POLLINATOR MONTH and TWO SPECIAL SALES !!

Pollinator Month

The month of June is Pollinator Month in Boulder, and June 18-24 is National Pollinator Week. Harlequin’s Gardens is here to help you celebrate in a variety of ways!

PLANTS

The best way to support pollinators is to provide safe forage and habitat.

First, our plants are all neonicotinoid-free. Neonicotinoids are systemic insecticides that circulate through the entire plant, including nectar and pollen, which are collected by bees for food. Bees, with their fuzzy bodies and need for pollen for their baby-food are the best pollinators.

Second, our plants are adapted to our local environment. This means that they’re ‘happier’ here and require less chemical and water input. We carry many plants from ground covers to trees, among them Nepeta (catmint) and Helianthus (sunflower), that will provide for pollinators in general, as well as some plants visited by bee specialists, for example Sphaeralcea ( mallow) and Oenothera (evening primrose) (Pictured left). Even our own-root roses, selected for our climate and soils, are good for pollinators. As a rule of thumb, if you can see the stamens, so can the bees.

Ask for our pollinator plant lists to help you shop, or prepare in advance by visiting our website “Plants for Bees and other Pollinators” and “Plants for Pollinators List”.

PICTURED POLLINATOR PLANTS:

Top Row: Tiger Swallowtail on Larkspur, Seseli gummiferum (Moon Carrot), Native bee on Showy Milkweed
Second Row: Genista lydia (Dwarf Golden Broom), Allium ‘Millenium’, Achillea (Yarrow)

Third Row: Origanum ‘Kent’s Beauty, Native bee on native Gaillardia, Gallardia aristata

Fourth Row: Asclepias curassavica (Milkweed), Sambucus nigra (Elderberry), Dictamnus albus (Gas Plant)

WEEKEND CLASSES

We’ll feature pollinators in our classes too where you can learn how to support the important role of bees, birds, butterflies, bats and beetles in pollinating our lovely flowers, native plants, fruits, and veggies.

SATURDAY

Saturday morning at 10 AM, our own Queen Bee, Kristina Williams, orchestrates a Honey Bee Meet and Greet where you can see the inside of a working honey bee hive! (Long pants and sleeves recommended.)

This is followed at 1 PM by our (Free!) and very special Habitat Hero Wildscaping 101 class. Here Laura Somers helps you to view gardens as a bird does when seeking shelter, food and nesting opportunities. A wealth of knowledge for a fantastic price!

SUNDAY

Kristina returns on Sunday morning at 10 AM to share info on our most important, and perhaps underrated, pollinators: Colorado Native Bees. She will tell you about our local species, where and how they nest, and their integral role in our ecosystem. (Photo left: Native bee on Phacelia tanacetifolia.)

Then at 1 PM, Mikl teaches us how to Manage Garden Pests Without Using Poisons – increasingly important techniques in our evolving world. Mikl has over 30 years of non-toxic gardening experience and wisdom to share!

We’re so proud to be offering these important classes and hope to see you there this weekend! As always, pre-registration is appreciated and highly recommended for all classes with a quick call to 303-939-9403.

SUPPLIES

This year our Bee Barn offers supplies for cultivating some of the Front Range’s 500+ species of native bees as well as the better known European honey bee.

This is the month to start making serious plans for the health of your honey bees. Varroa mite levels will climb steeply in July, but we have the tools to monitor them and ways to knock them down before they knock your bees down. European Foulbrood has been rearing its ugly head too. We carry easy-to-use diagnostic kits to determine whether your bees have it and will need to be seen by a vet.

NATIVE BEES

Honey bees aren’t practical for everyone, but our native, mostly solitary bees did ALL of the bee-pollinating in the Americas before the introduction of honey bees from Europe in the 1600s. They love our weather, soils and native plants. And we love them! This year we’re excited to add a selection of products to help you culture some of these gentle hole nesting bees where you live, including mason bees and leafcutter bees. Did you know that re-using old nesting tubes or blocks drilled with holes can promote diseases and parasites? We’ve partnered with Crown Bees to bring you responsible, sustainable, clean culture methods, based on the needs of the bees.

Here’s a sample of the items we’re offering at a special 20% discount during Pollinator Week, June 18-24!!

Native Bee Chalet

For placing nesting tubes for the current season and an attic for placing the previous season’s bees to emerge in the current season.

Reusable cardboard mason bee tubes with disposable paper liners

For those interested in spring mason bees in particular. Pollinator Pack: Tubes in an assortment of sizes and materials provide nesting holes for a variety of our native bees.

Native Bee Guide Booklet

A brief introduction to just some of the bee species that may nest in your native bee house.

The Mason Bee Revolution book

For those who are seriously into mason bees, early season pollinators.

For more information about Pollinator Partnership, visit their website where you’ll also find additional Programs, Resources and Events.

AFTER the RAIN SALE! PLANT NOW and SAVE!

Come in Friday, June 22 through Thursday, June 28 for these beautiful, useful and successful plants, including 2-gallon roses and shrubs!! And find Surprise sale items while you’re here.

Cercocarpus ledifolius, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly $26)
Large broadleafed evergreen shrub/small tree (12-20’ x 9-12’) native to the Southwest and Western foothills. Upright growth habit and small lance-shaped, dark green, leathery leaves with edges that curl under. White, fuzzy, curled “seed tails” in fall are both attractive and unusual. Grows well in full sun in low fertility, well-drained soil. Zone 4. Low water. Deer resistant.

Cercocarpus montanus, 2-gallon at $16 (regularly $26)
Native shrub (6-9’ x 3-6’) with dark gray-green, deeply veined leaves. Inconspicuous flowers produce fuzzy, twisted “seed tails” in fall, providing interest through the winter. This xeric plant grows here in our foothills, and thrives in full sun and well-drained soil. Zone 2.

Cotoneaster multiflora, 2-gallon at $16 (regularly $26)
Little known and underused cotoneaster (pronounced: co-tow-nee-aster), with small white flowers in spring that mature to bright red fruit in fall. A large shrub (8-10’ x 10-12’) with graceful arching branches. Native to China. Zone 4. Plant in full sun with low-moderate water.

Ligustrum vulgare Cheyenne Privet, 2-gallon at $16 (regularly $26), #5 at $29 (regularly $39)
An upright, rapid grower with dark green foliage and fragrant clusters of small white flowers in early summer. Takes shearing well which makes this an excellent, reliable shrub for screens and hedges. Grows to 9-12’ x 3-6’ Plant in full sun to part shade with low-moderate water. Zone 3

Lodense Privet, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly $26)

Very compact, dense, upright slow-growing shrub with glossy green foliage that holds on late into the season. Loose clusters of white flowers in early summer produce shiny black (possibly poisonous) fruit. Excellent as a low hedge. No significant fall color (yellow). Some potential for stem dieback during severe winters. Full sun to part shade. Zone 4.

Purple Lilac, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly $26)

Stout branches form an upright, vase-shaped shrub (10-12′ x 10-12′) producing fragrant purple flowers in large, pyramidal clusters in mid-spring. Leaves are thick and heart-shaped, with a lustrous blue-green color. Tolerant of alkaline soil and drought conditions. Zone 2.

Goldflame Spirea, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly $26)

The spring foliage of this 2-3′ x 2-3′ shrub is bright gold with red tips, turning gold-green in summer. Coppery-orange fall color. Dark pink flower clusters in summer. Terrific accent or border plant with many accenting color changes throughout the season. Zone 4.

Physocarpus opulifolius ‘Nana’ (Dwarf Ninebark), 2-gallon at $20 (regularly $26)

Attractive plant with small green leaves on a dense, (4-6′ x 4-6′) bushy form. White flowers in May to June are followed by reddish seed heads. Useful as a hedge plant. Zone 2.

Golden Rain Tree, 2-gallon at $30 (regularly $35)

Drought-tolerant, 35′ tall, ornamental tree with clusters of yellow flowers in the summer followed by Chinese lantern-like pods.

Siberian Pea Shrub, 2-gallon at $22 (regularly at $27)

An adaptable, tough, super-hardy shrub that resists deer, withstands heat and cold, sun or part shade, moderate or low water. Makes an excellent screen or hedge. The stems are an attractive bright green and have some spines, and foliage is finely textured. Pea-like yellow flowers in spring are followed by red-brown pods that make nutritious food for chickens. 10-15′ tall, zone 2.

Acer tataricum (Tatarian Maple), 2-gallon at $30 (regularly at $36)

Has those pretty red winged seed pods, like ‘Hot Wings’. 15′ tall, alkaline and drought-tolerant.

Crataegus ambigua (Russian Hawthorn), 3-gallon at $40 (regularly at $48)

A small, attractive, broad-headed tree with medium green, deeply lobed foliage. Masses of white flowers appear in late May, becoming abundant 1/2″ brilliant red fruits in mid- to late summer. Can be single or multi-trunked. Full sun. Drought-resistant. 15′ x 15′, zone 3.

Euonymus fortunei Minima, 1-gallon at $5 (regularly at $17)

Evergreen vine to 10′. Small leaves, drought-tolerant, and tough.

Hardy Boxwoods ‘Julia Jane’ and ‘Saskatoon’, 1-gallon at $15 (regularly at $20)

3’x3′ compact evergreen shrubs for shade. Low-water, deer-resistant.

Roses:
2-gallon Roses in the Sale area are $20 (regularly $26) unless otherwise marked.

Baltimore Belle Climbing Rose, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly at $26)

10′ climber with double, light-pink to white, sweetly fragrant flowers in the spring. Vigorous and tough.

Martin’s Pink Climbing Rose, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly at $26)

The beautiful, soft pink, double flowers are fragrant. A vigorous, 10′ rambler. Spring-blooming.

Darlow’s Enigma Shrub rose, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly at $26)

This 8-10′ x 6′ rose produces large quantities of small, white, very fragrant single blooms. Good repeat.

The Gift Shrub rose, 2-gallon at $20 (regularly at $26)

3′ x 4′, clouds of small white flowers. Profuse-blooming. Tough as nails!

FREE package of mycorrhizae with every purchase over $50!

Classes List

We offer empowering classes with great teachers throughout the season. Coming soon will be more of our class offerings. Our teachers have spent years honing their skills in Colorado and will help guide you to success. We are charging $15 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. Pre-registration is appreciated and highly recommended for all classes with a quick call to 303-939-9403. (This list is also available on our website.)

Sat, Jun 23 at 10 AM – HONEY BEE MEET & GREET with Kristina Williams

Have you ever watched bees coming out of a knot hole 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 honey bees 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. $15

**Sat, Jun 23 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!)

Sun, Jun 24 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. $15

Sun, Jun 24 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. $15

Future Classes:

Sun, Jul 15 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. $15

Sat, Jul 21 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. $15

Sun, Aug 5 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. 16.) $15

Sat, Aug 25 from 10 AM to 1 PM – SEVENTH ANNUAL TASTE OF TOMATO

Don’t miss our 8th annual ‘Taste of Tomato’ festival & tasting event along with Boulder County CSU Cooperative Extension! There are always exciting new varieties to taste and learn about. The location is not yet decided. Check our website for details and entry information.

Sat, Aug 25 at 1 PM – GARDENING WITH MUSHROOMS – THE MAGIC OF MYCELIUM w/ Zach Hedstrom

Join Zach for a class about the many ways you can incorporate mushrooms and fungi in your garden and lifestyle. You will learn the basic techniques for growing mushrooms, how to encourage fungal activity in your soil, and about the health-giving properties that you can experience from eating more mushrooms! $15

Sun, Aug 26 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. $15

Sun, Sep 9 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. $15 (Photo Credit: The Rock Place)

Sat, Sep 15 at 1 PM – FORAGING ROCKY MOUNTAIN MUSHROOMS: 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. A good class for beginners as well as those who have done some foraging before. $15

Sun, Sep 16 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 5.) $15

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We’re looking forward to seeing you this week!

In gratitude,
Eve, Mikl and the super hard-working Staff at Harlequin’s Gardens

Pollinator Month and Two Special Sales

POLLINATOR MONTH and TWO SPECIAL SALES !!