Each summer, the town celebrates the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival, 10 days of guided hikes, photography workshops and garden tours honoring a place officially designated the Wildflower Capital of Colorado. But you don’t have to make the drive to the Elk Mountains to experience the beauty of wildflowers. With a little planning and the right know-how, you can create a piece of Colorado’s wildflower bounty right outside your door.

Getting started: Think like a Colorado meadow

The first instinct of many new wildflower gardeners is to scatter a “meadow mix” bag from the hardware store or gift shop and wait for magic. The reality is a bit more nuanced but not dramatically more difficult. Wildflowers are, after all, survivors. They have thrived for millennia across Colorado’s plains, foothills and high country without human intervention. Your job is simply to give them conditions close enough to what they need.

Start by choosing your site. Most wildflowers need full sun, at least six hours a day, and well-drained soil. This suits most of Colorado’s landscape well. Overly rich, heavily amended soil actually works against you, encouraging leafy growth at the expense of blooms and giving an advantage to weeds. Colorado wildflowers are designed for lean conditions, and our naturally thin, low-nutrient soils are often ideal.

Stay local with your seed selection

One of the most important choices you’ll make is where your seeds come from. Native plants are native for a reason: They evolved alongside the insects, birds and soil microbes of a specific region. A wildflower seed mix intended for Colorado landscapes will establish more reliably and be far more ecologically valuable than one sourced for another ecoregion. Look for seed companies that specialize in Colorado-origin or regionally sourced native seed.

You can also organize your planting around a theme. A pollinator garden gives you a clear and rewarding framework. For Colorado, excellent native choices include Rocky Mountain penstemon (Penstemon strictus), prairie coneflower (Ratibida columnifera), scarlet gilia (Imomopsis aggregata), and Rocky Mountain bee plant (Peritoma serrulata). These are favorites for native bees, butterflies and hummingbirds.  They make for a garden that’s as alive with movement as it is with color.

Check that seed packet carefully

Before you buy, read the label. Some commercially sold “wildflower mixes” contain species that are non-native, and a handful can be invasive in Colorado – plants that, once established, spread aggressively into natural areas and crowd out native species. Dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is a common offender found in many retail mixes, and is listed as a noxious weed in Colorado. Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) and yellow toadflax (Linaria vulgaris) are others frequently found in mixed packets. Look for mixes explicitly labeled “Colorado native species” and cross-reference unfamiliar names against Colorado’s Noxious Weed List maintained by the Department of Agriculture ().

Match your climate zone

Colorado’s geography makes climate matching especially important and interesting. The state spans USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 7, from the high alpine tundra to the warm valleys of the Western Slope and the lower elevations of the southeastern plains. A wildflower well-suited to a Denver Front Range garden (Zone 5–6) may struggle at 8,000 feet in the mountains (Zone 4) and vice versa. Elevation, climate and the number of frost-free days matter as much as hardiness zone alone.

Preparing the seedbed

Good seedbed preparation pays dividends in the long run. The goal is to eliminate as much existing weed seed as possible before you sow. One effective method is the “stale seedbed technique”: till the soil, then wait two to three weeks for weed seeds to germinate. Hoe them off shallowly just to sever those seedlings and repeat once more if time allows. In Colorado’s drier climates, you may need to irrigate lightly to encourage that first flush of weeds.

Rake the surface to a fine, crumbly texture and broadcast seed by hand, pressing lightly into the surface. Resist the urge to bury seeds deeply; most wildflower seeds want light to germinate and should be covered with no more than a thin dusting of soil. In Colorado’s windy spring conditions, a light topdressing of weed-free straw can hold seeds in place and retain surface moisture.

The science of stratification

Here is where many first-time wildflower gardeners hit an unexpected wall. Many of Colorado’s most beautiful native wildflowers have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent them from germinating until they’ve experienced the conditions that naturally precede spring, namely a prolonged period of cold and moisture. This process is called cold stratification, and skipping it is one of the more common reasons native seeds fail to sprout.

In nature, seeds fall to the ground in autumn, spend the winter under cold soil and germinate when temperatures rise in spring. When you plant in fall (October is ideal for most of Colorado), the natural cycle handles stratification for you. If you’re sowing in spring from seeds stored indoors, you’ll need to simulate winter yourself: Place seeds in a damp paper towel or moist vermiculite, seal in a labeled zip-lock bag and refrigerate for four to eight weeks at 33-41 degrees.

Many of Colorado’s showiest natives require this treatment: Rocky Mountain columbine, prairie smoke (Geum triflorum) and native penstemons all germinate far more reliably after a cold period. If you’re unsure whether a particular species needs stratification, check the plant profiles at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center’s database (). Some seeds have even more complex requirements and may be best sourced as starts from a reputable native plant nursery.

Patience is part of the process

A wildflower garden rarely looks like much in its first season. Year one is often dominated by foliage as plants establish their root systems, which is critical in Colorado’s dry climate. Year two is when the blooms begin in earnest. By year three, a well-tended wildflower patch takes on a life of its own: self-seeding, spreading and attracting wildlife you never knew your yard could support.

Colorado’s wildflowers are a shared inheritance that took thousands of years to evolve right here in this landscape. Growing them at home is a way of participating in that legacy. On a summer morning when a butterfly lands on your blanket flower or a hummingbird works its way through a patch of scarlet gilia, you’ll understand why those mountain meadows inspire a festival each year.

Resources

• CSU’s Colorado Native Plant Master Program has a searchable database of more than 1,000 Colorado plants at .
• Colorado Native Plant Society produces native plant guides for five different ecoregions in Colorado along with an extensive list of native plants. Visit .
• For a detailed guide on wildflower seed germination, Wild Ones Front Range’s publication, “Germination Guide for Native Seeds,” covers everything you need to know. Visit

Pam Rosendal is a Colorado master gardener.

Despite our dry environment, you can raise tropical plants with the proper care and conditions.

When considering which plants to grow in your Colorado garden, a lemon tree may not be the first that comes to mind. But Troy Cobb, greenhouse manager at Fort Collins Nursery, said citrus and other fruiting tropical plants can actually thrive in our dry conditions.

All it takes is the right care, at the right time.

For instance, these heat-loving plants should be kept inside during Colorado winters, with access to ample sunlight.

“When you’re growing them indoors, you need a south window or a west window,” Cobb said. “They’re going to want as much light as they can get.”

As spring sets in and daytime temperatures warm, it����ap safe to put the citrus plant outside, as long as you slowly ease it into full sun and bring the plant back inside each night.

“Once the night temperatures in the spring are staying consistently at about 40 (degrees) or more, it can stay outside,” Cobb said.

A citrus plant is happiest when it’s outside in the summer, enjoying the season’s strong light and hot temperatures. A plant that����ap been outside all summer will also be better suited to withstand the transition into autumn, making it stronger overall.

“In the late summer and early fall, they’re starting to get used to the big swings in day-to-night temperatures,” Cobb said.

Eventually, when the cold dips below 40 degrees again, it’ll be time to bring the plant back indoors. However, to avoid transferring problems to your other houseplants during this period, quarantine the citrus and watch for pests. Keep an especially watchful eye out for spider mites, which tend to attack citrus in the winter when our indoor plants are dry.

Pot size and soil are additional considerations when growing citrus, because the top of the plant grows about three times as fast as the roots. Planting a tree in a pot that����ap too big, or in soil that����ap too heavy, can cause slow-growing roots to drown.

“It’s going to be in that (original) pot for probably three to five years before it will need to go to another pot, because the roots just grow that slowly,” Cobb said.

When you eventually move your citrus to a new pot, remember that the sun is a tropical plant����ap best friend. “Every plant’s going to go through transplant shock, and the more light that the plant has throughout the day, the faster it will bounce back.”

Cobb said every citrus fruit is equally easy to grow in Colorado — except for calamansi (often known as calamondin), a lime that turns orange and is even more user-friendly than lemons. He has also had success growing mangoes, pineapple guavas and olives in Colorado. He has harvested avocados, too, though these trees need to be quite mature before they produce fruit. Passion fruit is another relatively easy plant to maintain, but as an aggressive-growing vine, it requires ample space.

Cacao is at the top of the list of tropical plants that Cobb doesn’t recommend. It simply craves too much humidity. It����ap also possible to grow miracle fruit, a plant that gets its name from berries that make sour foods taste sweet, though it’s highly susceptible to mealy bugs, another common pest.

Perhaps the greatest perk to growing citrus is that it can start producing fruit when the plant is still young. Fort Collins Nursery sells citrus in an eight-inch pot — their smallest fruiting size — and yields will only continue to increase with time.

“The bigger the plant gets, the more energy it can support, and the more fruit it can make,” Cobb said.

While a citrus plant is technically self-fertile when outside, bees still play an important role in pollination, which ensures a fruiting plant. If you’re growing a lemon or lime tree indoors, there’s no shame in assuming that responsibility yourself.

“Get a little paintbrush, kind of swirl it around inside the flower, and go from flower to flower to pick up pollen and move it into the next one,” Cobb said. “You’ll get a better yield if you actually act like a bee.”

Michelle Polizzi is a freelance travel, culture and lifestyle writer based in Denver.

So-called you-pick flower opportunities are an easy way to connect with nature. Better yet, they require no specialty gear and are appropriate for all ages. Bring your kids, a partner, or your parents — the blooms may be temporary, but the memories last a lifetime.

“We love to see people share in an experience and create a memory,” said Nikki McComsey, owner of Gather Mountain Blooms in Colorado Springs, which began hosting you-pick special events when the farm opened in 2020.

During the pandemic, many people looked for low-investment ways to get outside and entertain their families. You-pick flowers have since exploded in popularity, as more farmers opened their doors to the public and let locals relish in the beauty.

“In the world we’re in, where it feels very digital and can feel very isolating and lonely at times, knowing that you can go to a place in nature together and experience something really special, it makes people feel connected to each other and the place they live,” McComsey said.

The places that offer you-pick flowers vary in terms of size and scope. Some are hobby farms at personal residences that open for specific events, while others are commercial operations with a more casual, walk-in style. Most also offer gardening classes where flower enthusiasts can learn how to grow their own cutting garden, build crowns and wreaths, or do yoga and leave with a custom bouquet. They all provide garden snips and jars or vases, though some do ask that you bring your own vessel.

Here are nine Colorado farms and garden centers where you can pick your own flowers.

Tips for long-lasting bouquets

Cutting fresh flowers is easy, but there is something of an art to extending a bouquet����ap vase life. Some flowers, such as dahlias, don’t last very long off the plant, but by following these tips you can extend your bespoke bouquet����ap life up to about a week.

The farmers we spoke to suggested going out to the fields and picking flowers early in the morning when they are the most hydrated. Choosing flowers that are in the early stages of blooming – versus in full bloom – will also make them last longer. Cut the stems at an angle, so they have more surface area to absorb water, and be sure to strip all the leaves off, which will prevent bacterial growth in the liquid. Fill the vase about one-third full with water, change the water every day and periodically trim about a half-inch of the bottom of the stems, farmers recommend. Some also suggest putting a little sugar in the water as flower food, or vinegar to prevent bacterial growth. Keep your bouquet out of direct sunlight and consider putting it in a cool, dark place or even your refrigerator first thing after cutting to ensure the flowers remain hydrated.

Otherwise, just enjoy them while they last.

In the Denver metro

Blossom and Branch Farm

If you’ve ever wanted to see a regenerative farm in action, Blossom and Branch Farm in Lakewood opens its doors for you-pick flower events once or twice a month from July through September. (Depending on the weather, June and October dates may be added to the you-pick calendar.) For $65, locals can peruse 2 acres with more than 50 types of flowers, such as lisianthus, zinnias and dahlias. The farm also grows other plants, like yarrow, to bolster bouquets. Patrons are asked to bring their own jar, as well as family members who can help fill it. Additional attractions include a half-acre bird habitat, complete with a swing for kids and thriving wildlife like bumblebees and hummingbirds, as well as educational classes.

Blossom and Branch Farm is located at 2440 Iris St. in Lakewood. For more information, visit .

Crescendum Flower Farm

Started in 2020, Arvada’s Crescendum Flower Farm has primarily operated as a wholesale producer and sold flowers as part of its community-support agriculture program. But in the summer 2026, this family farm will open to the public for the first time and offer several you-pick opportunities. It is expected to open about twice a month starting in June, providing visitors access to specific flower gardens lush with celosias, sunflowers, cosmos and more. Guests will likely need to make a reservation on the website to claim their spot and pay about $25 for a jar to fill.

Crescendum Flower Farm is located at 7100 W. 62nd Ave. in Arvada. For more information, visit .

Yetman Farms

Now in its fifth growing season in Lakewood, Yetman Farms invites Denverites to their 4-acre property for special events from July through September, during which time they can snip flowers for their own bouquet. You-pick events happen either early in the morning or at sunset to avoid the hottest hours of the day. Bring your own mason jar or purchase one onsite ($5) to collect dozens of different types of blooms from zinnias, dahlias and sunflowers to green mist, bells of Ireland and other types of foliage. As a bonus, you can pet and feed the horses, goats and other animals when you visit. Each you-pick event requires advance purchase of a ticket ($42). The farm also hosts private events for groups.

Yetman Farms is located at 2995 S. Estes St. in Lakewood. For more information, visit .

Along the Front Range

Garden Sweet

Located on 10 acres in Fort Collins, Garden Sweet farm offers locals a chance to pick their own strawberries, raspberries, apples, and, of course, flowers. From May through September, stop by the farm stand anytime it’s open to pay a $5 admission fee to the fields and purchase either a cup ($20) or a bucket ($60) in which to collect flowers. Reservations are recommended on weekends, when the farm gets busy, and during its special events. Choose from 100 varieties, including peonies in the spring and gladiolus in the summer. Garden Sweet also grows numerous vegetables that are available for sale at the farm stand, so you can get dinner ingredients and decor in one stop.

Garden Sweet is located at 719 W. Willox Lane in Fort Collins. For more information, visit .

Gather Mountain Blooms

Gather Mountain Blooms in Colorado Springs welcomes locals to its farm for a variety of special events that almost always include a you-pick component. Each month during the growing season, it hosts a party in honor of a specific flower, including ranunculus (May), sweet peas (June), zinnias (July), sunflowers (August), and dahlias (September). Those parties also feature food trucks, libations and the opportunity to leave with a bouquet of the respective celebrated flower. You-pick Fridays become a mainstay in July, when guests can pay an admission fee plus $25 to snip their own stems. In between, Gather Mountain Blooms hosts yoga, brunch, live music and other workshops when visitors can make their own bouquets. Prices vary depending on the event.

Gather Mountain Blooms is located at 5210 S. Highway 85 in Colorado Springs. For more information, visit .

Munson Farms

Those who visit Munson Farms’ roadside stand in Boulder can pick up locally grown vegetables from this family-run operation. Abutting the stand is an acre of zinnias enticing visitors to pick their own bouquet as well. Munson Farms has been planting the zinnias for 30 years, in part, because of their regrowth ability. Whenever someone cuts a stem, this variety of the flower is able to regrow relatively quickly. (They were also a favorite of the Munson patriarch, who started the farm in 1976.) Guests pay $1 per stem or $10 for a dozen when they pick their own.

Munson Farms roadside stand is located at the corner of N. 75th Street and Valmont Road in Boulder. For more information, visit .

Native Hill Farm

While Native Hill Farm grows numerous vegetables for markets and its community-supported agriculture program, it also maintains a quarter-acre flower plot with about 100 different blooms and grasses. Visitors to the Fort Collins farm can buy a $25 cup and pick their own bouquet from mid-July through September. Guests are welcome to stop by any day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., when the onsite farm stand is open, and meander through the gardens to craft a unique bundle. The farm also sells dried flower bouquets and wreaths, as well as pressed-flower greeting cards made from the blossoms onsite.

Native Hill Farm is located at 2100 County Road 54G in Fort Collins. For more information, visit .

On the Western Slope

The Grove

Opened in 2021, The Grove in Delta is equal parts garden center, restaurant, gift shop and events space, complete with a scenic you-pick flower plot. Stop by the shop counter to purchase a mason jar and grab a pair of scissors, then head outside to collect as many stems as will fit in the vessel. (Those who bring their own jar get a $5 discount.) Perennials start blooming in April, but the garden really gets going in June, and varieties like lisianthus, delphinium, sunflowers and more are lush by the height of summer. Once you’ve arranged your bouquet, stop in the restaurant to enjoy a bite and adult beverage.

The Grove is located at 1970 S. Main St. in Delta. For more information, visit .

Gypsy Chicks and Blooms

Located in Montrose, Gypsy Chicks and Blooms specializes in dahlias and grows more than 100 varieties of that one flower. While the farm has sold wholesale flowers and dahlia tubers for several years, it began offering you-pick flowers in 2025 with a small but mighty 4,000-square-foot garden. Visitors are welcome any time the farm stand is open — typically Thursday through Saturdays — to purchase a $20 jar and borrow a pair of clippers to snip their own unique bouquet. In addition to dahlias, which bloom in late summer, the farm also grows zinnias, sunflowers, snapdragons, cosmos and more. Expect to see the occasional special event here, too, with live music and floral arranging workshops. New in 2026: Gypsy Chicks and Blooms plans to offer a you-pick vegetable garden with tomatoes and cucumbers.

Gypsy Chicks and Blooms is located at 17836 6300 Road in Montrose. For more information, visit .

Now that we are through the winter season, we may not have our hands directly in the soil, but our minds are focused on plants, gardens, lessons learned and new techniques to try. A question I have wondered about for some time is: Can large-scale regenerative agricultural practices be applied to smaller-scale home gardens?

After spending some time at the Cheyenne-Arapaho Park (CAP) garden in Denver, I discovered that these practices are being employed at one of the Colorado Master Gardener plots within this Denver Urban Garden.

The garden is a tidy collection of rectangular plots tended by co-team leads Elaine Davis and Jessica Asimus and three Colorado master gardeners. Dubbed the “Neighborhood Garden,” it’s full of plants from the Middle East, Korea and Africa. The summer of 2025 boasted Daikon radishes, Aswad eggplant from Iraq, Yardlong beans from China, Korean Agastache (tea herb), gochichang peppers, Ethiopian kale, lemongrass and marjoram.

One of these plots has been an experimental area for regenerative garden techniques for the last two years, and the results have been encouraging.

According to , there are five main principles of regenerative agriculture. Four of these principles are being implemented in the plot and managed by Davis.

1.  Minimizing soil disturbance is practiced in the springtime to loosen the soil by using a garden fork and sliding it into the soil at about a 30-degree angle, lifting up to just barely crack the soil. Then the fork is slid back out. Then compost and prepared alfalfa pellets are placed on top of the soil. Alfalfa pellets are prepared the day before by soaking in water, sugar and compost to stimulate microbial activity. These applications are gently chopped into the first inch of soil. No other soil disturbance is made for the remainder of the season. Low till or no till is critical for many reasons, including to retain soil moisture, to prevent weed seeds from getting to the surface and germinating, to preserve soil microbes, and to preserve soil invertebrates such as earthworms, beetles and others. Gardeners should also make sure not to step on soil where plants are growing to avoid soil compaction.

2.  Maximizing soil cover can be achieved by adding grass clippings or clean straw to open areas of soil. As with minimizing soil disturbance, this, too, helps tremendously with controlling erosion, increasing the carbon content of soil and conserving moisture. Clean straw can be used all year round for soil cover. Additionally, vegetable crops are planted in block style so plants shade each other and the surrounding soil.

3. Maximizing living roots in the soil refers to having live plants growing throughout the entire year. This is accomplished by planting fall/winter cover crops after the main season crops. Researchers have found this principle to be the most significant for creating healthy and resilient soil. It reduces erosion, increases soil organic matter, increases biological variety, increases the nitrogen supply and provides natural weed control. When a crop such as lettuce is done producing, it is cut at ground level so the roots stay in the ground, helping feed soil microbes. The subsequent crop is planted around the existing root systems.

Cover crops in the Mountain West, planted in the fall, can be winter rye and hairy vetch. Another option is an oat, radish and pea combination. Plant this combination in late summer/early fall. The oats will die off slowly after a series of hard freezes. The remaining plant residue will prevent erosion, suppress weeds and add more carbon to the soil. In the springtime, simply push aside the dead plants and sow your seeds in the ground.

4. Maximizing diversity of plants is achieved by planting different vegetables or crops in different parts of the garden year after year. It is also achieved by planting a variety of vegetables throughout the growing season. For example, when spring greens are done, peas, beans or radishes may then be planted in the same spot for the next month or two of the growing season. Different plant roots will encourage the growth of different soil bacteria, enriching the soil.

5. Where possible, incorporating livestock in the garden. This can be chickens, goats or sheep. Poultry help with weed and pest management and help fertilize the garden. Because the CAP garden does not allow for the use of livestock, gardeners apply alfalfa meal to the soil once per season as fertilizer to mimic the effect of livestock.

Once these principles are applied to a garden, it is useful to have a scientific measure to determine if indeed the soil has become healthier. Healthier soil means healthier, more nutrient-dense vegetables that can easily fight off diseases and pests. Further conversations with master gardeners tending the CAP garden plot revealed some positive changes in the soil’s health, particularly in terms of microbial activity.

The soil was analyzed at Ward Laboratories in early 2024 and again in late 2025. In a mere 18 months, lab tests showed a dramatic increase in microbial life. Why is more microbial life better? The answer lies in the job the microbes perform. They are breaking down organic matter in the soil, and therefore make significant amounts of nutrients available to the garden plants.

The utilization of regenerative practices at the CAP Master Gardener plot for just two seasons has proven to be quite successful thus far. Allowing soil microbes to flourish by keeping soil and roots in place and maintaining soil moisture provides a huge boost to plant health and naturally prevents most weeds from appearing. The 2025 harvest from this 93-square-foot plot has been impressive indeed.

One source of inspiration and information on regenerative farming/gardening was the 2020 documentary “.” The film showed examples of farms with poor soil. Once farmers applied regenerative practices, they witnessed rapid and dramatic improvements in soil fertility.

Another source of inspiration was the book “What Your Food Ate,” by David R. Montgomery and Anne Biklé. It describes how soil in the United States has been damaged by overplanting, lack of crop rotation and other practices. It then explains scientific studies that show the effects of regenerative agriculture. When farmers implemented regenerative techniques, the yield was more abundant, and the soil was full of microbial life.

As demonstrated by the Cheyenne-Arapaho Master Gardener plot, regenerative techniques can be applied to a home or community garden with positive results. Let����ap see how many more gardens we can apply these principles to for a bountiful garden harvest in 2026.

Mary Gifford is a Colorado master gardener.

“I know farm-to-table is a lost trend, but it was never really a trend to me. It����ap just the way we grew up,” said Paul Warthen, executive chef and co-owner of Potager, which translates to “kitchen garden.”

Here are five examples.

Potager

Warthen grew up on a 500-acre farm in Frederick County, Md., where most of the food eaten by the family and farm workers was grown on the property. He and his wife, Eileen, purchased , at 1109 Ogden St., from the original owner, Teri Rippeto, in 2019, with the intent of upholding the restaurant����ap long-standing commitment to locally grown ingredients.

“The garden had been there for probably at least twenty years when we bought it,” Warthen said.

Today, Potager maintains both indoor and outdoor garden spaces. Patrons might notice tomato vines climbing around the patio and herbs tucked among flowers that serve far more than an aesthetic purpose.

“We grow multiple varieties of tomatoes, usually about six or seven varieties including heirlooms, beefsteaks, plums,” he shared. “We kind of go crazy and plant whatever works.”

Some of what they grow fills specific gaps in the supply chain, including unusual varieties that aren’t commonly available from local farms like chocolate habaneros, Jimmy Nardellos and shishitos, along with herbs, greens and crops like Bloody Butcher corn – a deep red heirloom variety.

The harvest shows up in dishes like tomato schnitzel with housemade burrata and charred shishito. Most recently, Warthen worked on transforming the garden’s sorrel into a pistou to serve with scallops.

The garden serves several purposes: providing small amounts of produce for the kitchen, creating a lush atmosphere and, importantly, educating staff about where food comes from. According to Warthen, the garden helps young cooks understand the realities that farmers face.

“One year in late March, we had beautiful spinach, probably 35 heads of spinach and lettuces and arugulas and the garden was thriving,” Warthen recalled. “Then, one day, hail wiped everything out. The cooks were completely distraught, and I said, ‘Yeah, but how do you think the farmer feels?’ For us, losing a few beds doesn’t make or break us. But when a farmer loses a thousand heads of something, that����ap devastating.”

Potager works closely with a long list of local farms, including longtime partners like Cure Organic Farm, Red Wagon Farm and Monroe Farm, one of the oldest organic farms on the Front Range. Warthen more recently partnered with Aspen Moon Farm and Esoterra Culinary Garden, which supplies many of the city’s award-winning restaurants.

“When you work with organic farmers and (products) that fresh, to where they never actually see a refrigerator, it’s easy to serve beautiful things,” he added.

Work & Class/Grow + Gather

Across town in Englewood, chef Dana Rodriguez has teamed up with (900 E. Hampden Ave.) to open in the urban farm’s former restaurant space. Much of the produce for Work & Class and the adjacent breakfast and lunch spot, Dayshift, is sourced from the on-site hydroponic system, climate-controlled rooftop greenhouse and various gardens.

“When we took over the space, that was one of the most interesting things to me,” Rodriguez said. “All chefs want their own little farm.”

During the last week of February, multiple varieties of lettuce were growing in rows of indoor hydroponic towers, each carefully tracked and rotated through a system that records planting dates, harvest times and yields. At the time, the leafy greens appeared on the menu at Dayshift as a simple salad with goat cheese, honey, pumpkin seeds and thinly shaved red onion.

“I try to do the least (with the lettuce) because it’s so good. They’re so fresh and organic, you can put any dressing and it’s just perfect,” Rodriguez said.

Upstairs, the rooftop greenhouse grows herbs and edible flowers used by both the kitchen and bar, which features a build-your-own cocktail program with bases like pomegranate, ginger, thyme and spicy basil sour, each listed with suggested spirits.

With warmer months on the horizon, Rodriguez is planning dishes that will feature ingredients like pattypan squash, mushrooms, beets, cucumbers and  zucchini, while the farm’s heirloom tomatoes will remain a centerpiece paired with items like burrata or polenta. Rodriguez noted that the tomatoes and strawberries also make a surprisingly good pairing in drinks, including a fresh take on a Bloody Mary.

“When you try the fresh tomatoes next to the ones you order from companies, it����ap not even close,” she said. “I told them, ‘Give me a lot of tomatoes.’”

Other seasonal ingredients like rhubarb will make appearances, likely in desserts such as strawberry-rhubarb panna cotta. Some fruits and vegetables are so special they’re treated like rare seasonal gifts, including figs from trees grown from cuttings brought from Greece by Grow + Gather’s founder, George Gastis, passed down through generations of his family.

Come summer, as production ramps up, the urban farm will become even more central to Rodriguez’s restaurants, with plans to supply both Work & Class locations, Super Mega Bien and Carne, with fresh produce.

Rodriguez’s connection to farming also runs deep. She grew up in Mexico on a farm where nearly everything the family ate was grown or raised at home.

“My mom would say, ‘We’re making chicken soup today. Go to the back and get a chicken and some vegetables,’” she said.

“These days in the United States, we process the food too much, and that’s why everybody’s getting sick. Knowing that we can have access to fresh produce is such a unique thing, and we can be the difference.”

Wolf’s Tailor

Everything planted in the garden at the two-Michelin-starred Wolf’s Tailor (4058 Tejon St., Denver) is intentionally edible, designed as an extension of the kitchen and bar. Creative garden director Shelli Nelligan-Anderson works alongside Id Est co-founder Erika Whitaker and the restaurant����ap leadership team to plan each season months in advance, sourcing seeds and starters from farms around Boulder.

Produce like shiso and lemongrass is used creatively (like for pastries) while a wide range of herbs and flowers appear throughout the savory dishes and cocktails. During the summer, the garden blooms with pollinator-friendly plants like nasturtiums, begonias and alyssum, creating a vibrant ecosystem that staff harvests daily.

Guests experience the garden firsthand, too, whether through cocktails designed to be enjoyed among the herbs used to make them or bouquets picked straight from the beds and brought home as a souvenir.

Wildflower

Influenced by his time cooking in Paris, chef Aiden Tibbetts, who helms Michelin-recommended (3638 Navajo St, Denver), builds dishes around the produce first rather than protein, allowing the vegetables to take

center stage. Many of them are sourced from Tibbetts’ mother’s backyard in Aurora, where they harvest the week’s bounty every Sunday during growing season.

Known as T2 Garden, the 2,700-square-foot space (which they plan to expand by 1,000 square feet this year) spans seven terraced plots that produce a steady stream of seasonal ingredients throughout the growing season. Flowers like tree blossoms (lilac, apple, crab apple, pear), violas, marigolds, dahlias and nasturtiums typically bloom first, followed by perennial herbs like thyme, oregano, and chives. Basil is replanted yearly.

In late summer, the bounty comes to full fruition with crops like tomatoes, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, melon and carrots. The garden’s heirloom tomatoes star in a returning signature dish each summer, featuring coconut fennel pollen custard, plum consomme, leek oil and sesame tuile.

Black Cat Farm

At Black Cat (9889 N. 51st St., Longmont), the kitchen is supplied by the 500-acre certified organic farm that it sits on.

Chef Eric Skokan and his wife, Jill, grow more than 250 heirloom and heritage varieties of vegetables, along with grains like einkorn, rye and buckwheat that are cleaned and milled on-site.

The farm also raises heritage breeds of sheep, pigs and poultry, many of which are listed on The Livestock Conservancy’s endangered breeds list. Because the produce is harvested daily, Skokan selects varieties for flavor rather than durability, allowing the menus at Black Cat and its sister restaurant (1964 13th St., Boulder) to change constantly with the seasons.

Customers can also purchase fresh produce and meats from its Farm Store in Boulder (4975 Jay Road) and at the Boulder Farmer’s Market.

It was born of a tree on my parents’ land in Western Massachusetts, where the maple trees grow like weeds, spreading their roots and generating saplings that love the clouds and humidity that section of the country offers.

My dad, gone more than 35 years now, loved to garden and landscape. He planted and cared for the maple, dogwood, apple, pear and plum trees, as well as the grape vines, blueberry bushes, tomatoes and zucchini plants in the summer.

His Japanese red maple sprouted so many offshoots that he took to handing them out like Halloween candy. You can still spot them and their offspring all around the neighborhood, as well as in Maine, New Hampshire, Cape Cod and Colorado, where Dad’s children and grandchildren carried them — and keep them going still, in his memory.

Two of my nieces have done their part: Jen gave potted maple saplings to all 150 guests at her 2008 wedding (along with a lovely little story about Dad’s green thumb), and Lee distributed them at her backyard bridal shower in 2010. Who knows how many are still out there?

To many landscapers and gardeners, the power of nurturing life is a mighty draw. To me, it’s mostly about nostalgia, family and friends.

Sister Charlene in New Hampshire makes strawberry and rhubarb jam and pies every summer from the rhubarb cuttings given to her by the neighbors across the street from Mom and Dad. She got them in 1973.

She and sister Jay, in Massachusetts, still nurture Christmas cactus and aloe plants, the beginnings of which were in mom’s kitchen for years. I recall having to water them when I still lived there in the late 1970s. And I still have spider plants from “spiderettes” (yes, that’s what they’re called) that originated from one I had in my Miami apartment in 1985.

I still believe that I was hired at The Denver Post because of my dad’s apple tree. The managing editor called me for an interview one day in 1990, just when I was taking a pie out of the oven for Dad, who had peeled and sliced apples from his tree and brought them over for me to make him a pie. Thinking only of the pie, I brusquely asked her to call me back so it wouldn’t burn. (I got the job anyway. Turns out that she, too, made pies for her dad.)

Right now, I have a bucket of zinnia seeds in my garage. Each spring, I scatter them over tilled soil and thrill when they pop up, bright boutonnieres of fuchsia and orange and yellow and pink. The original seeds were given to me more than 20 years ago by dear Colorado buddies Pat and Dave Darnell, both long gone now.

In mid-March, I suddenly realized how late I was in starting my vegetable seeds for this year’s crop, and now I am looking forward to trading some seedlings with former Denver city councilman, friend and farmer extraordinaire, Charlie Brown.

Gardening and growing things are just part of who we are. It connects us to our place, our roots and to each other. It’s not how much pride I take out of harvesting those cukes and Cherokee Purple tomatoes; it’s the friends I will be sharing them with: Kathleen loves the yellow teardrop tomatoes; Betty asks for the English purple cherry; LeAnna wants the yellow squash; TJ the super sweet hybrid 100s; and Michelle will usually take anything out of the garden that I’m offering (and who will get my help setting up her own raised bed this year).

I had so many cucumbers last year that I couldn’t find enough people to give them to, so my partner ended up taking them to his office along with much of his abundant harvest of zucchini and tomatoes. (Building work alliances through garden gifts can’t hurt, amiright?)

The excess made me wonder about why I go through it all: the expense, the watering, the time, the sunburn, the bugs, the dirt under my fingernails. The failures. It’s certainly not cheaper than just buying produce from the grocery store, and there are other things I could be doing with my time in Colorado’s temperate climes (golf, anyone?).

It’s about the connections: To the land. To the people living on it. To family and friends. And memories.

Let����ap be honest: Gardening with kids is like cooking with them. It����ap a lovely idea that ultimately turns a simple batch of blueberry muffins into a messy, hours-long undertaking. It doesn’t help that I have a brown thumb. (Until recently, my main planting strategy involved dumping seeds into a pot and crossing myself.) But I’m starting to think that the slow, imperfect nature of gardening is exactly what my kids and I need.

Beyond the obvious science lessons, flora offers a curriculum in patience — something no app can simulate.

“Our society is focused on instant gratification,” said Jeanie Phillips, executive director of , a nonprofit specializing in youth horticulture. For her, the garden’s most valuable teaching is clear: “Sometimes you have to wait.”

Niko Kirby couldn’t agree more. As the senior director of education for , Kirby lauds both the nutritional and mental-health benefits of gardening. “Bringing in moments of quiet; finding some stillness — this is really valuable,” she said.

I hear that. And yet for a child with a short attention span, words like “quiet” and “stillness” often translate to “boredom.”

“Gardening can have lots of downtime,” conceded Megan Reynoso of Boulder’s environmentally focused nonprofit Growing Gardens. “But that����ap only if you’re solely focused on plant growth,” Reynoso added. Here are a few tips and tricks for home-gardening caregivers to consider.

Their garden, their rules

“When kids are involved in any part of the decision-making process, they become more invested,” said Katelin Gaeth, associate director of education at .

In Colorado, Mother’s Day is famously known as the safe frost-free date to start sowing seeds outside. But a great garden starts as early as January or February, with lots of detailed planning.

This spring, try making a map of your garden bed or containers. “Make it like a coloring sheet,” Gaeth suggested, then let your children map out where everything will go. Apps can be a fun option for older, tech-savvy kids — but a good old-fashioned piece of graph paper will work just fine.

If you don’t have much space for planting, don’t worry. Gardening can happen anywhere, and container gardening is an excellent entry-point for families. (Why not let your youngest gardeners choose the pots this season, too?)

Celebrate dirty hands

“People are becoming increasingly aware of the mental health benefits of being outside in nature,” said Gaeth, adding, “And there’s some newer research on how interacting with your local soil can support your gut microbiome.”

Most of the kids I know, though, won’t need a reason to dig holes in dirt.

“Digging holes, counting worms, looking for biodiversity and little insects in the soil — these activities are just as important as watching something grow,” Kirby said.

Caregivers and kids can learn about various types of soil and amendments together, and it might be fun to take a composting class this year; DUG offers plenty of fabulous workshops for families.

Select seeds like a pro

Kids should have the opportunity to select some of the seeds they’ll plant. “Go to the grocery store, and let them taste test various items first,” Gaeth suggested.

Keep in mind, though, that different seeds have different germination speeds. “Read seed packets carefully to learn about the environment they’ll need as well as the days to germination,” advised Phillips. And try to plant at least one veggie that germinates quickly — radishes, for example.

“For a more immediate tasting opportunity,” Gaeth suggested planting microgreens that will be ready in a week while you’re waiting 90 days for your tomatoes.

Think, too, about choosing some seeds to start indoors, in egg cartons or biodegradable seed trays. Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and herbs all are good candidates, and kids can even put a few cold-weather crop seeds in the ground right now, before Mother’s Day. Try beets, cabbage, carrots, onions, garlic, peas and hardier leafy greens, including spinach.

Herbs are really fun to grow with kids because, Reynoso said, “They pop up fairly quickly as this leafy, smelly thing,” she said. “Mint is a really good option.”

Mix things up to increase engagement, and try succession planting, a technique used to maximize yield by continuously sowing seeds or adding new transplants throughout the season, rather than all at once. With different things growing at different times, there’s nary a dull moment.

Cheat a little

To jumpstart the garden, mix in a few starts from your local garden center. Transplants are more expensive than seeds, but you’ll see results sooner.

And here’s another trick: Germinate a few of your seeds in plastic bags taped to a south-facing window, so kids can actually witness the underground magic that author Kate Messner explores in “Up in the Garden and Down in the Dirt.”

Seed dissection is another fun, easy activity for young gardeners. “Just soak some lima beans overnight, then dissect them,” Gaeth said.

At Denver Botanic Gardens, some kid classes include seed listening games, where gardeners put various seeds in different boxes and then let program participants rattle them around while guessing what they’re listening to. (Big lima bean seeds sound totally different than tiny carrot seeds.)

Maximize down time

“There’s so much you can do while waiting for plants to pop up,” Kirby said. Once you’ve dropped seeds in the dirt, kids can craft simple labels using popsicle sticks, painted rocks, or whatever else strikes their fancy. Or, look for garden stone craft kits for young gardeners to personalize. In the early weeks, try pressing leaves or flowers between pages of a book — or use a dedicated flower press.

At in Fort Collins, youth program coordinator Britt Mowen recommended visiting other gardens for inspiration, including botanical, native plant, and community gardens.

Age-appropriate imaginative play is also a smart tactic. At Denver Botanic Gardens, youth educators encourage preschoolers to act out the life cycle of various plants, for example. Reading, too, can bring gardening to life, like the highly recommended picture book “Plantzilla,” about a third-grader who adores the class plant. Take a trip to the library to uncover more gardening books, and to allow older children to research answers to any questions that arise.

Children of all ages can sketch and color pictures of their garden throughout the growing season. Tech-minded kids might have fun creating a time-lapse video, by photographing the garden (or a single plant) in the beginning, middle, and end of the summer.

Gamify gardening chores

Once stuff does start growing, STEM-loving kids can use rulers to measure their plants on a daily or weekly basis. Older children might like setting up an experiment by altering the balance of something essential, like water, for different plants and making hypotheses about what the right balance is.

Of course, with any size of garden, there’s bound to be weeds. Kids can help pull them, and savvy caregivers will turn weeding into a game. See who can pick the most weeds in 5 minutes — winner gets a small treat. If you have a child who refuses to get involved, task them with watering. No matter what age, anyone can handle the watering can, and a hose with running water is usually too tempting for kids to ignore.

The harvest, of course, is the ultimate goal, but the true rewards aren’t always edible. My kids might not be getting prickly pear for breakfast anytime soon. The wonder we’re cultivating together is definitely in full bloom.

Short on space? Consider microgardening.

Although the term might conjure thoughts of minuscule garden gnomes and fairies, the reality is quite the opposite. You can get a surprisingly high yield from a small space, even a windowsill or balcony, if you plant it right.

One way to maximize your harvest is to grow plants that mature quickly, harvest them and then plant more.

Small greens on repeat

— 2- to 3-inch seedlings of certain edible plants — are perfect candidates for such succession. They sprout quickly indoors in as little as a week, and are easy to grow. Just scatter seeds over light, sterile potting mix in a shallow, domed pan, then set it in a warm, sunny spot and keep the soil slightly moist.

Arugula, broccoli, cabbage, kale, mustards, mizuna and radish are among the fastest sprouters, but beets, chards and nasturtiums work, too, typically germinating in 10-14 days.

When the sprouts produce their second pair of leaves (which are their true leaves; the first pair are called cotyledons), use sharp scissors to clip them at the soil line and enjoy them in smoothies, salads, sandwiches or stir-fries. Then , or, better yet, sow more seeds every few days to ensure a steady supply.

Good things come in small packages

Outdoors, the same small thinking can be applied to fruits, vegetables and , which traditionally can take up a large portion of a garden’s real estate.

Basil, leaf lettuces and mint are among those that can do the most with the least. Comfortable in containers, they’ll also regrow to provide multiple harvests all season long.

You can even grow dwarf apple, fig and in 10- or 20-gallon planters, as well as in the ground.

Use the space you have

Your garden’s square footage might be limited, but you may be looking at it the wrong way. Instead of down and out, look up, and the sky’s the limit. Trellises, hanging baskets and wall planters will host flowers, herbs, berries, greens, and compact or dwarf varieties of traditionally larger plants like tomatoes, peppers and eggplants.

If you’re short on patio or balcony space, use multi-tiered stands to hold several pots in a single footprint.

And let your flower pots pull double duty. Plant strawberries and herbs around annuals, and let them spill over the container’s edge.

When planting flowers, think in layers: Use taller plants in the back, mid-height ones in the middle and ground-huggers in front. The design strategy adds depth, even in a thin strip or a window box — and will provide the best bloom for your buck.

Pretty and practical

Seek out multi-tasking plants that provide beauty as well as food. Crops like amaranth, chives, rainbow chard, red lettuces and sweet potatoes will add lovely ornamental value to beds, borders and containers before working a second shift on your dinner plate.

Jessica Damiano writes regular gardening columns for The Associated Press. She publishes the award-winning Weekly Dirt Newsletter. for weekly gardening tips and advice.

For more AP gardening stories, go to .

These playful gardens let people of all ages design enchanting worlds on a small scale. They invite creativity, storytelling, and hands-on gardening.

Fairy gardens are popular because they mix natural elements with imagination, making them a fun hobby for families or individuals.

Choosing the right plants is important for a fairy garden to look beautiful and last a long time.

Outdoor fairy gardens do well with hardy, drought-tolerant plants like sedum, hens and chicks, creeping thyme, and miniature roses. These plants can handle Colorado’s sunny, dry weather.

For indoor gardens, lush plants with small leaves, such as baby tears or polka dot plants, create a magical look and grow well in containers.

Rosemary and Corsican mint are also popular because they look like tiny trees and smell nice, adding extra charm to any fairy garden.

If you want to try fairy gardening, the Denver Botanic Gardens has hands-on workshops where you can make your own magical miniature garden.

Melissa Gula, who manages children and family programs, leads workshops in which participants build miniature landscapes meant to attract magical visitors, such as fairies.

Unlike traditional step-by-step crafts, Gula’s “make and take” fairy garden workshops are designed for children to lead and focus on their own ideas.

The goal is to encourage kids and families to imagine a garden a fairy might enjoy or plant.

“We start off by getting kids to think about what a garden fairy might need. A place to sleep? A place to play? We relate it back to human needs,” Gula said.

The process is open-ended. Prompts such as “What might fairies want or look for in a garden?” inspire wild ideas and creative results.

The workshops provide a mix of store-bought craft supplies and natural materials, such as dried leaves, pinecones, and acorn caps, along with recycled items like bottle caps and shredded paper.

The youngest participants, ages 5 and up, are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild.

“There’s always a kiddo who surprises me by creating something I never would have thought of,” Gula said.

From elaborate fairy treehouses to tiny seed packets for fairies to plant, the creative possibilities are endless.

Plants are carefully selected to fit the garden’s size and grow well.

Hardy, slow-growing plants such as rosemary, Corsican mint, and creeping thyme are easy to care for and add a sensory touch. Gula notes that rosemary looks like a miniature pine tree.

The workshop gardens begin in small 10×10-inch containers, making them easy for young gardeners to handle.

Although the program is mainly for children, adults often enjoy it too.

“It����ap interesting to see how into the project the adults get. It gets their imagination going,” Gula said.

Some families work together and let the kids take the lead, while others buy multiple kits.

You can create fairy gardens indoors or outdoors. At the Denver Botanic Gardens workshops, the materials provided are for indoor gardens.

With hardier plants and weatherproof decorations, outdoor fairy gardens can be just as magical, especially in Colorado’s dry, sunny climate.

Drought-tolerant plants such as sedum, hens and chicks, creeping thyme, and miniature roses do well outdoors. Indoor gardens benefit from lush baby tears or polka dot plants.

The most enchanting aspect of fairy gardening, Gula said, is that there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

“A fairy to one person might be different to another. Use your imagination — it doesn’t have to be a fairy, it could be any creature from your mind.”

Denver Botanic Gardens plans to hold additional fairy garden workshops in August.

Whether you’re 5 or 50, all you need is a bit of soil, some creativity, and a belief in magic to make your own fairy garden.

Sara B. Hansen is a Denver-based freelance writer.

Colorado’s winter has been record-breaking in terms of lack of moisture and warm temperatures. While that might seem beneficial to insects’ survival, a lack of snow cover and early emergence from dormancy .

Strategies for insects surviving winter

Insects overwinter in various life stages, and have adapted to survive cold and snowy winters. Populations ebb and flow from year to year based on a variety of variables, including food/host plant availability, weather patterns and habitat.

Adult insects that will be active on warm winter days include boxelder bugs, elm seed bugs, elm leaf beetles, stink bugs, Western conifer seed bugs, some flies and lady beetles. Sometimes they can be a nuisance — like conifer seed bugs that might wander into your home to find a place to keep warm — but generally these insects are harmless. Boxelder bugs can often appear in high numbers on the south side of a building.

Some species will migrate to sheltered spaces, such as in plant debris or bark crevices. Of note, the convergent lady beetle will migrate to higher elevations and spend the winter in sheltered areas in mass aggregations with other lady beetles.

Some insects will spend the cold temperatures in a hibernation-like state called diapause. This phenomenon is common among insects and arthropods of various life stages, in which they cannot continue development until the temperatures and conditions are more favorable due to antifreeze-like chemicals in their bodies. A common example is the woolly bear caterpillar, which overwinters by hibernating in leaf litter. When summer arrives, they complete metamorphosis and transform to an adult Isabella tiger moth.

Insects that overwinter as eggs include grasshoppers, aphids, mantids, some species of butterflies and moths like the Colorado hairstreak. Some will overwinter as a pupa stage (swallowtail butterflies, and some beetle species), and others as larva or nymphs (ground-nesting bees and wasps, some species of beetles, grasshoppers, moths and butterflies). Some species rely on underground or sheltered protection in the environment during different life stages.

Why am I seeing so many honey bees?

Honey bees are often seen outside the hive on warm winter days. Anytime temperatures rise above 55 degrees, honey bees may take a cleansing flight, which provides them the opportunity to relieve themselves. Honey bees may also forage for whatever they can find, including tiny bits of protein at bird feeders. Since Colorado has seen so many days above 50 degrees this winter, honey bees have become a common sighting.

When temperatures start to drop for winter, honey bees huddle together to make a cluster and shiver their wings to provide warmth within the hive. Their main goal is to keep the queen warm so the colony can survive. The core temperature in the hive can be as high as 90 degrees. A healthy hive with adequate food storage is more likely to survive: beekeepers leave up to 100 pounds of honey in a hive for the bees to feed on throughout the winter.

What is not normal for this winter?

Butterflies and moths that would normally die off as adults in cold winters have been observed flying around, likely having found sheltered areas to stay alive.

Most grasshopper species die off when winter arrives and only the eggs survive in the soil. Some adults may find sheltered areas and survive part of the winter. In Colorado, there are some species where the eggs hatch in the mid- to late summer, and they will overwinter as nymph grasshoppers. It����ap possible to see grasshoppers on these warm, winter days.

But it could be a tough year for grasshoppers. The dry weather may lead to less plant material/weedy plants, which may increase the pressure on irrigated plants such as crops and ornamentals on which grasshoppers survive.

As we move forward into the spring, it is possible for other insects to emerge earlier than normal. This could be a challenge for some, depending on their food source. Insects that depend on pollen and nectar may not have adequate resources available unless flowers are also blooming early.

It����ap also possible to have mismatches between plants and insects. If plants bloom earlier than when the insects emerge, they may not be able to utilize food/resources from the plants.

Pest activity could worsen with warm temperatures. They could emerge early and stay active longer, causing more damage. As an example, ticks are a medically important pest that could potentially have an earlier start to the season. The warm weather may also benefit forest pests. Mountain pine beetles are already predicted to increase significantly this summer due to high availability of old, stressed-out pine trees along the Front Range. Ips beetles emerge when daytime temperatures stay consistently above 50 degrees, which impacts the timing of preventative treatment for valuable trees. Drought stress from the warm, dry winter can cause

additional stress, working to the beetle’s advantage.

What can we do?

Healthy plants will better withstand drought, pests and pathogens. Prioritize trees and shrubs in the landscape. New plants, including drought-tolerant perennials, will also benefit from supplemental water while they are establishing in the soil.

If possible, wait to clean up gardens. Insects and arthropods are still utilizing the leaf litter and plant debris even with warm temperatures. Leaf litter can also be a great mulch to help keep moisture in the soil after watering.

Consider water conservation in your garden and landscape planning. We may see tighter water restrictions this summer. Perhaps there are areas of drought-stressed turf grass that could be transformed into a space that supports drought-tolerant perennials, although be mindful that new plantings will need supplemental water until they are established.

After turning on your irrigation system, plan to do a simple irrigation audit to improve coverage and save on the water bill. Follow your local municipality and water provider for guidance on watering your landscape this season.

For more information on insects, plants and managing landscapes in drought conditions, call your local county Extension office or visit the Colorado State University Extension website at.

Lisa Mason is a horticulture specialist for CSU Extension in Arapahoe County.