be in-sync with the cosmic rhythms to maximize your garden’s effectiveness and yield. Stella Natura Biodynamic Calendars will be available for sale. Class cost: $15
Sat, Mar 9 at 10 AM – Introduction to Permaculture with Tara Rae Kent & Daniela Escudero
Permaculture is a design science that is informed by cycles and patterns in nature. This helps us create more resilient and regenerative systems, whether those systems are gardens, farms, businesses, or events. We will explore the ethics that guide a permaculture design and the principles that help a design take form, as well as real life examples and projects that are a part of our lives. The class will include: 1) an introduction and exploration of the Permaculture Ethics and Principles, 2) real life, active and diverse examples of permaculture designs, and 3) a tour of Harlequin’s Garden’s Permaculture Design. Free admission!
Sat, Mar 9 at 1 PM – Cover Crops for Gardeners: Why, How & Which with Clark Harshbarger
In the current soil revolution, we are learning how to nurture and care for our soils and the soil life that is the true source of soil fertility. Cover crops are becoming recognized as one of the keys to soil fertility and soil health. When our annual crops die in the fall, if we do not replace those crops with living plants, then the microbes that depend on the nutrients “leaked” into the soil from plant roots, will die or decrease.
Besides that, cover crops are a method to use photosynthesis to grow organic matter and nutrients including nitrogen to add to the soil, so we have to buy fewer amendments. In addition, many cover crops support beneficial insects which help control pest insects, and they reduce erosion.
But which cover crops do well in Colorado and when do we plant them and when should we cut them, and how do we prevent them from becoming weeds or competitors? And how best to combine them?
Harlequin’s Gardens has been looking for someone to teach us these things, who really knows how to do it in our local conditions. And this year we found the right person. So this is a great opportunity that will not be available next year, because Clark Harshbarger will be moving to eastern US.
We have reserved a bigger space than our classroom, but people will have to register ahead of time to make sure they get a seat. Register by phone at 303-939-9403 This will be a 2 hour class and we will be charging only $20. This class will be taught by Clark Harshbarger.
For the last two decades, Clark was employed with the USDA-NRCS as a soil scientist and recently as director of Regenerative Farming at MAD Agriculture. It will be held on Saturday, March 9th from 1-3 pm at the Boulder Circus Center, next door to Harlequin’s Gardens, south in the big metal building in the Trixie Room.
Clark’s description for his class: “Cover crops are essential to any regenerative garden or farm. They have been shown to reduce soil erosion, conserve soil moisture, enhance and protect water quality, and build disease and insect resistance by providing diversity to crop rotations. In this hands-on class, learn how cover crops can improve soil fertility and reduce insect and weed problems. We will discuss when and where to plant them and how to determine what species to select.” Class cost: $20
Sun, Mar 10 at 1 PM – Fireblight: pruning, nutrition & Culture with Mikl Brawner
Last year was the worst year for this bad bacterial disease of apples and pears. Mikl has had over 40 years of experience with fireblight, and will teach and demonstrate proper pruning, and explain how to bring a tree back to health even if a lot of the tree is blighted. Class cost: $15
Sat, Mar 16 at 10 AM – Getting Started in Vegetable Gardening with Mimi Yanus
If you are new to Colorado, new to vegetable gardening, or have been unhappy with the results of your earlier attempts, this class is for you. Learn from Mimi what you need to know to make your new organic vegetable garden successful and bountiful, even in Colorado conditions! Class cost: $15 This class will be repeated on Saturday, April 6th at 10am.
Sat, Mar 16 at 1 PM – Mason Beekeeping with Tom Theobald
The importance of our native ‘solitary’ bee species to the pollination of our crops, flowers, and native plants is receiving increased attention. For over 30 years, Tom Theobald of Niwot Honey Farm has been propagating one of the most ‘useful’ species, Mason Bees (Blue Orchard Bees), and will teach how to attract and care for these gentle native pollinators. Mason Bees are not a replacement for honeybees, but they are excellent pollinators of the early fruits – cherries, apples, etc. They stay close to home, don’t sting, don’t require the year-round commitment of a colony of honeybees and provide a great way to introduce children to the world of pollinators. Harlequin’s Gardens will have filled straws (containing male and female adult bees in hibernation) for sale for $12 a straw. IMPORTANT: You must RESERVE your Mason Bee straws IN ADVANCE by calling Harlequin’s Gardens at 303-939-9403. Pre-payment of mason bee straws is required. Class cost: $15
Sun, Mar 17 at 1 PM – Dwarf Conifers for Gardens and Landscapes with Kirk Fieseler
A renowned expert in conifers at Laporte Avenue Nursery in Fort Collins, Kirk Fieseler will discuss dwarf conifers for small landscapes and rock gardens. Learn the origins and propagation techniques for dwarf conifers as well as how to grow them in containers and in the garden. Kirk will talk about the most successful species for our climate and soils. Class cost: $15
Wed, Mar 20 – First Day of Spring
Sat, Mar 23 at 1 PM – Get Equipped for Beekeeping with Kristina Williams
For beginning and established beekeepers, alike! Kristina will demonstrate how to build and crosswire frames. Learn the lingo of beekeeping supplies and take a tour of our Bee Barn. Harlequin’s Gardens is upgrading frames and foundation to be as strong as they can be and still use beeswax. Our resident entomologist and Bee Barn Babe, Kristina Williams, will share her vast knowledge with you! Free Admission!
Sun, Mar 24 at 1 PM – Building Topsoil & Fertility with Mikl Brawner
Mikl will discuss how to support soil life, enrich poor soils, and improve plant health and nutrition from the bottom up: composts, fertilizers, mulching, worms, deficiencies, and tilth. Class cost: $15
Sun, Mar 31 at 1 PM – Cold Hardy Cacti and Succulents with Kelly Grummons
We are proud to present acclaimed CO horticulturist Kelly Grummons, director of Prairie Storm Nursery, a business that includes ColdHardyCactus.com and DogTuffGrass.com. An expert in selection and propagation of rare and unique plants for Colorado, Kelly will discuss a variety of exceptional new winter hardy cacti, agaves, yuccas, and outdoor succulents, and include choosing appropriate sites, soil prep, fertilizing, and ongoing care. Class cost: $20
Sat, Apr 6 at 10 AM – Getting Started in Vegetable Gardening with Mimi Yanus
If you are new to Colorado, new to vegetable gardening, or have been unhappy with the results of your earlier attempts, this class is for you. Learn from Mimi what you need to know to make your new organic vegetable garden successful and bountiful, even in Colorado conditions! Class cost: $15
Sat, Apr 6 at 1 PM – Succession Planting: optimizing planting times to increase garden yields with Tracey Parrish
Learn the techniques and timing to maximize your garden space and keep your veggie garden in continual production throughout the seasons. This class provides participants with an extensive planting schedule table, outlining when and where to start your seeds, the time to transplant out and when to expect harvest. Tracey is an expert in culinary gardening. Class cost: $15
Sun, Apr 7 at 1 PM – Organic Lawn Care with Mikl Brawner
You can have successful lawn without using toxic chemicals! Learn how to support healthy soil and soil life using compost, organic fertilizers, aeration, proper watering, and mowing, and how to avoid and deal with weeds. Class cost: $15
Sat, Apr 13 at 10 AM – Edible Landscaping with Alison Peck
Learn how to grow fruits, nuts, vegetables, vines and herbs in your yard, beautifully. Learn which plants are the most successful and how to integrate them into your landscape. Alison has been designing edible landscapes for 25 years; she owns Matrix Gardens landscaping. Class cost: $15
Sat, Apr 13 at 1 PM – Do-it-Yourself Drip Irrigation with Alison Peck
Drip irrigation can be easy! Come learn a simple, easy way to design and install a system that can be connected to an outside hose bib with a battery-operated timer, giving you an inexpensive automatic watering system. We will also discuss how to convert an existing sprinkler system to drip irrigation. Class cost: $15
Sun, Apr 14 at 10 AM – The Art and Science of Planting Drought-tolerant Plants with Panayoti Kelaidis
Do you know what parts of the world your xeriscape plants come from? Whether they’re adapted to spring moisture, summer monsoons, or winter snow-cover? In what type of soil conditions they thrive? How to group plants with similar needs so they will all succeed? Don’t miss this rare opportunity for an enlightening explanation of the sets of growing conditions in which our Colorado-adapted garden plants evolved, including prairie, steppe, desert, foothill and montane, with an emphasis on steppes. Panayoti Kelaidis is Senior Curator and Director of Outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens, one of the world’s foremost botanical experts, an internationally acclaimed, inexhaustible and enthusiastic font of knowledge, passionate plant-explorer and gardener, a founder of the Plant Select program, and lead author of DBG’s groundbreaking book ‘Steppes’. Class cost: $15
Sat, Apr 20 at 1 PM – Fearless Rose Pruning with Eve Brawner
Eve will demonstrate and discuss why and how to prune roses in a fearless and confident manner. She will also discuss feeding, watering, etc. to maximize your success with growing roses. Wear long pants, long sleeves, gloves, and a hat and be prepared to be outside. Class cost: $15
Mon, Apr 22 – Earth Day
Fri, Apr 26 – Arbor Day
Sat Apr 27 at 10 AM – Getting Started in Vegetable Gardening with Mimi Yanus
If you are new to Colorado, new to vegetable gardening, or have been unhappy with the results of your earlier attempts, this class is for you. Learn from Mimi what you need to know to make your new organic vegetable garden successful and bountiful, even in Colorado conditions! Class cost: $15
Sat Apr 27 at 1 PM – Spring Pruning with Mikl Brawner (moved from Sunday, April 14th)
There are shrubs that should not be pruned in the spring and there are shrubs, roses and vines that are best pruned in spring. Learn which to prune when, and how to prune for strength, beauty, and production of fruit and flowers. (This is not a repeat of the Fall Pruning Class.) Class cost: $15
Sun Apr 28 at 10 AM – Dryer Plants for a New Landscape Era with Kelly Grummons
Many beautiful cacti, century plants (Agave spp.), yuccas, and their relatives thrive in our harsh climate. These plants look as good in the winter garden as they do in the summer. Kelly is well known for his work with these hardy plants and is expert at using them in the garden. We’ll discuss companion plants, soil preparation and garden construction. Kelly Grummons is a Horticulturist and Owner of Prairie Storm Nursery (coldhardycactus.com and dogtuffgrass.com). Class cost: $20
Sun Apr 28 at 1 PM – Growing Grapes on the Front Range with John Martin
Thanks to recent development in grape varieties, you, too can successfully grow table grapes and wine grapes on the Colorado Front Range. This workshop will present an overview of varieties suitable for this region, considerations for site location, trellising options, pest protection measures, and a brush across two basic pruning techniques. Whether you are interested in fruit or wine, let’s explore how the taste of your grapes and wines will define this locality. John and his partner, Kayann Short, tend 9 different varieties of grapes and make wine at their CSA farm (Stonebridge) in Longmont, CO. Class cost: $15
Sat, May 4 & Sun, May 5 – Harlequin’s Gardens Annual May Day Celebration
Sat, May 4 at 11 AM – Maroon Bells Morris Dancers
Sat, May 11 at 1 PM – Vermicomposting with John Anderson
The many ways worms can save the planet – they are nature’s gift that keeps on giving! Worm Man, John Anderson, will explain why and how you can create worm compost. The hope and change we’ve been waiting for right under your feet! Worms will be available for purchase at the class for $40, plus the class fee of $15. Call 303-939-9403 to pre-order worms by April 30th at a $5 discount.
Sun, May 12 – Mother’s Day
Sat, May 18 at 10 AM – Gardening with Friends: inviting wildlife into your garden through landscaping with Alison Peck
Living in a garden humming with life is a joy! Share you yard with birds, butterflies, pollinators and more. You’ll learn how to provide a home for all life (maybe not deer), and why insects are a gardener’s friend, not the enemy. We’ll discuss overall landscape design strategies, as well as detailed information on plants that provide wildlife habitat, including many native plants. Alison has been designing landscapes for 25 years; she owns Matrix Gardens landscaping. Class cost: $15
Sat, May 18 at 1 PM – Successful High-Altitude Landscape Gardening with Irene Shonle
Mountain gardening is a challenge, with the short growing season, cold winters, water rights issues, critters and more. In this class, Irene will talk about ways to work with these challenges, and will discuss a palette of good mountain-hardy perennials, shrubs and trees that are low-water and provide pollinator/bird benefits. Irene Shonle is the Director of CSU Extension in Gilpin County. She holds a PhD in Ecology from U. of Chicago. She teaches and writes about native plants all across the state and is very involved with the Native Plant Master Program. She gardens (mostly with natives) in the mountains at her home and in demo gardens outside the Extension Office. Class cost: $15
Sun, May 19 at 10 AM – Tomato Tutelage with Kelly Grummons: Everything you need to know to grow great tomatoes!
This class takes the mystery out of growing good tomatoes in our area. You always hear “It’s a good tomato year” or “It’s a bad tomato year”. Learn how to make EVERY year a “good tomato year”! Kelly will discuss garden soil preparation, culture in the ground and in pots, nutrition, tomato pests and diseases. Learn about the best varieties to grow here and how to maximize your harvest. Kelly Grummons is a horticulturalist and tomato aficionado. Class Cost: $20
Sun, May 19 at 1 PM – Best Fruit Trees for Colorado with Mikl Brawner
Learn which varieties of fruit trees are successful here, which are not, and which are good flavored: Apples, Cherries, Plums, Pears, Peaches. Mikl’s first orchard was in 1976 and he will teach you how to care for your fruit trees. Class cost: $15
Mon, May 27 – Memorial Day
Sat, Jun 1 at 10 AM – Japanese Beetles with Kristina Williams
Our resident entomologist Kristina Williams will present the natural history of the Japanese Beetle so that you can better understand the pest you’re up against. Mikl Brawner will talk about the new products we are trying out at Harlequin’s Gardens, which are also available for purchase. Class cost: $15
Sat, Jun 1 at 1 PM – Dog Tuff Grass with Kelly Grummons
Bring out the hammock! If you have a sunny yard and need a super low-water, low-maintenance, no-mow lawn that‘s short, lush, soft and green in summer, plant Dog Tuff™ African Dogtooth Grass instead of Kentucky Bluegrass!
Kelly Grummons has been working for over 20 years on techniques of growing this exciting, beautiful and extremely low-water turf grass. It was chosen as a PLANT SELECT variety and promoted across the US in 2016, and Dog Tuff™ is now available at Harlequin’s Gardens! In this class, Kelly will demonstrate the techniques for converting your thirsty lawn into one that requires just a fraction of the water. The low-profile, lush green turf is sure to become a staple in our region. By the way, Dog Tuff Grass is also surprisingly resistant to dog urine spots! Kelly Grummons is a horticulturist and owner of Prairie Storm Nursery, coldhardycactus.com, dogtuffgrass.com and Plantselect.org. Class cost: $20
Sun, Jun 2 at 1 PM – Berries & Small Fruits for Colorado with Mikl Brawner
Small fruits are delicious, high in antioxidants, take up less space and bear sooner than trees: strawberries, currants, raspberries, grapes, gooseberries. Learn about the best varieties for Colorado and how to grow them. Class cost: $15
Sat, Jun 8 from 10 AM to 3 PM – Mushroom Cultivation and Identification Hands-On Class with Zach Hedstrom
Mushrooms are delicious and healthy, but also shrouded in mystery! Learn more about them in this Mushroom Cultivation and Identification Workshop taught by mycology enthusiast Zach Hedstrom. Plan to leave the class with basic knowledge about how to grow mushrooms, the ways in which fungi can increase ecological vitality, as well as familiarity with the process of identification and various local wild mushroom species. Participants will partake in 2 hands-on mushroom growing activities and take away a log inoculated with Oyster Mushroom spawn that, with proper care, will produce tasty mushrooms for multiple years. Everyone will also receive a handout packet for help in identifying local mushrooms. Participants should bring their own lunch, and weather-appropriate clothing. It will be a day full of fungi, and FUN! Please call to reserve your spot (303-939-9403). $75 per person, 12 person maximum.
Sun, Jun 9 at 1 PM – Successful Home Composting with Mikl Brawner
Learn how to turn waste into wealth by cultivating soil microorganisms. Nature does the work if you know how to lend a hand. In this class, you will learn what works in our climate, and what doesn’t. Mikl has been composting for 35 years. Class cost: $15
Sun, Jun 16 – Father’s Day
Fri, Jun 21 – Summer Solstice
Jun 17-23 – National Pollinator Week
Sat, Jun 22 at 10 AM – Beneficial Insects with Kristina Williams
Not all insects will harm your garden; and in fact many insects are “good guys” that will not only control garden pests but also help your garden in other ways. Learn how to recognize and attract beneficial insects to your yard and garden. Class cost: $15
Sat, Jun 22 1 – 2 PM – Habitat Hero – Wildscaping 101 (free) with Laura Somers
Laura Somers, Wildscape Ambassador, representing Audubon Rockies and Colorado Native Plant Society will demonstrate the importance of restoring our communities, one garden patch at a time. From a birds-eye view, learn how to create wildlife-friendly gardens that help combat the loss of open spaces and create green corridors that link your wildscape to larger natural areas by providing habitat for wildlife. Free admission!
Sun, Jun 23 at 10 AM – Colorado Native Bees with Kristina Williams
If you have a backyard garden, it’s probably being pollinated by some of Boulder County’s 500+ species of native bees. We’ll talk about some of the basic types and how you can create bee friendly habitat to invite them to your yard. Then we’ll walk through Harlequins’ demonstration gardens to observe some of these bees in action. Class cost: $15
Sun, Jun 23 at 1 PM – Managing Garden Pests without Poisons with Mikl Brawner
Learn how to look for and identify common pests, and how to judge if anything needs to be done. Learn which organic solutions are the most effective, for what, and how to do it. Mikl has been walking this talk for 35 years. Class cost: $15
Wed, Jul 4 – Independence Day (Harlequin’s Gardens is closed)
Sun, Jul 14 at 1 PM – Tips & Tricks of Xeriscape with Mikl Brawner
Gardening with less water is not that hard if you know how! There are tricks that will improve your success. Mikl’s will pass on his 30 years of xeriscape experience. Class cost: $15
Sat, Jul 20 at 10 AM – Honey Bee Meet & Greet with Kristina Williams
Have you ever watched bees coming out of a knothole in an old tree or seen those stacks of boxes near a field and wondered what was inside? Come take a peek inside a working hive of honeybees and chat about what it takes to have a hive of your own or to help bees in general. Please wear long sleeves and pants. Class cost: $15
Sat, Jul 20 at 1 PM – Basic Landscape Design with Elaine Walker
Elaine is a landscape architect who will show you the elements of designing areas of your property. Learn how to observe your site, identify goals, take a site analysis, create a comprehensive design, and how to approach installation in manageable pieces. Class cost: $15
Sun, July 21 at 10 AM – Foraging for Rocky Mountain Mushrooms P. 1: Regional Mushroom ID with Zach Hedstrom
In this class, you will learn the basics of mushroom identification and what you should know before going out on a hunt. We will also introduce a variety of local mushrooms and their identification features. This is a good class for beginners as well as those who have done some foraging before. Class cost: $15
Sun, Jul 21 at 1 PM – The Wild Wisdom of Weeds with Katrina Blair and Tyler VanGemert
Tyler will begin the class with a centering movement that will prepare us for learning about the plants. Katrina Blair, author of “The Wild Wisdom of Weeds: 13 Essential Plants for Human Survival” will be here to share the exceptional nutrient and medicinal qualities of 13 useful plants that are abundant, free to harvest and readily available. Her book will be available for sale. Class Cost: $15
Sun, Jul 28 at 10 AM – Foraging for Rocky Mountain Mushrooms P. 2: Foraging Field Trip with Zach Hedstrom
In this class, you will take what you learned in the classroom and put it to practice on a mushroom hunting field trip in the mountains. Location given at registration. Pre-payment required: (303-939-9403). Please come with weather-appropriate clothing, water, and good shoes. Zach Hedstrom is a mushroom fanatic and grower at Hazel Dell. Class cost: $15.
Sun, Aug 11 at 1 PM – Pruning for Strength, Health, and Beauty with Mikl Brawner
Learn how to train young trees, restructure shrubs and trees damaged by storms, and to prune roses. Mikl has over 35 years of experience in pruning. (Repeated on Sep. 15). Class cost: $15
Sun, Aug 25 at 1 PM – Low Tech Greenhouse Design & Operation with Mikl Brawner
Mikl has been researching, building, and using simple greenhouses for 20 years. This class will focus on five designs on site at the nursery. Class cost: $15
Mon, Sep 2 – Labor Day
Sat, Sep 7 from 10 AM to 1 PM – Eighth Annual Taste of Tomato
Sun, Sep 8 at 1 PM – How to Mulch with Mikl Brawner
Weedbarrier, wood chips, straw, fine gravel, bark? Which mulches should be used and where? Why is mulching so important? What’s wrong with redwood and cedar? Mikl will discuss these questions and suggest solutions. Class cost: $15
Sun, Sep 15 at 1 PM – Pruning for Strength, Health, and Beauty with Mikl Brawner
Learn how to train young trees, restructure shrubs and trees damaged by storms, and to prune roses. Mikl has over 35 years of experience in pruning. (Repeat of Aug 11) Class cost: $15
Sun, Sep 22 – First day of autumn
Sat, Oct 5 from 10 AM to 2 PM – What to do When with Kelly Grummons
This class will answer those oft-asked gardening questions such as: when do I prune my roses, start tomato seeds, seed grass, put down sod, cut back ornamental grasses, prune lilacs and clematis, apply soil microbes, when to fertilize, transplant perennials, divide iris, etc., etc. Get the picture? Answers provided. Kelly is one of the region’s preeminent horticulturists, and an expert in natural plant nutrition and pest control. Plan to bring a sack lunch. $30
with Zach Hedstrom