As you might be aware, El Paso County and much of Colorado is seeing an uptick in mountain pine beetle (MPB) activity. MPB is a native insect that usually attacks weaker trees as part of a natural cycle of forest renewal. However, MPB can switch from endemic levels to outbreak levels. Parts of the county,…
âNow, let me see … Thereâs the large carpet in the main hall. Clean it! And the windows, upstairs and down. Wash them! Oh yes. And the tapestries and the draperies. Do them again! And donât forget the garden. And scrub the terrace, sweep the halls and the stairs, clean the chimneys, and of course…
Itâs not too late to start waking up to the sound of bird calls in the morning. And itâs not too early to prep your garden to entice birds this coming spring. In Colorado, 519 species of birds have been documented as of September 2022, according to the Colorado Bird Records Committee of Colorado Field…
Septemberâs splendor is arriving in our gardens. By now, most vegetables have matured and are continuing to produce and most flowers have shown the same. Days are noticeably getting shorter, and the nights are getting cooler. Hereâs a look at tasks that await in the day ahead. Early September ⢠Now is a good time…
When one thinks of using herbs, it is usually for medicinal or culinary purposes. However, whether you have a large garden area or only a few planter boxes and a hodge-podge of pots, you also can enjoy the bounty of your gardening efforts in refreshing, flavorsome summertime beverages. ⢠Basil: Part of the mint family,…
It seems like a dream solution. No more watering, mowing, fertilizing, aerating or raking. Seems environmentally friendly, saves water. Best of all it is green all year! If you think this is a great solution, there are a couple of things you might want to think about before replacing your turf with plastic carpeting (aka…
All of the sudden, you see them. They might be taking over bare spots between plants, or even under them. They can grow in the spaces between brick or paver pathways. They sprawl out at astonishing speed. Prostrate or spotted spurge (Euphorbia maculata) is a very low-growing plant, native to Eastern North America. The entire…
Understanding the grasshopper life cycle can help explain why we are seeing high numbers of grasshoppers and why they are so difficult to manage. Grasshopper embryos begin to develop within eggs immediately after they are deposited by adults and they must reach a certain stage of development before entering a period of dormancy in the…
