READ IT
Hail hellebores
Hellebores are among the most popular garden plants worldwide. And no wonder: They are beautiful, hardy and easy to care for. Many love shade. Thanks to years of breeding, the colors are more intense, the range more dramatic. “Hellebores: A Comprehensive Guide,” by C. Colston Burrell and
Judith Knott Tyler (Timber Press, $34.95), walks you through the myths, mysteries and myriad subspecies. A member of the buttercup family, hellebore flowers lack true petals: Five sepals create the show. You can even determine colors of future generations by plucking “flowers” that aren’t up to par.
BUY IT
Seats set in stone
Dwayne Cranford is used to having his functional art compared to something the Flintstones might have used. He’s also used to the “oohs” and “cools” he hears as people view his work, then take a seat, which is planned for comfort. Stone 2 Furniture of Livermore uses rock native to Colorado for many seating arrangements, along with polished magma and jade. Frames are made from salvaged steel, especially old plow discs. Three-piece sets begin at $2,500. Along with bar and bistro sets, Cranford also crafts chaise lounges, benches, swivel chairs and large tables. For information, visit Stone2Furniture.com or call 970-407-8991. You can also see Cranford’s work at the Eighth Annual Downtown Denver Festival of Arts, set May 26-29 at the Denver Pavilions.
TIP
Botanic sale’s “Altitude”
Denver Botanic Gardens’ annual plant sale is next weekend with a focus on “Gardening With Altitude.” Hundreds of varieties of plants will be available for purchase. So will the Gardens’ just-published book, “Gardening With Altitude: Cultivating a New Western Style.” The book ($29.95) documents what it takes to make the 23-acre area come alive. The sale is 10 a.m.-6 p.m. (members only 8:30-10 a.m.) Friday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. (members only 8:30-10 a.m.) Saturday. Admission is free, and proceeds benefit education programs at the Botanic Gardens.
The Plant Sale Preview & Garden Party fundraiser will be Thursday evening. Shopping and cocktails are at 4:30 p.m., followed by an indoor garden picnic at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $75.
For information, visit botanicgardens.org or call 720-865-3500.
Have a gardening tip to share with others? Send it to GROW, c/o Cynthia Pasquale, The Denver Post, 1560 Broadway, Denver, CO 80202, or cpasquale@denverpost.com. Include name, address and phone number. If we use your tip, we’ll send you a gardening book as a thank-you.
PLANT IT
Made in the shade
The lungworts are ideal plants for partly shaded gardens in the lean soils of our region. Their delicate blue and pink flowers appear in April and May on 6-inch stems. As the flowers fade in May, handsome green leaves with silvery spots appear. The showy foliage looks great all summer and is much less prone to slug damage than Hostas. Combine Lungwort, including Pulmonaria “Roy Davidson” (shown) with the cheery yellow flowers of Marsh Marigold (Caltha palustris) or Leopard’s Bane (Doronicum sp.)
– Kelly Grummons, Timberline Gardens
