Colleen Smith
Colleen Smith writes and gardens in Denver.
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Compost happens. But how can you take advantage of it in your own garden?
Composting is an easy way to do a good turn for the planet and boost the soil vitality in your garden.

Birding for science: Denver Field Ornithologists is leading a citizen-science initiative in the heart of the city
Denver Field Ornithologists is leading a citizen-science initiative in the heart of the city, hoping to focus their 400-plus members’ binoculars on the breeding, nesting and fledging habits of wading...

Pros offer tips for starting your own seeds to save time and money in the garden
Starting your own seeds, or dividing plants already in your garden, can save time and -- and a lot of money.

Where science and art meet: Botanic Gardens’ illustration classes help students find beauty in details
Denver Botanic Gardens' award-winning botanic art program teaches students how to create illustrations of flowers, fungi and other plants that are both scientifically accurate and aesthetically pleasing.

2017 is the Year of the Pansy, and Colorado gardeners have reason to love the little flowers
In Denver, pansies and violas (their cousins with smaller flowers) can weather three seasons.

Composting in an apartment: What you need to know
Green up your small space. Here's how you can compost even if you live in a studio apartment.

Lifescape Associates’ $250,000 landscaping project at Polo Club home wins grand prize
When the owners of property in Denver’s Polo Club neighborhood scraped an existing house to build their dream home, the trees on the lot dictated the design.

Shine on in winter’s dark days with ice candles
In the dead of winter, ice candles add life, grace and luminosity to the darkest days of our year. This northern European tradition combines the opposing elements of fire and...

Your garden doesn’t have to be dreary in winter. Here’s how to enliven your outdoor spaces now.
During this transitional time in the garden, a few tweaks will extend the enjoyable outdoor living season well into Colorado’s winter. The trick lies in feathering your outdoor nest enough...

Bonnie Raitt “the Great” radiant at Red Rocks
Bonnie Raitt could make a crowd cry just by singing the ABCs.