Classes

Class Time: 1 pm 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 honey bees, 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 honey bees and provide a great way to introduce children to the world of pollinators. Harlequin’s will have filled straws (containing male and female adult bees in hibernation) for sale for $12. IMPORTANT: You must RESERVE your Mason Bee straws IN ADVANCE by calling Harlequin’s Gardens at 303-939-9403. Pre-payment of $12.00 is required. Class cost: $20 This class also offered 3/15, 3/21 and 3/22

Class Time: 1 pm Free - No Registration FREE CLASS Limited to First 20 people who arrive Amy Scanes-Wolfe spent seven years farming on the East Coast before returning to her Colorado roots. After two years working at Harlequin's and with Boulder County Parks and Open Space, she now runs a micro-farming/landscaping business, Left Hand Landscaping, and helps facilitate the Boulder Permaculture Design Course. PermaCulture is a design science that uses nature as a model for building resilient systems. Join us to learn about the core principles of PermaCulture and how we can use them to create abundance in our backyards and communities. We will touch on designing perennial polycultures, techniques for storing water in our landscape, integrating animals, and working with our high, dry, unpredictable climate.

Class Time: 10 am 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 honey bees, 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 honey bees and provide a great way to introduce children to the world of pollinators. Harlequin’s will have filled straws (containing male and female adult bees in hibernation) for sale for $12. IMPORTANT: You must RESERVE your Mason Bee straws IN ADVANCE by calling Harlequin’s Gardens at 303-939-9403. Pre-payment of $12.00 is required for Mason Bees. Class cost: $20

Class Time 1pm Free Class for beginning and established beekeepers, alike! Come join us in the Bee Barn and learn how to build and crosswire your frames and take a tour of our beekeeping supplies. Harlequin's is upgrading frames and foundation to be as strong as they can be and still use beeswax. Our resident entomologist and Bee Barn Manager, Kristina Williams, will share her vast knowledge with you in a fun and informal setting!

Class Time: 1 pm 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 honey bees, 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 honey bees and provide a great way to introduce children to the world of pollinators. Harlequin’s will have filled straws (containing male and female adult bees in hibernation) for sale for $12. IMPORTANT: You must RESERVE your Mason Bee straws IN ADVANCE by calling Harlequin’s Gardens at 303-939-9403. Pre-payment of $12.00 is required for Mason Bees. Class cost: $20

Class Time: 10 am We are proud to present acclaimed Colorado 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 our region, 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 Time: 1 pm 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 honey bees, 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 honey bees and provide a great way to introduce children to the world of pollinators. Harlequin’s will have filled straws (containing male and female adult bees in hibernation) for sale for $12. IMPORTANT: You must RESERVE your Mason Bee straws IN ADVANCE by calling Harlequin’s Gardens at 303-939-9403. Pre-payment of $12.00 is required for Mason Bees. Class cost: $20

Class Time: 1 pm Mimi Yanus was growing flowers and vegetables for Farmers’ Markets and a CSA before we were lucky enough to get her to come work in our retail operations. She still loves to garden and has plans for another big garden this year, if you do too then this class is for you.  If you are new to Colorado, new to vegetable gardening, or just want to improve the results of your earlier attempts please join us. Learn what you need to know to make your organic vegetable garden successful and bountiful, even in Colorado’s sometimes bizarre and challenging conditions! This class will be offered twice more in April but the early bird gets the organic worm.

Class Time: 1 pm Mikl Brawner, Co-Owner and Founder of Harlequin's Gardens, has devoted much of his life to understanding natural systems and promoting ecological practices. David Montgomery, geologist at the University of Washington, estimates "we are now losing about 1 percent of our topsoil every year to erosion, most of this caused by agriculture." In this class Mikl will teach how home gardens can counter that trend and with organic methods add fertility to our gardens instead of problematically adding nitrogen to our waterways. He  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.