Three June Workshops Scheduled for Twilight Garden Series
Teaching local green thumbs about drought-resistant and water-wise gardening will be the focus of the annual Twilight Garden Series, held this year in three sessions during June on campus at Colorado State University.
The annual series, which is in its tenth year this summer, consists of three, two-hour workshops. The topics are Keeping a Healthy Lawn in a Drought, Gardening in Containers, and Landscaping with Water Conservation in Mind. The workshops will be held form 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on June 3, June 10 and June 17 at the Colorado State University Plant Environmental Research Center – PERC – at 630 W. Lake St.
Keeping a Healthy Lawn in a Drought, slated for June 3, will offer information on watering and maintaining a lawn for optimum appearance and vigor, including techniques that can be used during watering restrictions. Brent Mecham, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy, will discuss how to apply the right amount of water to a lawn, conducting water audits, and explain irrigation clocks and other water-conserving equipment. Sarah Wilhelm, Colorado State Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture researcher, will talk about good turf management within water restrictions. Tony Koski, Colorado State Cooperative Extension turfgrass specialist, will answer the question of how much water a lawn really needs.
Gardening in Containers, held on June 10, will highlight how to grow attractive and productive vegetables and herbs in many types of containers. Jeff Sorenson, Rabbit Shadow Farms, will give tips on raising herbs in containers. David Whiting, Colorado State Cooperative Extension Master Gardener coordinator, will highlight secrets to raising vegetables in containers. Connie Nelson Cleverly and Tom Schumacher, both with Gulley Greenhouse, will review appropriate containers for container gardening.
The final workshop in the series, held June 17, Landscaping with Water Conservation in Mind, will feature presentations on Xeriscape, a water-conserving gardening and landscaping approach. This workshop will highlight plants, including those native to the area, that are adapted to Colorado’s dry climate. Scott Skogerboe, Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery, will review landscaping with plants native to Colorado. Phil Phelan, Bath Nursery, will teach attendees the basics of Xeriscape design. Jim Klett, Colorado State professor and Cooperative Extension specialist, will outline drought tolerant woody plants and Plant Select. Plant Select is an annual program, in conjunction with Denver Botanic Gardens and the Green Industries of Colorado, which recommends plants appropriate to Colorado gardeners.
A $5 fee allows admittance to the series. Refreshments and door prizes will be given. Workshops are held outdoors, rain or shine, and no pre-registration is required.
Children’s gardening activities are available in an adjacent space for no additional cost.
The annual Twilight Garden Series is sponsored by Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, the university’s Department of Horticulture and Landscape Architecture, and the City of Fort Collins horticulture program. For more information, call 970-491-7019 or 970-491-7684.