Dear Friends and Fellow Gardeners,
Welcome to Spring and to Harlequin’s Gardens. The theme of this year’s newsletter is healing. That is because so many people around the world are in need of healing, including flood victims in Colorado and my dear wife and partner, Eve, who was run over by a car in mid-January. After 10 days in intensive care and 6 weeks in the hospital and rehab, she is now at home. Her recovery has been amazingly rapid, but it may take months to complete.
The daily corporate news shows all the terrible qualities of human beings, but sometimes it takes a natural disaster or a life-threatening accident or illness to expose both the extraordinary and ordinary goodness in us humans. In September we found we could dig mud and muck out of other people’s basements, make room in our homes while others were homeless, make food for people without working kitchens, and share our money with people in need. And in January, when Eve had her terrible accident, she and I both realized that we really do live in a community as we received so many offers of help, cards, donations, food, prayers, healing energies and caring well-wishes.
So what does healing have to do with gardening? Many victims of the flood have had soil and plants washed away, and soil and debris dumped on their gardens. And there is concern about contamination. At Harlequin’s Gardens, we have great faith in the goodness of the life force to regrow from the ground up, and to renew and refresh the soil by the positive power of the invisible microorganisms. This is not a blind faith, but an awareness based on our personal and referred experience. (See our April Class “Flood Recovery for the Garden.)
Human health depends on healthy food and a healthy environment. Healthy food comes from healthy plants that come from a healthy soil. Chemical fertilizers undermine soil health and are lacking in important micronutrients. Soils can be built up by supporting and partnering with soil biology to create long-term soil fertility that will grow nutrient-dense foods. And we can grow varieties of plants that are high in antioxidants and other phytochemicals that build our immune systems and general vitality. We can help you do this.
This year Harlequin’s Gardens opened on March 1st for business on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Starting in April we will be open every day 9-5 and Thursdays til 6. We take payment in cash and checks only.
Eve assembles our selection of vegetable and herb starts on the basis of considerable research and personal experience. For many years we have been trialing and evaluating new varieties in our own gardens. We attend local tasting events (including our own Taste of Tomato) and participate in local culinary garden group discussions. We have heard evaluations and taken recommendations from our customers and staff, and we have tasted produce grown by our local farmers and talked with them about what’s successful for them. Every winter Eve pores over the most interesting and reliable seed catalogs, searching for new and special varieties that resist disease and pests, produce generously, taste fabulous, and that we think will likely be successful and rewarding here on the high plains and in the mountains. Our selection aims to include the best vegetable and herb varieties for a wide range of garden sizes and growing conditions (high altitude, hot, sunny and dry, shaded, short-season, raised bed, container, ornamental edible, etc.) and culinary uses (fresh, cooked, canned, frozen, dried, stuffed, fermented, sauce, high nutrition, ornamental value, etc.) and preferences (mild, spicy, sweet, acidic, etc.). We think you’ll find the very best choices at Harlequin’s Gardens. Please give us your feedback on what you grow from us.
WE ARE GROWING dozens of varieties that we cannot describe here. Please go to our website under Plants/Edibles for a complete listing and descriptions of our veggies.
A message from Eve
The outpouring of concern, love, prayers and support Mikl and I have received since my injury has been absolutely amazing, and the extent of this caring community is beyond anything we could have imagined. I am so deeply grateful! My room in the rehab facility was filled with flowers, the fridge filled with lovingly home-made food, and the walls festooned with many dozens of cards, prayer flags and artwork from so many of you, surrounding me with healing energy. I have no doubt that the love has been a big factor in the good progress of my recovery.
Of course I am itching to get back to the nursery (patience is my biggest challenge!), but I still have a lot more healing to do. In the meantime, I want you to know that our fantastic staff stepped up to take on many of my duties and they’ve done a great job in my absence. I also want you to know that Mikl has proved himself a true super-hero, shouldering tons more work and still making lots of time to be with me and run my errands.
I’m very happy to be back at home now. I’ve made a couple of brief forays into my garden with my walker to see the crocus, iris, snowdrops and hellebores blooming, and to watch the bees at work. Spring is here, and it’s so good to be alive!
A FEW of our NEW TOMATOES (75 varieties of tomatoes in 2014)
Cour di Bue – 75 days. Indeterminate – Italian Oxheart, a favorite in Italy for many years. Brought to our attention by our Staff Member, Engrid, and rated highly at the 2013 Tomato Tasting. Delicious for fresh eating or cooking. Hard to find and beautiful.
Azoychka Tomato – 70-80 days. Semi-determinate – The fruit of this Russian heirloom are glowing lemon-yellow in color, round, flat, 6-8 ounces. Flavorful flesh that has a citrusy quality; performs well at high altitude
Beam’s Yellow Pear – 70 -80 days. Indeterminate – Yellow pears have been around since the 1700’s. Mild sweet flavor, ideal for salads, uniform fruits are 1 ½ inches long. These are just like the little yellow pear tomatoes that your grandmother grew.
Honey Drop Cherry – 70-80 days. Indeterminate, OP – a prolific yellow cherry tomato with an incredibly sweet complex taste that may rival Sungold.
Red Peach – 90 days. Indeterminate. Russian Heirloom red which is fuzzy like a peach, deliciously flavored, 2” fruits
Olga’s Round Yellow Chicken – 75 days. Determinate. A Russian variety, bright orange and perfectly round with a nice acid/sweet balance. 2 1/2” fruits
Amelia – TSWV Certified (resistant to Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus) – 75 days. Indeterminate. High yields of firm, uniform red fruit
Bella Rosa – TSWV Certified 75 days. Determinate. Heat tolerant, round, firm, and highly flavorful with a good balance of acid and sugar
Health Kick – TSWV Certified 74 days. Determinate. F1 hybird. Very flavorful, extra large plum shaped tomatoes with 50% more lycopene than any other tomato. Excellent in salads or for making sauce and paste.
Bolseno – TSWV(Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus) Resistant 75 days. OP Heirloom. Indeterminate. Beautiful, blemish free, smooth semi-flat red tomato with attractive slight green shoulders, tangy flavor. Medium 6 to 7 oz. fruit.
Indigo Rose (80 days, ind, hyb) 2 inch round fruit are dark blue purple and deep red fruits are extra nutritious containing high levels of the antioxidant anthocyanin. For the best flavor and texture, harvest when the colors have deepened and the fruit is soft to the touch. Great plate appeal.
Mammoth German Gold (85 days, ind, OP) Very productive plant with huge, up to 1 1/2 pound, bicolored tomatoes that are gold with red streaks. The fruity flavor is described as tropical, but not overly sweet.
Rutgers Determinate (75 days, det, OP). Bright red fruits average 6-8 oz, with a small seed cavity and good color throughout. Hearty tomato flavor and meaty texture. Compact, bushy plants
Siberian (57-60 days, det, OP). very early fruit set on very compact plants Egg shaped 1-2” fruits with wonderful flavor.
Speckled Roman Paste (75 days, ind, OP) High yield producer of intriguingly beautiful, 4-6-inch long, orange-red with wavy yellow stripes paste tomato! Good flavor and meaty texture makes a delicious tomato sauce.
Sungold (57 days, ind, hyb) A customer favorite cherry tomato. Very early, beautiful, plump, tangerine colored fruits are quite simply, very sweet and juicy! Provide support for vigorous vines that easily reach 6 feet long. Allow tomatoes to fully ripen for optimum flavor
New PEPPERS
Pueblo Chile (Mosco Pepper) – 75 days. A Colorado Original – developed by the Colorado Agricultural Experiment Station with thick fruit walls and high yields. More pungent than a typical Anaheim-type pepper, with 5,000-6,000 Scoville units. Reported to rival Hatch Chili for flavor.
Red Mini Bell – 60 days – Tiny red bells with thick red, very sweet flesh on 2’ tall plants. Very prolific and great for stuffing. Great for containers and small gardens
Calabrese Hot Cherry pepper (97+ days) This is a small, round hot pepper, 1-2 inches in diameter. Bright red when ripe, moderate heat. Use fresh, pickled, or even dried.
Pasilla chile pepper (78 days, OP) very mild with a berry, almost herbal, flavor. Strong, upright plants produce good yields of thin walled, long, slender, dark black-green maturing to dark brown. Classic pepper for mole’sauce.
Long Purple Cayenne pepper (67+ days) Blossoms and spicy pods are lovely bright purple in color, maturing to a deep red, making them quite unique and colorful. Attractive tall plants will be covered with dark fruit; great for hot sauce, chili and soup and pretty enough for a flower bed.
Serrano chile pepper (78 days) Whether used green or red, this is one very hot pepper! Flavorful peppers are perfect for chile sauce, salsa, hot pepper vinegar and pickles. Prolific, vigorous 30″ plants covered with 2″ thin-walled fruits.
Shishito Japanese pepper (60 days) By popular demand.Slender fruit is usually mild,. Its thin walls make it ideal to roast, fry or grill taking on rich flavor; popular with chefs and gourmet cooks. The bushy plants are productive and good for container growing.
Eggplant
Purple Fingerling Eggplant (68 days, OP) A tender, mild flavored Asian type, the elongated fruit are borne in spineless clusters; good in containers. Highly productive, harvest when fruit are 2″-6” in diameter.
New Cool Season Vegetables
Broccoli Romanesco (75+ days) Italian heirloom widely grown and eaten in northern Italy. Spiraling apple-green heads have sweet nutty flavor if eaten raw or lightly cooked. No wonder it is a chefs favorite! Very cool looking.
Collards, Georgia Southern (50+ days) No longer just for Southern cuisine! Larger leaves can be traditionally long or lightly cooked to keep nutritious qualities, while small young leaves add substance to salads. This is an excellent container variety, easy to grow.
Chard, Prima Rosa (25 or 50 days) A highly ornamental edible, plant as a garden border then harvest young red-veined green leaves to add color to early season salads. The mature leaves have deep red color earlier than other varieties.
Yugoslavian Red Butterhead lettuce, (55 days) Heirloom. Red-tinged leaves form large loose heads around creamy yellow-white hearts; succulent texture with mild flavor. Heirloom variety brought here by Slovenian immigrants.
Parris Island Romaine lettuce, (68 days) Crunchy, sweet leaves, pale creamy-green heart, and vigorous growth 10″ – 12″ lettuce with upright, dark green leaves, or use as cut-and-come-again baby romaine. Heat and mosaic virus tolerant.
Leaf lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson (40 days) After more than 150 years, this heirloom stands out as one of the most tender and delicately flavored varieties. Has large, crumpled, light green leaves with inner leaves blanch almost white. Withstands hot, dry conditions and light frosts.
Mizspoona Salad – (20 or 40 days) cross of Mizuna and Tatsoi gives the vigorous growth and cold hardiness of both its parents. The mild mustard flavor gives a peppery edge to salads but is softened in cooked preparations.
And of course, many, many more varieties of Broccoli, Cabbage, Eggplant, Squashes, Melons, Lettuces, Spinach, Kales, Chards etc. (Eve couldn’t help put this together this year.) see our website under Plants/Edibles
“Let food be your medicine and medicine be your food” Hippocrates
And then there is the healing that our environment is needing, that effects the bees, all the beings, our health and our children’s future. This not only relates to the necessity to ban fracking to protect our precious water and air, but also the importance of escaping from our reliance on toxic chemicals and pesticides. It is known that 85% of the 82,000
chemicals registered for use in the US have never been tested for toxicity. The average American child has more than 200 industrial chemicals in her blood. And the most effective controls for Emerald Ash Borer are nerve toxins that are lethal to bees. (see Mikl’s article on EAB under Mikl’s articles at www.HarlequinsGardens.com and call Sen. Boxer to reform the 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act : 202-224-8832)
In addition, a study by the Pesticide Research Institute found that 7 or 13 samples of garden plants sold at Home Depot and Lowe’s (and possibly most big box stores and nurseries) contained systemic neurotoxins called neonicotinoids (neonics), which have probable links to the decline of bees. These toxins remain in all parts of the plants for months to years. The European Food Safety Authority found that neonics pose an unacceptably high risk to bees.
So little Harlequin’s Gardens is already taking action. Eve began communicating with our suppliers last fall to determine which suppliers will provide us with plants free from neonicotinoids. Because they are the most widely used class of insecticides, and persist in plants so long, neonic-free plants are hard to find. But in 2014 NONE of our roses will contain neonics, and of course none of our organic veggie starts and herbs contain any chemicals, and none of the Harlequin-grown perennials contain neonics. Most of our fruit trees and berry bushes, and most of our shrubs and trees are free of neonics. We will continue to select, pressure and educate our suppliers so more of our perennials will be free from neonicotinoids. It is essential to save our bees, but also the bees are indicators of what is going on under the surface for all of us. (see www.BeeAction.org)
More people die from lack of access to clean water than from all forms of violence together. Maude Barlow
Items of Interest:
We will again be carrying seeds of grasses for low-water lawns and meadows: a Mountain Native Mix, a Foothills Native Mix, a Very Xeric Meadow Mix, plus Crested Wheat for a dry lawn, several cover-crops, and a Native Wildflower Mix. We think the “New Lawn” could be a water-saving, bird and pollinator-supporting and beautiful MEADOW. See Classes for “How to establish a Meadow” and see meadows article on our website.
SUCCULENTS: We are increasing our stock of beautiful, sculptural, low-water succulent plants that can be grown in containers (we’ll have those, too) outdoors in summer and indoors in winter.
DAHLIAS: This spring we will again carry tubers for an assortment of gorgeous dahlias grown by Arrowhead Dahlias in nearby Platteville CO !
GARDEN SCULPTURES & ORNAMENTS: For many years we’ve been searching for garden art we really liked – original, beautiful, durable, and reasonably priced. We finally found it! We’re very excited to be offering metal garden art from Charlotte and Ben Zink. These delightful, lyrical sheet-metal sculptures, made in their Front Range studio, will be available in many designs, sizes and finishes. We will post photos on our website soon. We hope that Eve will also be making more ceramic garden ‘totems’ – fun!
We will host the ‘Taste of Tomato’ festival & tasting event along with Boulder County CSU Cooperative Extension on Saturday September 6. Last year was great fun with 100 varieties to try. Bring at least 3 known tomatoes of a known variety to get in free. It will be held at the Gateway Park Fun Center 4800 28th St. in Boulder 9 am.-1pm
Research at Kansas State Univ. monitoring recovering surgery patients, found that “patients in rooms with plants required less pain relief, and they had lower ratings of pain, anxiety and fatigue, than did patients in rooms with no plants.” HortScience
HARLEQUIN’S FAVORITES:
Here are plants you are unlikely to find anywhere else. Many have survived in our low-water conditions with heat and wind, grasshoppers and rabbits for many years. They like Colorado. We take cuttings and seeds from our gardens to reproduce these sustainable plants. They are grown organically in our own potting mix, formulated to produce strong, healthy plants.
Alyssum oxycarpum-our new Favorite Plant: a low Basket of Gold, 4” high and 24” in diameter, gorgeous silver foliage summer and winter, with soft yellow flowers in spring
See them in our Groundcovers Display Garden. Harlequin’s Exclusive. Colorado-tough.
Dianthus gratianopolitanus: many selections with nicer names, but this is the most enduring dianthus in our test beds. Sweet pink, very fragrant flowers; makes a ground cover. Propagated from cuttings from our garden where it has survived sun, grasshoppers, rabbits and dry conditions for 10 years.
Dick’s Wine Veronica: Wow, wait till you see this creeping veronica 16” in diameter bloom with its rose-pink flowers. It looks fragile, but we’ve grown it for years in low water conditions. Give it water once a week to be nice. High Country Gardens copied us this year.
Teucrium sp. ‘Harlequin’s Silver’ was selected amongst our seedlings. This silver-leafed germander is a beauty; 4” high and 24” wide; purplish flowers. We have tested it in hot, dry conditions and find it needs little water. The silver leaves look beautiful summer and winter Please tell us your experience with this plant. We think it is worthy of Plant Select.
‘Clear Gold’ Thyme: “The best gold thyme” for Colorado, 4” high by 16” wide. The fragrant gold leaves become greener in summer, lavender flowers provide summer nectar for the bees . Low water in part shade. Best out of winter sun.
Keller’s Yarrow: a wonderful, heat tolerant, non-spreading yarrow; very attractive blue-green ferny foliage; clusters of white flowers provide nectar for beneficial insects. 6”x 18” wide; undemanding and enduring; low water needs. Not bothered by deer or rabbits
Sedum populifolium: has fleshy, poplar-shaped leaves, grows 8”-12” tall with some off- white flowers. Very unusual and attract form, deer-resistant, part-shade preferring
Iberis saxatilis: the evergreen candytufts are some of the most beautiful and successful plants for Colorado. Their rich evergreen foliage looks so good in winter, and blesses spring with masses of pure white flowers. This species is a dwarf, 4” high by 12” wide; propagated from our 10 year old specimen that has endured everything with grace.
Ohme Garden Thyme: a very vigorous creeping thyme with mauve-pink flowers in early summer providing herbal nectar for the bees; it forms a groundcover that suppresses many weeds.. 3”x 24”-30”; Heat tolerant, Low water; rabbits and deer are no problem
Paronychia kapela: We call this thyme-like groundcover “Tough-as-Nails” because it is more xeric than thyme and holds up better in flagstones than thyme. 1”x18”. White bracts
Jasmine Dianthus: of course you don’t know this treasure if you don’t haunt Rock Garden Societies or shop at Harlequin’s. Who would sniff a flower with a name like Dianthus petraeus noeanus? Yet the white filigree flowers have a most wonderful jasmine fragrance. A single tiny flower is enough to raise eyebrows of delight; a mature plant can lure you from 10’ away. The foliage looks grassy so be careful not to pull it out; 6”x 18”; low water needs
Reiter’s Thyme: a tough, resilient creeping thyme often grown as a groundcover or small lawn. David Salman says “…rich, olive-green foliage grows so thickly that it also chokes out most weeds.” 3”x 30”; lavender flowers in the summer for nectar for the bees. Cut off spent flowers with a hedge shear or sharp lawn mower; low water but best irrigated in summer
Veronica allioni: this is the true rock garden gem with 6” spikes of blue flowers on a 12” mat. This is not the groundcover sold under the same. Tough, low water and really cute.
Dianthus ‘Blue Hills’: a rugged, low, creeping dianthus with the most blue foliage; 3”x 12” ; very spicy fragrant pink flowers; sweet and tough in a rock garden; 3 or 4 make a mass along the front of a border or on the sunny side of a shrub. Harlequin’s Gardens brought this in from a rare-plant nursery and is propagating it from our successful plants.
HARLEQUIN’S FAVORITE SHRUBS AND TREES: both native and non-natives that have proved their value in Colorado conditions, many under Harlequin’s water restrictions. We source from local growers whose quality we trust AND we grow some in economical 2 gallon containers in our own soil mix with mycorrhizal fungi, Mikl’s compost and other organic ingredients. These shrubs know what to do when they meet real soil. Here are a few we carry
Wavyleaf Oak, Peking Cotoneaster, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Fernbush, Sungari Cotoneaster, Ephedra equisetina, Arizona Cypress, New Mexican Privet, Mock Orange-Mikl’s Selection, Euonymus Manhattan-Mikl’s Selection, Euonymus ‘Minima’, ‘Julia Jane’ Boxwood
Do you need help planting trees or shrubs that you buy at Harlequin’s Gardens? If so we have organized a planting service that will be carried out by two of our staff as part of their side-businesses. They can deliver, dig the holes and plant: put in the proper amendments, fertilizer and mycorrhizae and mulch, just as you choose. Ask at the desk for details.
HERBS AT HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS are organic and we carry both culinary and medicinal
A Sampling of Native Plants from Boulder County Seed: Preserve our native gene pool!
Helianthus pumilus-yellow daisies on dwarf yellow sunflower, 12”-20” high, xeric
Grindellia squarrosa-Gumweed: attractive yellow flowers Aug-Oct., xeric medicinal, 15”
Penstemon virens-2”x6”, short spikes of violet blue flowers; shiny, dark evergreen leaves
Gaillardia aristata-yellow and red pinwheel flowers all summer, 10”-16” high, very xeric,
Penstemon secundiflorus-bright lavender-pink flowers on 12” stems, bluish foliage, xeric
Ratibida columnifera-Prairie Coneflower; yellow or red daisies all summer, low water
Liatris punctata-purple-pink gayfeather, 12”-16” tall, late summer, xeric, butterflies
Monarda fistulosa-native bee balm, pink-purple flowers bees love, fragrant foliage, 16”
Lithospermum multiflorum-Many Flowered Puccoon, 12”-24”, funnel-like yellow flowers
Solidago rigida-Stiff Goldenrod- 16” tall stems, golden-yellow clusters of flowers, butterflies
Whether we and our politicians know it or not, Nature is party to all our deals and decisions, and she has more votes, a longer memory, and a sterner sense of justice than we do. Wendell Berry
EVENTS AND SALESMarch 1 Open for the Season: Open Fri. Sat and Sundays 9-5 Beginning April 1 Open every day 9-5; Thursdays 9-6 April 28,29, May 1, 2,3,4, Harlequin’s Gardens Annual May Day Celebration and Plant Sale. Plant Sale Monday thru Sunday; on Saturday May 3 from 10:30-11 don’t miss the Maroon Bells Morris Dancers who will bring us fertility and merriment, at 11:30 hear the very fine & lively Boulder Irish Session Band and at 1:45pm Magician Stuart Hayner will amaze us and entertain the children. On Sunday, May 4, World Laughter Day, refreshments will be served, and from 11-12:30enjoy some good old-time music with singer-songwriter-activist Elena Klaver & friends. At 1 listen to the sweet and wonderful harp of Margot Krimmel. From 2pm & throughout the day watch for Stele Earth E Man, Eco-Troubadour & children charmer August 25,26, 27,28,29,30,31 Members Fall Plant Sale Sept 1 Harlequin’s Annual Fall Plant Sale begins for everyone. This sale continues every week in September and October Sept. 6 Taste of Tomato: a tomato tasting festival; CSU Co-op Extension with Harlequin’s Gardens; Held at Gateway Park. 9-1 Bring your favorites; call/see our website for details October: open every day 9-5, the Sale continues. Closed for the Season-TBA December Holiday Market with Local Artisan Goods and Goodies every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in December |
Please subscribe to receive our newsletters by email.
We are delighted that we now have over 9,000 customers on our mailing list, but so far only 2,500 have subscribed to receive our newsletters by email. Here are some really good reasons to join our email group.
1) Receive our occasional blogs with timely garden advice and reminders, as well as news of stock arrivals, upcoming classes, special events and sales, etc. Our blog is a way we can give you detailed and up-to-date information at the time when it is relevant. 3) Save trees. 4) Help Harlequin’s Gardens to save money. We’re very happy to give you a ‘hard copy’ newsletter when you visit the nursery, or continue to mail it to you if you prefer.
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FACEBOOK : We wish you could LOVE us on Facebook, but since that’s not possible, we hope you will LIKE us. We’ve just inaugurated our Facebook page, and will be adding content as we get the hang of it. FB is a good medium for giving you real-time updates of plant and product arrivals, impromptu events like mini-classes & demos, 1-day sales, etc. and enables you to stay connected. We will use it to post photos of plants when they’re displaying their most beautiful or interesting characteristics, photos and info about beneficial insects and pests to put you on the lookout for them and help you identify and relate to them.
https://www.facebook.com/HarlequinsGardens
It ain’t what you don’t know what gets you in trouble. It’s what you know for sure, that just aint so. Mark Twain
CLASSES FOR 2014
In our classes you will learn more than information. Our teachers are people who have spent years honing their skills. Their experience in Colorado will help guide you to success. We are charging $15 for most 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 the class. Pre-payment assures your place in the class. More details at www.HarlequinsGardens.com CLASSES ARE $15 unless otherwise noted
Sat, April 5, 1pm: SEED STARTING SUCCESS with Janis Keift of Botanical Interests Seed Co. Learn all the background and tips for getting good germination and a healthy start with seeds, indoors and out. $15
Sun. April 6, 1pm: SUCCESSFUL HOME COMPOSTING with Mikl Brawner. 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 30 years. $15
Saturday April 12, 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. $15
Sun. April 13, 1pm: FLOOD RECOVERY FOR THE GARDEN with Darren Klotz & Mikl Brawner Learn how to stabilize eroded soil, use biology and organic amendments to clean up and enrich polluted ground, how to relate to trees with soil piled over the roots or soil washed off roots, etc. Bring your questions. $15
Sat. April 19, 10am: GROWING THE BEST PEPPERS with Carol O’Meara, Boulder Co. CSU Cooperative Extension. Learn how to choose and grow the best peppers for the Front Range. $15
Sat. April 19, 1 pm: BUILDING TOPSOIL & FERTILITY with Mikl Brawner. Learn 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. $15
Sunday April 20 EASTER: EASTER BONNET CONTEST-Wear a bonnet constructed only of plant materials from your own yard! PRIZES!
Sat. April 26, 10am: RAISED BEDS with Bryant Mason, the Urban Farm Co. A step by step class on how to start an easy and productive raised bed vegetable garden: soil development, bed construction, planting timing, fertilizing, weeding, harvesting and recommended crops. $15
Sat. April 16, 1pm: RAISING BACKYARD CHICKENS with Michele Bailey. Learn how to select, purchase, and care for a flock of chickens. Find out what they need and the benefits they provide. $15
Sun. April 27, 1pm: VERMICOMPOSTING with “The Worm Man” John Anderson. How to compost with worms to make a rich and plant-available soil amendment for your gardens.This has been John’s passion for many years. Worms will be available for purchase at the class for $35 plus the class fee of. $15
Sat. May 10, 10am: EDIBLE WEEDS AND WILD MEDICINALS with herbalist Emily Kallio, Forage, taste and delight in the wild foods Nature has to offer. Learn to prepare scrumptious snacks from the weeds that grew themselves. A fun and very popular class. Emily has 15 years experience working with wild plants $15
Sat. May 10, 1pm: HANDS ON CONTAINER PLANTING with Elaine Walker and Staff. Learn how to put together a beautiful and successful planter using ornamentals and/or vegetables and herbs. Choose from our planters or bring your own and our wonderful selection of plants. You will take home a completed planter for yourself or as a Mother’s Day gift. Bring a trowel and gardening gloves(or buy them here). $15+materials
Sat. May 17, 10am AND 1pm: BEES, BEES, BEES with Miles McGaughey, President of Boulder Co. Beekeepers Assn. Miles has 20 years experience keeping bees. He will talk bees then demonstrate how to work with them using our live Top Bar hive. Wear light colored clothing and avoid scented body products. $15
Sun. May 18, 1pm: SUCCESSION PLANTING with Tracey Parrish. Learn to maximize the use of your garden space & keep your vegetable garden in continual production.Tracey is expert in culinary gardening $15
Sat. May 24, 10 am: DO-IT-YOURSELF DRIP IRRIGATION with Alison Peck. Drip irrigation can be easy! It is a key part of most water conserving landscapes, but it can be intimidating. Come learn a simple, easy to design and install system which Alison has been using for years, plus new efficient sprinklers. Save money, save water, reduce weeds and have healthier plants. Alison Peck owns Matrix Gardens, which has been designing and installing sustainable landscapes in Boulder Valley for 25 years. $15
Sat. May 24, 1pm: TIPS AND 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 xeriscape experience of over 25 years has taught him tricks that will cost you a lot less than it cost him. $15
Sat. May 31, 10 am: RAINWATER ‘HARVESTING’ with Jason Gerhardt. Jason will cover the legal issues of water harvesting in Colorado and focus on what we can do to benefit from the free rain. Harvesting water in the soil, instead of in cisterns, helps us make the best possible use of our precious rainwater. Jason currently teaches a permaculture program for Naropa University and has a service: Real Earth Design $15
Sat. May 31, 1pm: BEST FRUIT TREES FOR COLORADO with Mikl Brawner Learn which varieties are successful here, which are not, and which are good flavored: Apples, Cherries, Plums, Pears, Peaches, and learn how to care for them. Mikl’s 1st orchard was in 1976. $15
Sun. June 1, 10am: MAKE YOUR OWN HYPER-TUFA TROUGH PLANTER with Tamara Winter. Dress to get dirty: bring particle mask, rubber gloves, bandana; forms provided or bring one. These planters are ideal for alpine treasures, cacti & succulents etc.; $25 includes materials for 1 trough; must pre-register
Sun. June 1, 1pm: CANADIAN ROSES with Mikl Brawner. Canadian roses are some of the most sustainable and well-adapted roses for Colorado. Grown on their own roots , they are super-hardy, disease-resistant, repeat flowering and easy. Mikl has been growing them for more than 15 years. $15
Sat. June 7, 10am: THINK GLOBALLY, GARDEN LOCALLY with Alison Peck, owner of Matrix Gardens. Just as eating locally and mindfully transforms us and our communities, we can garden with new garden designs, plants, methods, tools, seeds and materials that can bring health to us, build a green economy, reduce toxins, conserve resources and provide a better home for all life. Bring some aspect of your yard or garden that you are unhappy with, and Alison will put her 30 years of sustainable thinking to the task. Only $15
Sat. June 7, 1pm: GROOVIN’ WITH THE OLDIES with Linda Taylor. Explore the beauty, fragrance and pleasure of the old garden and heirloom roses. Every garden deserves an old rose! Linda has grown roses for over 20 years in Colorado and Montana where she had a rose nursery. $15
Sun. June 8, 1pm: MANAGING 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. $15
Sat. June 14, 10am: MEDICINALS AS ORNAMENTALS IN A XERISCAPE-A TOUR with herbalist Leslie Lewis. Tour her successful and beautiful low-water front yard in Old Town Longmont. See how she is using medicinal herbs ornamentally in a very public front yard. Leslie is a long-time practicing herbalist. $15
Sat. June 14, 10am: DAVID AUSTIN ROSES with Sharron Zaun. English Roses bred by David Austin are among the most beautiful and fragrant of all roses. Austins are hardier and easier than most Hybrid Teas, and more fragrant and beautiful than most modern shrub roses. Sharron will talk about their history, their culture and show how to incorporate them into your garden. This class will be a treat for your eyes and noses. Sharron has grown Austin Roses for over 15 years. $15
Sat. June 14, 1pm: BERRIES & SMALL FRUITS for COLORADO with Mikl Brawner. Small fruits are delicious, high in antioxidants and vitamins, take up less space & bear sooner than trees: strawberries, currants, raspberries, grapes, gooseberries. The best varieties for CO. & how to grow them. $15
Sat. June 21, 10am: NATIVE BEES with Kristina Williams. Learn about the more than 500 species of native bees in Boulder County, and how to make your garden friendly to them. Kristina is a scientist and passionate observer of insect life and of native bees in particular. Real insight into native pollinators. $15
Sat. June 21, 1pm: GARDENING for BEES, BIRDS & WILDLIFE with Alison Peck. Learn easy ways to provide food and shelter for wildlife, how to include plants that are particularly important for wildlife, and how to discourage ‘urban wildlife’, such as deer, skunks and raccoons. Alison Peck is a Landscape Designer specializing in xeriscapes, native plant landscapes and other earth-friendly landscapes: Matrix Gardens $15
Sun. June 22, 1pm: A GARDEN FOR COLORADO CONDITIONS with Eve and Mikl Brawner. Tour our most recent demonstration garden. We will discuss soil prep, the native and non-native shrubs, trees and perennials, and how the garden survived, even thrived, though it was planted in the heat of the summer. $15
Sat. June 28, 1pm: GARDENING AT HIGH ALTITUDE with Diane Badertscher Gardening above 6000’ has its own challenges. There are certain plants and certain strategies that can improve your successes. Diane lives and has gardened at 8000’for many years. No book can help you better. $15
Sat. July 12, 1pm: BASIC PLANT IDENTIFICATION with Diane Badertscher. Ever wondered what kind of tree or shrub that was? Diane can show you some ways to identify some of the more common plants. $15
Sat. July 26, 10am: 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 and create a bubble space diagram. This class could save years of redoing. $15
Sun. Aug. 10, 1 p.m.: PRUNING for STRENGTH, HEALTH & BEAUTY (offered again on Sat. 9/13) Mikl Brawner will give a talk and demonstration. Learn to train young trees, to restructure shrubs and trees broken by storms, to prune roses. Mikl has 35 years experience in pruning. $15
Sun. Aug 24, 1pm: LOW TECH GREENHOUSE DESIGN AND 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. $15
Sat. Sept. 6: FOURTH ANNUAL TOMATO TASTING see details under Event and on our website
Sun. Sept 7, 1pm: ROCK AND CREVICE GARDENING with Mike Kintgen, senior horticulturist at Denver Botanic Gardens. Learn the methods and plants to enjoy the natural, beautiful jewels of rock and crevice gardens from one of the most knowledgeable rock gardeners in the region. A rare opportunity. $15
Sun. Aug. 25, 1:30 p.m.: PRUNING for STRENGTH, HEALTH & BEAUTY with Mikl Brawner (this is a REPEAT of the August 10th class) $15
Sat. Sept 27, 10am: GARDENING AS WE AGE with Chris Woods. Interaction with Nature has many health and therapeutic benefits, especially as we age. Topics will include: modification of existing beds/areas, equipment and tools, designing for accessibility and safety, and plants that evoke sensory stimulation. Chris has a degree in Horticultural Therapy and is a Landscape Designer with Matrix Gardens. $15
MEMBERSHIP IN HARLEQUIN’S GARDENS
Membership is the solution for how a small business like ours can afford to have many display gardens. We learn best by example and by doing, so we devote land, time and plants to Demonstration Gardens that inspire and educate all of us.
We now have 8 gardens for you to enjoy and learn from. But last year our membership fell and our maintenance expenses went up, so we are hoping that this year 20-30 more people will support our gardens.
Here is our expanded current offer: Members will give us $20 for a one year membership and in direct return will receive these benefits 1)Free Harlequin’s Class of your choice, worth $15. 2) 25% discount on books all year 3) During the May Day Week get $10 off a $50 or more purchase of plants (except roses & fruit trees)
4) during May Day Week, take 10% off roses (except quarts), then 5) in August begin the fall sale a week early with 20% off most everything.
If you do not become a member, you will continue to get the same excellent plants and the same personal help in selecting the best plants for your particular situation.
However if you do become a member, your $20 will go to a good cause, creating botanic garden-like demonstration areas and educational programs not only for yourself, but for the community. If you like what we’ve been doing so far, help us to make it possible.
You can become a member anytime you are at the nursery, or mail a check for $20 to Harlequin’s Gardens, 4795 N.26th St. Boulder, CO. 80301. We will put you in our Membership file. A membership is valid until the end of the calendar year . THANK YOU TO ALL OUR MEMBERS!!!
Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you got til it’s gone. Joni Mitchell
We are very proud of our staff, who have worked with us for so many years, so to help you to get to know us and our specialties, here are our portraits.
Elaine Walker has a degree in landscape architecture with an emphasis in ecological practices. She has her own landscape design practice, and her recent work includes designing outdoor living spaces, retaining & boulder walls, water features, native and drought tolerant plantings.
Linda Taylor specializes in heirloom roses. She started and operated her own rose nursery in Montana and she knows the tough and hardy varieties. She does consulting on Horticultural Therapy and landscaping.
Diane Badertscher earned a degree in horticulture with honors, and has qualified as a Certified Colorado Nursery Professional. She specializes in trees and shrubs, especially the natives. Her 16 years of experience gardening at 8,000’ is very valuable to mountain gardeners.
Matt Patrick is trained as a CSU Master Gardener and has operated his own landscape business for the past 9 years. He was raised farming tobacco in Kentucky. He has worked for the Boulder County AIDS Project, Boulder Human Relations Comm., & Foothills United Way. He excels in recycling.
Engrid Winslow has a degree in Urban Horticulture and has taken Master Gardener training. She is a good and educated gardener, and her new greenhouse is allowing her to propagate organic veggie starts for us. Engrid makes the best jams and preserves.
Michele Bailey has worked for more than 16 years in the landscaping and nursery industries. Her special interests are perennials, natives and vegetables—especially for children. She enjoys teaching customers and she represents Harlequin’s at fairs and events. She has a garden maintenance service.
Justin Sackschewsky is very knowledgeable about bonsai and trees in general. As part of his landscaping business, he will be doing planting of trees and shrubs purchased at Harlequin’s. He has worked in other nurseries, and is a valuable addition to our production staff.
Heather Stone worked with us 7 years ago until the birth of twins called her home. She holds a certificate in clinical herbalism, and has been gardening locally for 12 years. Her special interests include herbs, vegetables and perennials. She volunteers at Coal Creek Elementary in the Garden to Table program.
Marilyn Kakudo has a degree in Biology, is a former teacher at the Culinary School of the Rockies, has assisted many small local businesses, and is an excellent gardener. Marilyn is transplanting many of our seed-grown plants in our solar greenhouse, and provides great assistance to us in many realms.
Eve Reshetnik-Brawner has always had a passion for gardening and for studying, growing and drawing plants. She has a degree in landscape architecture and over ten years of professional experience in that field. She has a special love and knowledge of roses, fragrant flowers, ornamental grasses, clematis, natives, vegetables and herbs. Eve, with Mikl, designed the rose garden at the Boulder Dushanbe Tea House. In her “spare” time she is a musician, a ceramic artist and loves to cook. Eve is available for garden consultations
Mikl Brawner got his initial training along the creeks and woods of eastern Iowa. He studied biology at the University of Iowa, then went to India with the Peace Corps. Back in America, he managed a small organic apple orchard, and started a tree care business. Studying plants, researching alternatives to pesticides, and developing a xeriscape garden led him from the tree tops to a plant nursery. Now the evolving Harlequin’s Gardens is his life-work, helping the gardening community to bring nature into their personal lives and homes using sustainable plants, materials and methods. His current passion is soil biology and soil health. Mikl is available for consultations. He was honored with the 2009 PaceSetter Award for the Environment
And we’re delighted to have occasional help from: Sharron Zaun, & Marty Crigler.
If there were an award for staff, we should get one, because our people are very knowledgeable, experienced, dedicated, conscientious, good-hearted and fun. Our staff is so good that we have borrowed the slogan from Harrell’s Hardware: “Together, we can do it yourself.”
And then there is the healing of planet earth. This is no longer a concept. Like New Orleans, New York, Somerset England and the Philippines, we have been touched by a change that is global. Author and 350.org activist Bill McKibben has said, “The atmosphere holds about 5% more water vapor than it did 40 years ago. That means we get deluge and downpour in unprecedented fashion. It is the hundred year flood every 3 or 4 years.” It may not be every 3 or 4 years in one place, but somewhere there is a disaster happening.
So we have to reduce long-distance transporting of products, rely more on renewable resources, design reuse and recycle into what we make, pay more for products that can be repaired and last longer. We need to invest in our local communities to grow food and make goods. We need to partner with Nature to build topsoil and grow nutrient-rich foods. We need to conserve water, stop poisoning our planet and invest in alternatives to planet-threatening technologies like nuclear.
Since January 2014, 300 Gigawatts of power is being produced by wind, around the world—as much as from 114 nuclear power plants. SierraClub.org
For 2 years in a row, Harlequin’s Gardens has been awarded Best Green Products and Services in the Daily Camera’s Boulder County Gold. That is because sustainability has been our goal and mission since we began 22 years ago. We have always managed the nursery organically, so we know and carry non-toxic products to help manage pests. And we carry the most organic and healthy soil products to build soil fertility naturally, plus the books, classes and advice to guide you in gardening organically.
Very Special Products for Your Benefit
Compost Tea-enriches soil, prevents disease, supports & inoculates soil life, increases plant growth and flowering. We are making our own this year from Biodynamic Compost. Local fertility: Try it!
Yum Yum Mix- 2-2-2 Vegan/Organic fertilizer for alkaline, nutrient-poor Western soils, feeds plants/microbes.Made from alfalfa, cottonseed meal, kelp meal, rock dust, green sand, humate
Mile-Hi Rose Feed: formulated specifically for Colorado soils, mostly organic, contains 12 essential nutrients and trace minerals for roses, adds organic matter, supports microorganisms. We’ve been using this for 12 years at the Boulder-Dushanbe Tea House with great results.
Biodynamic Compost Starter-speeds decomposition, adds nitrogen bacteria, helps make humus, improves mineral availability, contains 55 microorganisms, long history of success
Biodynamic Field and Garden Spray-speeds the breakdown of cover crops or sheet mulch; planting 2 – 3 weeks after spraying & turning under, or before adding to sheet mulch; 55 microbes
PlantersII-a rock dust product containing over 30 trace minerals. Use when doing soil prep. or side-dress every 2 years.Great for rock gardens, cacti, natives and vegetables, supports plant health
Menefee Humate-, natural carbon product; high concentration of trace minerals and humic acid for plant growth, development & unlocking of vital nutrients. Stimulates microorganism activity
Alpha One: locally made organic fertilizer for Colorado 7-2-2; alfalfa based with high organic matter
Greensand: organic source of 3% Potassium, holds moisture, high cation exchange capacity, contains many trace minerals, slow release over a long time
Soft Rock Phosphate: natural source of phosphorus and calcium, immediately available over a long time. Does not reduce mycorrhizae like petroleum-derived phosphorus
Corn Gluten-a truly organic weed and feed; keeps weed seeds from growing, fertilizes with 9% N
Pharm Solutions for safe pest management: this great line of USDA certified products are made from organic essential oils & other non-toxic and good smelling ingredients.
Pure Spray Green Horticultural Oil: THE best non-toxic pest management product I know; baby oil grade has no burning on leaves; smothers aphids, mites, sawflies; no harm to lady bugs, birds
Eco Skin Sunscreen: zinc oxide UV protection; no titanium dioxide, non-nano, no fragrances; good moisturizer, ideal for sensitive skin; does not sting eyes; very effective
Tulsi Tea: Organic Holy Basil Teas have many health benefits including reduced stress, support immune system, aids digestion, balances energy, anti-allergy etc. Excellent company cultivating ecology with organic/biodynamic practices while supporting social justice and dignity.
Solar Caps: Season extending device that’s a big improvement over “Wall-o-Water”. Sturdy wire frames are covered with a water-filled lining, they don’t blow over, light transmission is excellent. They can be left on all season to keep the soil warm at night, which is very beneficial for tomatoes and peppers. We planted a tomato in one April 11, it was ripe July 15.
Green Cure: non toxic cure for powdery mildew & blackspot, tomato blight, proved effective locally
Bobbex Deer Repellent-both a fertilizer and a repellent; many reports of success with this one, even in Evergreen, Colorado. Best to alternate with Liquid Fence which guarantees success. We will carry products for repelling deer and rabbits. Plantskydd- lasts twice as long as other repellants, for deer, elk, rabbits etc. 6 month dormant, 3 months in growth; rainfast in 24hrs
We cannot command Nature except by obeying her. Francis Bacon father of the scientific method
PRODUCTS to amend soils for fertility, aeration and biological health
Expanded Shale: a shale product that is mined and fired just south of Boulder to create a porous, light “gravel” that holds both water and air, and creates optimal housing for microorganisms. Aids in water penetration of tight clay soils (a Real claybuster).Texas A&M recommends using 3” expanded in the top 6” of soil. (or mixing 10%-20% by volume). It does not break down, so it holds soil structure and reduces watering needs for a long time.
Composts hold water when mixed in soil supporting plants and support soil life which both bring water to plants and support them nutritionally. We carry: EcoGro-locally made from landscape and beer wastes, Mushroom-by-product of local organic mushroom farm; Eko Compost-made locally from egg-laying chicken manure and wood wastes, Western Grow-made from local landscape wastes and food wastes; Dairy Cow-from low salt Dairy Cow manure and bedding
Mycorrhizal inoculants: multiplying the microorganisms especially the beneficial fungi mycorrhizae, supports a system for bring water beyond the reach of roots, to the plants and supporting their nutritional health, helping with stress.
Special Soil Products:
Biosol-an OMRI certified fertilizer that is 90% fungal biomass, 6-1-1, made from organic soybean meal, org. cottonseed meal, sucrose, lactose and trace minerals; holds water and stimulates soil life; without salt, non-burning, weed-free
Maxfields Organics: new local company making premium soil mixes without peat from high quality ingredients: compost, coir, expanded shale, alfalfa fertilizer, rice hulls, biochar and beneficial microorganisms.
Maxfields Soil Conditioner-for amending clay soils and building raised beds
Maxfields Planting Mix-for filling planter boxes and large containers, like Earth Boxes (better than Eko Potting Soil that we carried last year?) And for topdressing vegetable gardens and planting trees and shrubs.
Mulches keep water from evaporating and keep the soil cooler. We prefer mulches that also add nutritional value (unlike redwood and cedar which repel microorganisms) like: Fine Wood Chips, Soil Pep-partially composted bark, EZ Mulch-paper granules that are spread over newly seeded lawns or meadow helping germination
Water-absorbing Polymers: Hydrosource: a water absorbing polymer used as a soil amendment to help establish plants and save water; lasts 8 years in soil. OSHA says nonhazardous; Not OMRI Okd; Plant roots like it. Soil Moist-starch-based: organic-based water-absorbing gel made from cornstarch. More costly than Hydrosource but natural; effective for 3 years; said to release water to soil faster; has good value in helping to establish plants, reduce watering in containers; recommended for veggie gardens
In Addition:
Row Cover: light weight fabric over plants keeps them cooler when it’s hot, warmer when it’s cold; protects from bugs& critters; helps keep seed moist to get started. Loop Hoops hold the fabric up for air circulation
POTTING SOILS:
Maxfield’s Potting Soil-for transplanting seedlings, small containers, (for seed starting?)
Good Karma Potting Soil (formerly Gordon’s) made from 25% earthworm castings for healthy plants, good growth, resistance to diseases; great for top-dressing house plants or growing veggies
Fox Farm Potting Soils: these are peat based, but we were searching for improved potting soils and all three of these performed well in our tests. They do contain earthworm castings and beneficial microorganisms.
Ocean Forest Potting Soil-their top grade with kelp meal, bat guano, crab & fish: nutrient rich: performed well
Coco Loco Potting Soil –made from Coco fiber instead of peat, looks good, we’re trying it this year
Light Warrior Seed Starting Mix- peat, perlite, humic acid & microbes; Mikl was skeptical, but it worked well
Home-grown Fruit: Harlequin’s Gardens has won Best Tree Nursery 2 years in a row.
One of our specialties is fruiting plants that are adapted to Colorado conditions. All the apples we carry are resistant to fireblight and good-tasting. And the cherries we sell are all proven successful in Colorado. Our grapes are the most hardy of any you will find, delicious fresh, in juice and a few are good for wine. And we have productive & good tasting currants, gooseberries, blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, etc. See May classes and see Edibles (under Plants) on our website for varieties available in 2014. Limited quantities on some varieties. Here are a few especially good ones:
Caroline Raspberry: large, delicious red raspberries are heavy producers over a long period. Proven successful in Colorado, especially if mowed in spring and harvested late August into Fall. Disease resistant. Better than Heritage except under hot & dry conditions
Tasti-Berry Gooseberry: a cross between a black currant and a gooseberry. Is thornier than the currant and sweeter too. Ranked “most delicious” at taste tests at Ft. Collins Wholesale Nursery. 3’-4’ high and wide; an easy-to-grow home fruit, fruits annually
White Imperial Currant: Loose clusters of beautiful, white, translucent fruit said to be “the richest and sweetest flavor of all currants.” Ripens in mid-July; very old variety hardy to zone 3; 4’x4’.
Crandall Clove Currant: one of the best home-fruit plants for our region, produces volumes of large, black currants every year; the taste is both tart and sweet and good to eat off the bush or made into tarts, pies, jams or on vanilla ice cream. 5X Vitamin C of oranges, high in anti-oxidants. 5’x5’. Very fragrant golden flowers in the spring; red-orange fall color
Cortland Apple: from 1915; fine-grained, crisp, juicy; very good for fresh eating, excellent in pie and apple cider; slow to brown in salads; good fireblight resistance; harvest in Sept.; 12’-20’ on standard rootstock, Hardy to –40 degrees F.
We will carry several good apple varieties, some unusual one in limited quantities
Mount Royal Plum- dark purple plums with yellow flesh, tender, juicy and sweet for fresh eating, jam preserves, drying and canning. Self-fertile, natural semi-dwarf
Green Gage Plum (“Reine Claude”): from the 1500s; small fruit that is “sweet as honey” highly prized in Europe for dessert quality, good cooked too. Easy to grow; small, low-branched tree is good for kids; very hardy; 12’-15’; does not need a pollinator
Bali Cherry: Natural dwarf tree to 12’ with 1” dark red sweet-tart fruit; good for fresh eating when ripe and for baking. Extremely hardy (-50 degrees F) High yielding. Tough
Strawberries: We are carrying many good varieties, each for good reasons. Ft. Laramie,
Tristar, Alexander Alpine, Earliglow.
ROSES: We are known far and wide for our selection of sustainable roses and for our expertise in helping people choose the best varieties for their gardens and landscapes. We sell roses on their own roots not grafted, which makes them more cold hardy, longer lived, with more flowers. Most of our roses are disease-resistant and very hardy and none should need spraying with toxic pesticides. The Boulder-Dushanbe Teahouse Rose Garden is an example of our roses in action for the past 16 years. We do sell popular varieties like the ‘Knock Out’ roses, but many we carry are far superior to the highly advertised latest craze, including:
John Davis-super cold-hardy Canadian shrub or climber to 7’ with rich medium pink, beautifully formed flowers. Really tough in wind and even poor soil. Disease resistant and excellent repeat flowering. We have tested this rose for over ten years. Very easy.
Abraham Darby-a David Austin Rose with a very strong fruity fragrance and very double and large pink-salmon-apricot flowers. Two specimens at the Dushanbe Teahouse have proven their adaptability to Colorado conditions over the last ten years. Wonderful, 5’ shrub
‘Darlow’s Enigma’-this excellent rose is an enigma, because it is the only rambler that blooms repeatedly through the year. Long, flexible canes grow to 10’ or more as a climber, has sweetly fragrant small single white flowers in great masses, is cold hardy and has very small, attractive hips in the fall. It tolerates shade and is easy to grow
Excellent Tools: unbendable trowel, sharp hand pruners and loppers, saws, West County Gloves, ergonomic spades, garden forks, trowels & rakes and more.
Landscape Consultations: This year, Eve and Mikl will only be available for consultations from Midsummer. Call to Schedule 303-485-7715.
All spiritual traditions recognize that when we serve the needs of others, beyond our own self-interests, we are being good. Then we are connecting with the natural ground of goodness that is in all of us. So it is up to us to heal ourselves, each other, the wide diversity of beings including plants, and our rare and precious planet. Global Climate Change, the internet and other factors are expanding our awareness. The tide is turning. Sincerely,
Mikl Brawner & Eve Reshetnik-Brawner
If you did not get our big Get a Jump on Spring postcard, it is because our records think that you have not visited us in the last 7 years, and therefore we will remove you from our mailing list. If this is wrong, please let us know and we will keep you on our list.
When Pete Seeger was 94, he did an interview on Democracy Now where he retold Jesus’ Parable of the Sower: “The sower scatters seeds. Some seeds fall in the pathway and get trampled on, and don’t grow. Some fall on the rocks and they don’t grow. But some seeds fall on fallow ground, and they multiply a thousand-fold. Who knows where some good little thing that you’ve done, may bring results years later that you never dreamed of.”