MARCH IN FOR OUR MARCH CLASSES!
We have a great line-up for you!
Hello! Harlequin’s Gardens will soon be opening our doors for another exciting season of gardening! Our opening day will be Friday, March 1, and throughout the month, we’ll be open 4 days a week: from 9 am to 5 pm on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.
In March, we will be well-stocked with seeds, and asparagus roots, onion starts and potato seed will be arriving. We
continue to offer the best products for improving the health of your
plants and soil, filling your containers and vegetable beds. As the
month progresses, we’ll start bringing in our Organic Vegetable starts
for cool-season crops, as well as our ‘grown tough’ cold-hardy
perennials, shrubs, trees, and vines.
Our weekends are loaded with great classes you won’t want to miss! Our customers tell us that our classes have given them tremendous value, with practical and current information from local experts who
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. 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. See the complete March Class listing below, or on our website.
MARCH CLASS LIST
Call 303-939-9403 to reserve your seat!
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 1 pm.)
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. 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.
We have rented a bigger space than our classroom, but people will have to register ahead of time to make sure they get a seat. Clark’s class will be held at the Boulder Circus Center, next door to Harlequin’s Gardens, south in the big metal building in the Trixie Room. Register by phone at 303-939-9403. This will be a 2 hour class and we will be charging only $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 10 am.)
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. (Note: this class is a repeat of Tom’s March 2 class.)
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. (Photo credit: HGTV.com)
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! (Photo credit, right: Red Hot Pepper)
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. (Photo credit, left: ColdHardCactus.com)
AVAILABLE POSITIONS
We Would Love for You to Join Our Team!
Our nursery provides a busy, fun and stimulating work environment. We’re looking for positive, energetic and dedicated folks
who love plants, love people, learn fast, and are dedicated to an
organic approach; earth-minded folks who would like to be part of a
successful eco-nursery with a great reputation, contributing to our
continued success and to the education and sustainable success of our
gardening community. Significant experience in nursery
or other plant-related work and/or studies is greatly preferred.
Positions involve energetic outside work and are great opportunities to
learn in a friendly, healthy atmosphere. We carry many unusual
plants and products, and we will provide training and many learning
opportunities. Among our specialties are Natives, Xeriscape plants,
Pollinator-supporting plants, Hardy Roses, superior soil amendments, and
an astonishing selection of organic vegetable and herb starts.
Please take a look at the positions we are offering,
and if any of them sounds like a good fit for you, please respond as
soon as possible by sending your resume to Staff@nullHarlequinsGardens.com or call 303-939-9403. If
you know someone who may be interested but is not on our email list, go
ahead and forward this message to them. To become more familiar with
our nursery and specialties, view our website.
FULL-TIME ASSISTANT TO MIKL
This key position will be to help to Mikl, our co-owner, be more effective. This position involves organic plant and pest management, as well as some construction and deliveries. This position involves energetic outside work and is a great opportunity to learn in a friendly, healthy atmosphere.
FULL-TIME PROPAGATION & PRODUCTION ASSISTANT
Get your hands dirty! As an aid to our propagator, Gary Meis, this position will involve the propagation and production of organic perennials and shrubs. This position involves energetic outside work and is a great opportunity to learn in a friendly, healthy atmosphere.
FULL or PART-TIME GARDEN MAINTENANCE position for person with some Horticulture/ Nursery/ Gardening experience
Outdoor work; duties include maintenance of display gardens and non-toxic pest
management of container plant stock (weeding, cleaning, fertilizing,
pest-control applications, some watering, planting, soil prep). Requires
reliability, efficiency, good communication & record-keeping
skills, attention to detail, desire to learn, physical exertion.
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We’re looking forward to seeing you when we open on Friday, March 1! In March we are open every Thursday-Sunday, 9-5.
In gratitude,
Eve, Mikl
and the super hard-working Staff at Harlequin’s Gardens