Reflections
Newsletter
Take Root. Grow. Flourish.
Spring 2014
Letter From the Director, Michelle Provaznik
Mary Miller recommends:
It is hard to believe that The Gardens will be celebrating its 10th Anniversary this year. I was on the Friends Board
Peppers are among my very favorite plants to grow in the veggie
of Directors in 2004 and remember the grand opening celebration—what a terrific day. How quickly time flies!
garden. I find it is wonderful fun to explore new varieties of peppers
This year, we plan to celebrate the past while preparing for our future.
to the repertoire of tried and true, delicious producers. This year,
I am thrilled to report that The Gardens has hired Russell Mills to complete the design and construction
documents for our remaining gardens. Russell Mills is a local landscape architecture company owned by Craig
Russell and Paul Mills. They bring years of experience designing for many public gardens across the country. In
look for the Shishito pepper at the sale. A small, mild Japanese
pepper, its thin walls roast or fry easily. Salt lightly and enjoy their
superb, rich flavor as an appetizer.
addition, Craig was the Project Manager for our original Master Plan in the late 90’s. His understanding of our
Another summer stunner is the Black Krim tomato. An heirloom
site is sure to help us get a great design.
tomato from Russia, its deep red/purple fruits are large and unique.
So what will be included in the final design? The largest single component is the Great Lawn with its stage/
High in nutrition, it is the epitome of summer.
bandstand. This will become a premier outdoor venue for northern Colorado that balances the need for multiple uses with beautiful garden
Consider growing artichokes this summer! These large plants lend
design. The design will also include plans for the Foothills, Prairie and Undaunted Gardens (yes, Lauren Springer Ogden will design and
architecture to the edible landscape. They will produce full size
install the planting plans!). These gardens will inspire visitors to try our native and xeric plants in their home landscapes while expanding
artichokes until early autumn and then gorgeous purple flowers!
upon the sense of place currently found at The Gardens.
Shishito Pepper
Sherry Fuller recommends:
Persian stonecress, Aethionema grandiflorum Pulchellum Group,
For the past ten years, The Gardens has been cultivating community by connecting people and plants. We hope you will join us in the
is a showy perennial that attracts bees and other pollinators. It
festivities throughout the year, and be assured that we have some exciting plans in the works for the next ten!
grows about 10 inches tall and 14 inches wide with small, almost
succulent, turquoise blue leaves. This stonecress is topped with
racemes of lilac-pink flowers in June and July, and likes our alkaline
Spring Plant Sale is Coming
soil. It is native to Iran and Iraq and is hardy to zone 5.
Mark your calendars for May 10–11 as our Spring Plant Sale is fast
Hypericum olympicum var. uniflorum ‘Citrinum’ is another mouthful
approaching! This year, our Spring Plant Sale will have even more
of Latin for a beautiful plant. While it has no official common name,
perennial varieties available. The sale will also feature many “all-
lemon St. John’s Wort would be appropriate. This perennial has tiny
star” annual varieties and dozens of varieties of vegetable starts.
blue-green leaves and grows 8–12 inches tall and wide. In summer,
The plants recommended here are MUST-HAVE this spring and can
it is covered with showy, lemon-yellow flowers with a little fireworks
conveniently be found at the sale.
explosion of anthers in the center. Hardy to zone 5a, this St. John’s
Wort is drought tolerant and adapts well to our clay soil without
Plant Sale hours include Members-Only hours - Friday, May 9, 3–6
Persian Stonecress
p.m.; Open for the public, Saturday, May 10, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. and
Sunday, May 11, noon–5 p.m.
Ted Schaaf recommends:
Dillon Hancock recommends:
Alyssum stribryni is an excellent choice for a rock garden and even
fits nicely into a trough. Alyssum stribryni has clusters of yellow
flowers raised above short growing silver foliage in spring. Plant in
full sun to partial shade. Alyssum stribryni tolerates dry conditions
and is suitable for xeric plantings, water to get established.
This year, we will have multiple species of Penstemon available.
Penstemon hirsutus pygmaeus, Dwarf Hairy Penstemon is a short
variety with dark green leaves and hairy purple flowers in summer.
Penstemon palmeri, Palmer’s Penstemon, is a taller variety, grows
3'–4' tall, with silver-green toothy foliage and large light pink flowers
in summer. Penstemons all do well in full sun with minimal watering
and will add some beautiful color and texture to your garden.
Palmer’s Penstemon
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being aggressive or invasive.
In Colorado, where rainfall is often scarce, salvias are one of
our best annual flowers. The variety ‘Lady in Red’ has eye
catching flowers and is an All-American Selection Winner. Keep it
deadheaded to insure an endless supply of flowers for both you
and the hummingbirds. Due to its vertical form, it makes a great
accent plant in a container.
Remember the old fashioned moss roses your mom used to grow
in her garden? Portulaca ‘Happy Trails’ has large, vivid semi-double
flowers with a trailing habit that spreads up to 14 inches. Happy
Trails has all the same attributes of its parents; these flowers love
sun and heat. They will respond well to a mid-summer pruning.
The rudbeckia ‘Denver Daisy’ was hybridized in honor of City of
Denver’s 150th anniversary. This stunning rudbeckia grows to 2
feet with a very distinctive ring. They make a bold statement in
any mass plantings.
Denver Daisy
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What to do in the soil this season?
From the President, Randy Morgan
Our Horticulturists recommend…
Spring is just around the corner, which is really hard to believe given the snowy cold
Make sure to do a quick examination of your sprinkler systems
winter we have been experiencing, but it most certainly is! We had a tremendous year
before turning them on for the season. It will save time and
at The Gardens in 2013. More than 700 volunteers contributed almost 7,000 hours to
water to identify and fix any breaks or leaks before charging the
The Gardens. Our memberships in The Friends increased by 50% in 2013, and general
water lines.
visitation increased to almost 60,000 visitors through The Gardens’ gates. I know the
staff really appreciates all that you do for The Gardens. The work load just couldn’t be
Now is a great time to cut back your cool-season ornamental
accomplished without all of us working together. grasses if they were left for winter interest. Fescues, Oat grass and
Calamagrostis (Feather Reed Grass) are all cool-season grasses to
The Board, myself, and staff would also like to extend their thanks and appreciation to
cut back in spring. Warm season grasses can be cut back later in
former Board member Mary Ray for her many years of service to The Gardens. Mary
spring before they begin to green up.
was instrumental in planning and hosting our many member-only events throughout the
year; she offered a warm welcome to visitors and callers at the front desk over the years.
Late spring is a good time to prune early flowering trees and
Not to mention, she worked many outreach events and spring and holiday plant sales.
shrubs. Make sure to wait until the plant is done flowering on
She will be greatly missed on the Board! On the flip side of Mary’s goodbye, I want to
early blooming varieties. A few common trees and shrubs to
extend a warm welcome to our two newest board members, Roger Warren and Jessica
wait to prune after flowering are Lilac, Mockorange, Beautybush,
Hunter. Roger is a member-at-large and Jessica will be our treasurer-in-training.
Serviceberry, Magnolia, Hawthorn and flowering Crabapple.
I look forward to seeing many of you in the coming months as the gardens awaken from
 Dillon Hancock
its winter nap. Thanks for all you do to make The Gardens a special place, and together,
let’s make 2014 fantastic!
If you planted cover crop last autumn to increase soil quality,
incorporate that plant material into the garden soil now. Rototill or
Thank you to Members who have joined or renewed at higher levels:
hand turn the soil using a digging fork. Wait 2–3 weeks and turn
the soil again to prepare the beds for planting.
(As September 5, 2013 – Feb. 14, 2014)
Plant your “cool season” crops such as lettuce, peas, spinach,
Allison Dennis
Connie & John Hanrahan
Jan Gates
Linda Phillips
Randy Touslee
Allison Level
Courtney Moore
Jan Touslee
Linda Sanden
Rebekah Wilson
Amy Kuettner
Daisy John
Janice DeVore
Marlys & John McGrath
Saja Hindi
of spring.
Amy Rosenberg
Desiree Williams
Jessica Warren
Mary & Rick Lyons
Sandy Selleck
Make a map of your garden as you add different crops to the beds.
Anne Johnson
Dolores Williams
JJ Levy
Mary Ann & Carl Chambers
Saul Hopper, Ph.D.
radishes, and greens. Also, plan to plant out the members of the
Brassica family - kale, collards, broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower.
These crops will withstand the cool and fluctuating temperatures
Note varieties of each crop, if known, and then use the map as a tool
While it’s still too early to put tender varieties outside, there are a
Barb & Dave Jehu
Eli Strote
John Williams
M.L. Johnson
Sherry L. Fuller
to inform choices and decisions for next season. Keep notes on great
number of plants that prefer earlier planting. Check our website
Barb Gauthier
Elizabeth Dennis
Julile Holding
Mary Nusser
Sirena Brownlee
performers, delicious varieties, the size of plants, those which did not
under news/links for a chart with suggested planting dates for many
Barbara Case
Faye Irelan
Justin Strote
Maryann Goyn
Stephen Menke
do well, and the date the plants began producing.
different annuals and vegetables.
Barbara Yosses
Frances Burns
Karl Long
Michael Guillaume
Steve Bergstrand
 Mary Miller
Coddling moth is the culprit that causes wormy apples. Treating your
Bill Follis & Marilyn Pultz
Francoise Smith
Karla Lauritsen
Mike Moore
Sue & William Lake
Bob Fuller
George Dickison
Kelly Carpenter
Monica Young
Susan Omori
Bridget Tisthammer
Gretchen Langston
Lanny Goyn
Montana (Tanner) Williams
Teresa Collins
in a wide range of products; ask your nursery professional or read the
Caroline Koff
Heidi Limbaugh
Laurie Sand
Nancy Roberts
Tim Gauthier
active ingredient list.
Chuck Riblett & Carolyn Taylor
Hsiufen Sung
Laurie Zenner
Nancy Stewart
Vanessa Aschmann
Fruit trees, roses, lawns, vegetables, annuals and container plantings
Cindy Guillaume
James Warren
Lawrence Mason
Pat Walsh
Yvonne Hanning
all need regular fertilizer to do their best. Spring is a great time to feed
Clark Sand
apple trees regularly beginning a week or two after petal drop can
control the problem. Try spinosad, an organic control that can provide
good coddling moth control in a safer manner. Spinosad is available
fruit trees and lawns. Fertilize roses as they begin to leaf out. Organic
fertilizers will provide nutrients more slowly over a longer time.
Friends Board of Directors
 Sherry Fuller
Randy Morgan, President | Dulcie Willis, Vice President | Sally Guthart, Secretary | Barbara Jehu, Treasurer
Roger Warren | John Papile | Jessica Hunter
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In their Own Words: A Decade of Service
“I remember two special times from volunteering in the “early days”
Over the course of this year, we will celebrate our past by recognizing our volunteers and staff who have participated in The Gardens growth
of the gardens:
since 2004. This season we will highlight Beth Nelson, Diane Crews, and Elaine Spencer, three fantastic volunteers who have been with us from
I was privileged to be volunteering when the stone for the water
the very beginning. When asked what volunteering at The Gardens has meant to them over the years, here’s a snapshot of their story…
feature in the children’s garden was lowered into place by a
huge crane. The artist who had carved the water system into
“Volunteering at The Gardens started as a way, not just to help
the rock was there directing and making certain that it was at
this wonderful facility grow, but to allow me to learn. Over the past
the correct height and angle. I was worried that the small pieces
ten years, my life has been enriched in enumerable ways at the
of rock used as shims would not hold up, but then everything
Gardens—whether working in the Greenhouse, helping set up for
was cemented in place and all was well. It is one of my
plant sales, assisting in the maintenance of the various outdoor areas,
grandchildren’s favorite places in The Gardens. preparing plant inventories, or other assorted tasks.I’m sure that I
The other day I remember was when a woman came to the front
speak for all the other volunteers when I say that the appreciation
desk and just stood there. She told me that her husband was dying
shown to us by the staff during our time at The Gardens is one of
and she had just had some bad health news herself. Then she said
the main reasons that we continue to volunteer. It has always felt
that she was going outside to look at the flowers—that they always
to me that I am part of an extended family who shares in a love of
comforted her and made her feel better, so she did. She was there
everything The Gardens has to offer to everyone who visits.”
for over an hour—and that was when The Gardens were simply pots
 Diane Crews
of plants and what there was of the Children’s Garden. Right after
that a cranky man came into the desk and told me The Gardens
were a waste of the taxpayers’ money. He had no clue how valuable
they were on that day.
I don’t volunteer as much now days, except in the Daylily Garden,
but I love to show The Gardens to people and I try to go see what
is growing as often as possible. The Gardens are an inspiration, a
respite, and an education! We are lucky to have such a wonderful
resource in our community!”
Elaine Spencer helps serve wine to guests at a recent
Garden a’Fare event.
 Elaine Spencer
Beth Nelson showers the seedlings in the Greenhouse.
Youth Program Spring Update
“Many years ago I was a Docent for the Denver Botanic Gardens.
Read and Seed
I led tours of the Conservatory in the winter and tours in the
Read and Seed is the longest running program at the Gardens on Spring Creek. Offered four
Summer Gardens during the summer months. Then I took a
times per week, Read and Seed is designed for preschool aged children and their parent. Each
good look at my time and expenses. I would spend three hours
45 minute session includes story time plus an educational hands-on activity based on nature. This
driving back and forth for maybe an hour of ‘touring.’ So with a
program helps children develop school readiness skills including early language comprehension
heavy heart, I decided to stop when they started refurbishing the
and fine motor skills. Read and Seed was enjoyed by nearly 2,000 children in 2013. A goal for
Conservatory, and it was closed for a very long time. And that is
when I made my wish—that someday Fort Collins would have a
Botanic Garden and I would be part of it.
Read & Seed is to maintain quality programming while keeping the fee affordable so that it can be
enjoyed by all families. As a result of a generous donation made by supporters Susan and Robert
Mansfield, much of our material costs for 2014 have been offset.
I heard about the possibility and I went to all the open meetings
Diane Crews helps maintain our perennial beds at The Gardens.
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about the plans and met the people who were interested. Fast
Food for Life
forward to January 2, 2004—I was so very happy to welcome
Another example of dedicated community partners working together to provide quality
people on that great day who were interested in what the future
programming for youth is our new program, Food for Life Cooking Class. The Gardens, Boys and
plans were for the Botanic Garden of Fort Collins. It became the
Girls Club of Larimer County and Sapna Von Reich, Food for Life Instructor, have been working
Gardens on Spring Creek shortly after the official opening. I am so
together since 2011 to empower youth through education and hands-on practice in gardening,
happy to be able to celebrate 10 wonderful years of our beautiful
shopping, cooking, and eating healthy, affordable foods. This spring, we are pleased to announce
Gardens on Spring Creek.”
the addition of University of Colorado Health’s Healthy Kids Club to our Food for Life team. Healthy
 Beth Nelson
Kids Club (HKC) is underwriting the instructor costs of the program, helping to make it affordable
for all youth in the community.
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How to find us:
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
2145 Centre Ave.
Fort Collins CO 80526
970.416.2486
fcgov.com/gardens
The Gardens
on Spring Creek
College Avenue
N
Centre Avenue
Shields Street
Prospect Avenue
2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins CO 80526
PAID
Fort Collins, CO
Permit No. 2
Drake Road
Our Hours:
9 a.m.–5 p.m., Mon.–Fri.
9 a.m.–4 p.m., Sat.
Noon–5 p.m., Sun*
*(Sunday hours begin May 4)
Welcome Official Gardens Sponsor:
Thank You Perennial Fund & Event Sponsors
The Gardens on Spring Creek is grateful to the many local businesses and foundations that provide in-kind services and cash donations
to our organization. Their support is critical to the success of our special events and overall operations. 2013’s corporate and foundation
donors included:
Agrium Advanced Technologies
Anne Clark Design
Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado,
Northern Chapter
Beet Street
Belgard
Bobcat of the Rockies
Bohemian Foundation
Canyon Chop House
Cargill
City of Fort Collins, Fort Fund
City of Fort Collins, Utilities
City of Greeley
Clays’ Ace Hardware
Colina Foundation
Color Pro Print
Colorado Creative Industries
Colorado Health Foundation
Colorado Machinery
Colorado Vista Landscape Design
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Coloradoan
Comcast Spotlight
Cornerstone Home Lending
Co’s BMW Center
CPS Distributors
Davey Tree
DBC Irrigation
DeAnge Stone
Earthborn Landscape Design
Ed Carroll Motors
Eye Center of Northern
Colorado
Fiona’s Delicatessen & Catering
Foodies Culinary Academy
Foothills Landscape
Maintenance
Fort Collins Brewery
Fort Collins Landscaping
Fort Collins Magazine
Fort Collins Nursery
Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery
Fossil Creek Nursery
Gallegos Sanitation
Garden Art Landscaping
Garden Thyme
General Shale
GrowGreen Landscape
and Maintenance
Gulley Greenhouse
Harlequin’s Gardens
Heidi Muller Photography
Hilton Fort Collins
Jax Farm & Ranch
Jax Fish House
Kaiser Permanente
KUNC FM
LaPorte Avenue Nursery
Lawn Doctor
Liebl Landscape
Lindgren Landscape
Loveland Water & Power
Modern Woodmen
Fraternal Financial
Moot House
Odell Brewing Company
OtterCares
Outpost Sunsport
Ram’s Point Winery
Savory Spice Shop
Spoons Soups Salads
Starbucks
Summit Lawn and Landscape
Sustainescapes
Swingle
The Rock Garden
Throgmorton Plant Management
University of Colorado Health
Ward Orthodontics
Waterwise Land & Waterscapes
Whole Foods Market
Wilbur’s Total Beverage
Wild Iris Living
Zak George Landscaping