About Arvada's Pomona Lakes

How lovely it is to use fresh herbs in cooking. It's sweet to trek out to the home garden and clip herbs as needed, but if your home is in the Denver to Boulder vicinity that pleasure isn't available in the winter.

So ... grow herbs indoors!

I haven't done a lot of this yet, but will increase my indoor herb gardening, because I'm so happy with the results with my basil plants.

These are growing in pots, which are in an AeroGarden 3. I'm using this equipment wrong, I'll tell you up front. The plants are supposed to grow directly in the water - no soil at all. But I wasn't happy with the results when I grew plants that way.

I had two basil plants in a pot outside last summer, and when the cold temps arrived I transplanted them into smaller pots that would fit inside the AeroGarden.

I have to tell you - they have done better under these lights than they did outside. Whenever I want some fresh basil for pizza, spaghetti, a sandwich, I just snip some and it grows back quickly.

The plants are sitting on my desk, so often throughout the day I will pinch off a little piece of leaf and the scent fills the room. Heavenly!

Let me know if you have experience with indoor herb growing. I'd like to know what herbs you've grown, and what equipment you used.

Happy Gardening!

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I love gardening, but my ‘real’ job is helping folks buy and sell homes, mostly between Denver and Boulder. If you’re in need of assistance with residential real estate between Denver and Boulder, Colorado give me a call. Maybe we could squeeze in some gardening talk too!

Copyright © 2012 Joetta Fort

There's not much to look at in high plains home gardens during the winter months, unless gardeners specifically make it happen.

I suspect most gardeners here between Denver and Boulder just put the gardens out of their minds for the winter months. But those of us who would love to see something green and alive even when it's brrrrrrrrr-cold outside work harder at it.

If you feel like I do, you need to know about Lenten Rose (Helleborus orientalis). Low-growing, shade-loving plants that bloom in the very early spring here between Denver and Boulder. They look great, even in January after being buring under snow multiple times.

I'm going to plant more Lenten rose in this area, so there will be a whole area of green instead of the winter brown so prevalent around here.

The blooms of Lenten Rose are quite exotic, but not always easy to see. They tend to face downward and hide under under the large leaves. If you shop around for Lenten Rose, try to find varities that have upward-facing blooms.

Hardiness zones 4-7. Don't let anyone graze on your Lenten Rose, as they are toxic (but the good news is - they're 'deer proof'!). See lots of pictures of Lenten Rose here. As with all perennial plants, try to buy from growers in a zone similar to yours.

I was perusing online articles, and found one written about Lenten Rose by a southern gardener (Grumpy Gardener - his blog is fun to read!), called Do You Know the Secret to Lenten Rose?Grumpy Gardener was told the secret to Lenten Rose is lime.

He goes on to say his Lenten Rose do fine without adding lime, but the main reason I'm mentioning this is to say that the soil here between Denver and Boulder is less acidic than most, so you shouldn't need to add lime. But if your Lenten Rose aren't doing well - and you have them planted in light shade - check the pH of your soil.

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Copyright © 2012 Joetta Fort

I can't speak for all Safeway stores, but the one near my house (80th & Wadsworth) has got a great idea going, to help stock food banks 'serving the local community'. I know Arvada has a nice, big food bank, and they will always take donations.

Here's how it works - grab a bag full of food from the display located near the door and pay $10 for it at the register, then leave the bag in a barrel located near the door.

Easy-peasy!

Interesting personal note: I was willing to do this bag thing, partly because there was no bell-ringer at the door. When there are bell-ringers at the entrance to every store I go into, I do start to feel like I've thrown enough money in the pot, and yet I feel bad about walking past them. So it's uncomfortable.

I was thinking about that, and realized I haven't walked past a bell-ringer all season. So I called the Salvation Army to ask where the bell ringers went. The nice lady who answered the phone said they don't get much in donations from Safeway clients (whaaaaaaat?) so they don't post them there, and Target doesn't allow them, so the bell ringers are across the street at King Sooper's where they get more donations.

So - those of you who prefer Safeway over King Soopers (like I do!) let's show our generosity by buying a bag of food and helping stock a local food bank!

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I write posts on real estate issues and local events in the Denver metro area, especially those *communities between Denver and Boulder, as a public service. My hope is to give people an idea of the ‘flavor’ of our community, in case they’re new or moving to the Denver area.

I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly *suburbs northwest of Denver. *Arvada, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Westminster; also Thornton, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Northglen, Lakewood

Read more about Arvada Colorado, a historic small town between Denver and Boulder

Find Homes for Sale, no Matter Who Listed Them, at Dream House Hunting.

Gardeners – please visit my blog about high plains gardening, Beauty of Gardening.

Copyright © 2011 Joetta Fort, Broker Associate, Equity Colorado

I have to admit up front, usually by now we've had at least one hard frost, usually have even had snow. So all the more tender plants are dead and then we have a few more weeks of summer-like temperatures.

I've always wondered, how many bloomers would I still have if I could have just gotten them through the few nights of freezing temps?

Well this year we've had none of that nonsense, so I can just look around and see the answer to my question. And the answer is - a LOT!! I love it!

In normal years the mums and asters survive the first few light snows, but that's about it. But this year in my Arvada gardens between Denver and Boulder I have all the beauties pictured below. There are also a few roses, lavender, salvia, and even a couple sweet-scented blooms on the summersweet shrub. And I did throw in a shot of a few of the mums, although I have many more. Even in an extended-summer, mums and asters are still the backbone of the garden!

Clematis 'Durandii'. This clematis truly does bloom from spring through first frost, which has not happened yet this year!

Tall Phlox

Russian Sage

Cosmos

Butterfly Bush

Mums - Just a few of the many colors these girls will show off in your autumn garden.

OK - not a flower, but oh how lovely they are!

Mmmmmmmmmmmm ...

Agastache

I write posts on real estate issues and local events in the Denver metro area, especially those *communities between Denver and Boulder, as a public service. My hope is to give people an idea of the ‘flavor’ of our community, in case they’re new or moving to the Denver area.

I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly *suburbs northwest of Denver.

*Arvada, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Westminster; also Thornton, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Northglen, Lakewood

Read more about Arvada Colorado, a historic small town between Denver and Boulder.

Find Homes for Sale, no Matter Who Listed Them, at Dream House Hunting.

Gardeners – please visit my blog about high plains gardening, Beauty of Gardening.

Copyright © 2011 Joetta Fort

Last Saturday, I had to run in to Target for a baby shower gift - you know, the Target right next to the French bakery, La Patisserie Francaise, at 80th and Wadsworth? It just happens to be right across the street from my Pomona Lakes neighborhood.

Anyway, as I stepped out of my car the most wonderful aroma greeted me.

Turns out La Patisserie Francaise was selling fresh-made-to-order crepes out in the sunshine and fresh air. All I had to do was place an order, go inside to pay, come back out and people-watch from the comfort of the sidewalk seating so conveniently provided.

They sell the fresh crepes every Saturday and Sunday morning, just $2.50. They offer both savory and sweet fillings. If you want more details, you'll just have to stop by!

Ah, what bliss!

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I write posts on real estate issues and local events in the Denver metro area, especially those *communities between Denver and Boulder, as a public service. My hope is to give people an idea of the 'flavor' of our community, in case they're new or moving to the Denver area.

I am a residential real estate agent, happily helping folks buy a house or sell a house in the beautiful and friendly *suburbs northwest of Denver.

*Arvada, Broomfield, Lafayette, Louisville, Superior, Westminster; also Thornton, Golden, Wheat Ridge, Northglen, Lakewood

Read more about Arvada Colorado, a historic small town between Denver and Boulder.

Find Homes for Sale, no Matter Who Listed Them, at Dream House Hunting.

Gardeners - please visit my blog about high plains gardening, Beauty of Gardening.

Copyright © 2011 Joetta Fort