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Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 5, 2018 Page 1
INDEX InsideOut 2018© is published in Berthoud, Colo., by the Berthoud Weekly Surveyor. The publishers reserve the right to edit, classify or reject any advertising or news copy. Liability for any newspaper error in an advertisement shall not exceed the cost of space occupied by error. The publishers assume no liability for any advertising which is not published for any cause. The publishers assume absolutely no obligation or responsibility for subject matter in copy placed by its advertisers or their agents. It is also understood that the advertiser and the agency placing such advertising jointly and severally agree to indemnify Berthoud Weekly Surveyor, LLC against all expense, loss or damage sustained by reason of printing such copy.
Spring tasks for lawn & garden ....... 2 The buzz about bees ..................... 4&5 Inexpensive interior makeoverssmall updates make big impact........ 6 Gardeners tips to achieving year-long colorful garden beds ..................... 8&9 7 house plants that will live despite me................................. 10&11 Catering to Colorado’s native plants .. ..........................................................12 Landscaping to please the eye and mind .................................................14 What are the various options available for home owners looking to install wood flooring? ...................... 15 All about trees — what you should and shouldn’t plant in Berthoud ........ ..........................................................16 Time to spring clean, but no time to haul it away? all a professional hauler.............................................. 19 High end Thirty Three line by Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture.................20
Waking up the spring vegetable garden
By Erika Strote Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County When the weather cycles wildly between sun, rain, wind and snow, you know spring has arrived. Time to wake up the garden! Preparing the garden bed:
Dig a handful of soil and squeeze it into a ball. If the soil crumbles easily when released, it is dry enough to work. If it stays balled up, it’s better to wait, so as not to compact the soil. Add organic soil amendments mixed to a depth of 4-8”, if desired. Research suggests avoiding unnecessary tilling, as this destroys the beneficial soil structure — if you turned your beds in the fall, try skipping it this spring.
Planting spring crops:
Cool season crops can handle frost and some snow. Directly seed radishes, lettuces, carrots, beets, kale and spinach into the garden beds now. Soak snap pea seeds overnight before planting to help ensure germination. Resist the temptation to plant warm weather crops. Mother’s Day is considered the average last frost date for Front Range gardeners, but the actual date can vary widely. Warm season vegetables like basil and tomatoes will not tolerate frost. Wait until late May or early June to plant these delicate crops. uestions about gardening? Ask a Colorado Master Gardener! http:// www.cmg.colostate.edu/ask-cmg. shtml
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Spring tasks for the lawn and garden
By Illeane Podolski Colorado State University Extension Master Gardener in Larimer County
In spring we are faced with many garden projects. Starting now with some chores will help keep our gardening more manageable and produce healthier plants as we approach the growing season. Starting with a soil test gives you an insight as to how a soil affects plant growth and can help your garden be more successful. Soil sample canisters are available at Colorado Front Range local nurseries, county xtension offices and at the CSU Soil Testing Lab (soiltestinglab.colostate.edu). Follow the recommendations on how to improve your soil for better productivity. Clear garden beds of leaves, twigs and general debris. This allows you to assess the condition of the plants, such as perennials and ornamental grasses. If your spring bulbs are coming through the soil, protect them with mulch while the temperatures are still below freezing at night even if day temperatures
are between 50-60 degrees. Weeding is most effective now before seeding occurs. Pull or till young weeds or use preemergence weed products (do not use these in areas of the gar-
den that you’re planning to sow seed). Cut back perennials close to the ground especially those that were left as winter interest. Cut back ornamental grasses as new growth emerges from the base. Cutting low to the ground is necessary. Splitting apart (dividing) may be required on older, thicker perennials and grasses. Refreshing mulch now will protect plant roots and reduce evaporation as temperatures heat up in summer. Don’t prune roses until after the last frost in early to midMay. If pruned too early, growth is promoted and can be damaged from freezing temperatures. arly spring flowering shrubs, such as lilacs and forsythia, should not be pruned until after they have bloomed. Fertilize your lawn, if you didn’t in the fall. Be sure to water in well with at least ½” to 1” of water or precipitation. Starting some of these garden tasks now will relieve us of a long summer to do list, and gets us excited for the beautiful flowers, butterflies and bees that will soon be gracing our gardens.
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“Forward progress. I just want forward progress,” she said. What does forward progress look like? During the spring and summer, Conrey watches to see if the bees are foraging. Within the hive, are the bees producing? Is there fresh, white comb on the frames? Are they reproducing? “A good day is when it’s all just lifting lids,” she said. “I open the lid, look inside to make sure the hive is progressing, does it look healthy? If I see that it is, then I move on to the next one.” When the bees are healthy, the frames of the hives abound with Beth Conrey will deliver wax-capped cells, trapping sweet honey inside. Conrey transports her Bees 101 talk from 6 to the frames back to her home in Berthoud for production. On the 8 p.m. on April 13 at the back of her house, west-facing windows frame the foothills of the Loveland Museum, 503 N. Rocky Mountains, as well as her land, two bee hives, a couple of Lincoln Ave., in Loveland. dogs and the Honey House. Like a hive, the Honey House is a hub of activity for Conrey and her workers. It was designed by her sister and even won an award from the American Institute of Architecture. Inside this immaculate facility, Conrey, her husband and their crew use heated knives to scrape the caps of beeswax off of the frames, then place the frames into an extractor to harvest the honey. The results of these efforts — the bees’ and Conrey’s — are buckets and jars full of the sweet, beautiful golden honey. The Bee Squared operation also produces candles from the wax, natural soaps, honey in the comb, and lip balm. rofit from the sale of these products supports bee and pollinator issues, Conrey said. That’s the fun and rewarding enterprise that can blossom with healthy bees and hives, brimming and dripping with life. Unfortunately, bees and their hives aren’t always healthy. Some just die. Sometimes when Conrey is lifting lids she’ll smell a foul odor, notice fewer bees, no bees, dead bees or
The buzz about bees By Michelle Ancell Special to the Surveyor
Life for people today is often a frenzy of constant motion, driving back and forth to work and home, responding to buzzing phones and trying to keep life under control. It’s easy to get lost in the day-to-day and forget about nature’s own miraculous creatures, their harried lives, social structure, reproduction and threats. ne of nature’s best examples of this flow is the honey bee, which operates at its own frantic pace, pollinating flowers and buzzing back to the hive with nectar. Beth Conrey, vice president of the Boulder County Beekeepers’ Association, will speak next month about honey bees’ physiology and social structure at her Bees 101 talk at the Loveland Museum as part of a comprehensive bee exhibit and program. As owner of Berthoud-based Bee Squared Apiaries, Conrey wants us to pause to consider the complex world of honey bees, their value to the environment, and the natural and man-made threats to the insects. A no-nonsense woman, Conrey drives her pickup truck throughout Northern Colorado where she tends to more than 100 honey bee hives. She lifts the lid of the hives to determine if the bees are active and numerous.
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no queen — all bad signs. A 2017 survey by the Department of Agriculture’s Animal Plant Health Inspection Service listed several threats to bees: pesticides, infectious disease, and pests, and the loss of habitat and habitat diversity due to increased urbanization. Conrey tries to protect against the disease and pests. One major threat is the Varroa mite, an external parasitic mite that attacks honey bees. Another, much larger threat, are bears. This past year, a bear and its cub wrecked a hive in Conrey’s yard. Boxes were broken and scattered on the ground, the brood scooped out and eaten, and the honey ground into the dirt. “It’s not the honey the bears like,” Conrey said. “It’s the brood.” But of all the threats, pesticides are the worst, Conrey said. When they come in contact with a hive, they can immediately kill bees or slowly disable the whole hive. “Pesticide exposure results in the compromised health of the hive or to the
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queen,” Conrey said. “Which typically means a longer, slower demise of the hive. In 2017 the Environmental Protection Agency approved the Policy to Mitigate Acute Risk to Bees from Pesticide Products to reduce the negative impacts of pesticides. But bee people, like Conrey, aren’t convinced it’s enough. In fact, it doesn’t extend to Conrey’s practice. It only covers bees that are under contract to provide pollination services. Because, despite the pretty labels for the honey, despite the award-winning Honey House, and despite Conrey’s 20 years of experience, this winter she discovered most of her hives in town and out east are dead. These same hives were healthy and plentiful last summer. What happened? It’s enough to bring tears to Conrey’s eyes. It is the threats she talks about. There are so many variables, the mites, viruses and pesticides, that weaken bees. And it’s not just Conrey’s hives. Bees have been on the decline for decades. From April 2016 to April 2017 a survey of 5,000 beekeepers conducted by the Bee Informed Partnership and the Apiary Inspectors of America reported a 33 percent decline in colonies. “A healthy bee population is related to our ecosystem biodiversity and worldwide food production,” she said. “As the species at the top of the food pyramid, we should be worried.” And ultimately that’s why she gives talks like Bees 101. That is why she shares her passion and knowledge, hoping some folks in the audience might be inspired to plant flowers and shrubs that bees like, such as morning glories or lilacs, and to quit using pesticides. Copyright 2018 NOCO Style magazine. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.
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Inexpensive interior makeovers — small updates make a big impact By Amber McIver-Traywick The Surveyor You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to revamp the interior of your home. These simple and inexpensive ideas will help get the creative uices flowing to help you refresh the space you call home this spring. Area rugs can be expensive, but why not take one you already have and repurpose it. Move a rug from the living room into the kitchen or from a bedroom to a den. Changing patterns and colors used in a room can make a big difference in how a space looks and feels. Styling shelves (also called “curating”) can take a room from bland to “Better Homes” with a few pieces strategically placed. Take objects you already have and make it look like an interior designer planned out your space. Get ideas about proportions and what might look appealing in magazines, on interest and websites find inspiration anywhere you can. The goal is to minimize random clutter and keep the room looking put-together. Coffee/drink bars are a popular way to add a nice and convenient pop to any kitchen. And there is no need to go buy a brand new piece. The item you use for the bar can be repurposed storage bins, cabinets, or even simple book shelves. Adding castors can help make the piece even more functional. It’s a practical solution that helps with clearing counter space (a new home for the Keurig, your tea collection, or adult beverages, plus a fun place to display your coffee mugs or drinkware) and can add character and visual interest to a space. Paint. It can completely change the look and feel of a space. Refresh a room with a new coat, try out an accent wall, or paint the ceiling or floor. ainting baseboards and trim a contrasting color can also add visual interest or tone down a bold color choice. Painting cabinets is a great way, with minimal investment, for your whole kitchen or bathroom to look completely different. It takes a little effort, but it pays off. In the end you get a wonderful new look. Bonus tip: when painting cabinets; number doors, drawers, knobs and pulls by labeling them with painter’s tape so you’ll know how to replace everything correctly,
saving time and your patience. New window treatments can be pricey but, with a little repurposing, ingenuity and creativity, you can dress up a room without breaking your budget. Hitting up a sale at a local craft store or upholstery shop can produce a wide variety of inexpensive patterns, colors and materials. You don’t have to be a seamstress to make basic no-sew curtains. Visit everydaygoodthinking.com/2014/02/10/diy-no-sew-curtains-tutorial/ for step-by-step instructions. Everything from pillow cases and drop cloths, to place-mats and old coffee sacks, can be used to make fun and casual valances. Use foam-core board covered in material to create a cornice. Even an inexpensive shower curtain can be cut down to make café curtains for the kitchen. Simple changes like new bedding can make a huge difference in a bedroom. To keep things even more budget friendly, just invest in a new comforter or duvet, lots of visual impact for a small hit to the wallet. Adding a plant to a room can also bring a barren corner, a nonfunctional fireplace, or a boring wall to life, literally. And if you’re like me, and there’s a good probability the house plant won’t survive for more than a month, a well-constructed artificial plant can look e ually as inviting. Slipcovers have come a long way over the years. ith sleek, fitted options suitable for a wide variety of furniture pieces and styles, it’s easy to find the color and style you want. They bring new life to old furniture or keep new furniture from the wear and tear of pets, kids, and daily use. If you want to try out a bold color or pattern but don’t want to make a huge investment, it’s a fun way to try something new out before you fully commit. Sometimes the smallest upgrade can make a big difference. Here are a few more uick updates to consider change out a lamp shade, install a chair rail, hang a mirror to make a small space feel bigger, make a table runner, get a new shower curtain, buy inexpensive frames and hang children’s artwork or pictures from last year’s wall calendar like a collage, stencil a monogram with fabric paint on plain pillows. The possibilities are endless. As spring rolls around and the world is coming back to life – bring some new life back into your home by trying out some of these simple inexpensive ideas.
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Gardeners offer tips to achieving year-long colorful garden beds
Photo by Shelley Widhalm
Alison O’Connor, horticulture agent at Colorado State University Extension in Larimer County, sits in front of Oregon grape holly at the Foote Lagoon in Loveland. The broadleaf evergreen keeps its leaves all year and shows bright yellow o ers in the s rin and fall and a inter olor of reen to red lea es. By Shelley Widhalm The Surveyor Colorado’s snowy, windy winters shouldn’t keep flower and plant enthusiasts from planting an all-season outdoor garden. Gardeners just need to know what to plant and when to keep the structure and color continuing from spring to winter. “When you’re planting a garden, think about when the plants are blooming and then plant plants with different seasons of bloom, so you always have something interesting to look at or something is always in bloom,” said Alison O’Connor, horticulture agent at Colorado State University Extension in Larimer County, Starting with the spring, O’Connor recommends finding plants that have a multi-bloom or long bloom season. Multibloomers have an initial thick bloom and can be cut back for a second flush of flowers. xamples include lavender that blooms in mid-summer and Coreopsis (tickseed), which has small yellow or white flowers and blooms in late une or early uly. oth of the plants are perennials and will grow year to year. “You would cut or prune them back to encourage a second set of blooms,” O’Connor said. “It won’t be as great, but it’s something.” Early in the spring season, O’Connor recommends planting creeping phlox, a pink and purple ground cover that produces three weeks of blooms. “It’s great for early spring color,” ’ onnor said. “ t’s one of the first things
to bloom, and it’s exciting to see after winter. It has a place, but it’s not one you would plan for a summer’s worth of color.” Planting bulbs in the fall is another way to bring in color in the spring, said Emily Weakland, annual manager at the Loveland Garden Center & Nursery. “In the springtime, your biggest show is to put some bulbs in,” Weakland said. ulbs, which are low maintenance, can last four to five years before they begin to die off and need to be replanted, Weakland said. She suggests tulips, daffodils, crocus and hyacinth. “You don’t have to do a whole lot with them. … They’re a lot of show for not a lot of work,” Weakland said. Daffodils, tulips and hyacinths can offer an extended blooming season when different species are planted in the same flower bed to bloom at different times, O’Connor said “You could have bulbs blooming, depending on what you’re planting, for six to eight weeks,” O’Connor said. Good plants for the summer include daylilies and salvia, which flower all summer and provide color in mid uly when things are hot and tired, Weakland said. Other summer plants that give the vibrant colors include iris and shrub rose. For the fall, Weakland recommends fall mums, Autumn oy sedum, goldenrod, lack yed Susans and iris. “Fall mums are pretty low maintenance. You’ll want to cut them back at the
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end of the growing season,” Weakland said. Gardens can continue their color into the winter months with good foundation plants that provide structure and texture, such as red-twig or yellow-twig dogwood that have a colorful stem after losing their leaves, as well as ornamental grasses and dwarf conifers, Weakland said. Ornamental grasses that work well in Colorado include feather reed, blue oat and maidenhair, Weakland said. Though not as showy, the grasses add movement, structure and height to a garden bed, she said. “Leave them through the winter, so you have a little structure or form, and cut them back in the spring to allow for other growth,” Weakland said. Ornamental grasses, which bloom in late summer into the fall, offer a variety of colors into the winter, such as green, yellow, purple and red, O’Connor said. Some are green in the summer and turn red or purple in the fall, she said. The best time to cut them back is in early spring to allow for their structure during the colder months, she said. “I tend to wait until new growth emerges at the base, late March or April usually,” O’Connor said. Trees and shrubs are another way to extend the color in a garden, O’Connor said. Two trees with multi-season appeal include the serviceberry and the Kentucky coffee tree. The serviceberry has white flowers that turn into a dark purple fruit with the look and taste of blueberries and is sold as a single stem or multi-stem, resulting in a tree or shrub growth, O’Connor said. The Kentucky coffee tree is a drought-tolerant, stout tree with thick, coarse branches and pods that remain through the win-
ter months, she said. The Japanese tree lilac is another good tree for color, producing creamy white blooms in late spring, as is the redbud, which produces blooms that appear as small pink clusters before the tree leafs out in the spring, O’Connor said. For the shrubs, she recommends Oregon grape holly and roses, which have three-season appeal with the blooms lasting a couple of months in the summer. During the growing season, trees, shrubs and perennials can be supplemented with annuals, but once the frost hits, annuals die back and decay to feed the next generation of plants, Weakland said. The list of annuals good for Colorado includes geraniums, marigolds, pansy, petunias, salvia and sunflowers. xamples of perennials are goldenrod, a late summer bloomer with golden yellow flowers, and Sweet Autumn clematis, a vine that blooms in late summer into the fall. “I would recommend you plant plants that are appropriate for Colorado,” O’Connor said. “Accept the conditions that you have. Don’t focus on what you can’t grow, focus on what you can grow because there are a lot of choices.” Plants need to be planted in shade or sun, based on if they are shade- or sun-tolerant or want full sun, O’Connor said. Plants requiring full sun can be planted on the west or south side, and plants requiring partial shade or sun do well with eastern exposure. Mulch also is important to amend the soil with organic matter, improve moisture retention and reduce weed growth, O’Connor said. “When you have mulched, it adds a tidy appearance in the winter,” O’Connor said. “Water is important. It’s always important to water your plants to get them established … and group plants with similar water needs.”
Did you know? Special to the Surveyor
Rain barrels provide an eco-friendly opportunity to repurpose rain water while helping homeowners conserve water and save money. But homeowners must exercise caution when using rain barrels in their lawns and gardens. Water collected by rain water should never be used for drinking, cooking or bathing. Pet owners should know that water collected by rain barrels also should not be used to bathe pets. Rain barrel lids should also be tightly secured to prevent mosquito infestations. Secure rain barrels to also protect children and pets from falling in. verflow valves should always direct water away from structures to prevent water damage to homes or sheds. In addition, to reduce risk of falls and injury, homeowners should be certain that water is not directed toward sidewalks, driveways or other areas where foot traffic is common. Before the arrival of winter, homeowners should disconnect their rain barrels from downspouts to prevent the formation of ice.
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Seven house plants that will live despite me!
By Amber McIver-Traywick The Surveyor
House plants can be a beautiful and inviting element to any room. Dead house plants tend to have the opposite effect. To help those, who like me, struggle to keep plants in a flourishing state, I have compiled a list of seven of the easiest plants to grow indoors. For added convenience I’ve also placed these selections on a scale from 1 - 10. One representing plants that will wither if I so much as look at them, to 10 being hearty, nearly impossible-tokill plant varieties that might survive a nuclear blast alongside Twinkies and cockroaches. African violets 7/10 - This pretty African Violet flowering plant will bloom several times a year and appears on this list because my mother insists I could easily care for one. African violets like bright and indirect sunlight. They also like their soil to stay somewhere between moist and dry. According to Holtkamp Greenhouses, a company that specializes in African violets, allowing the roots to dry out before watering will encourage the plant to bloom. They also suggest watering with room-temperature water by placing the grower’s pot in water and allowing the plant to absorb water, but not for more than 30 minutes. Whether you decide to water on the surface or from the bottom, it’s important not to get water droplets on the leaves, as this can result in spotting. You can also purchase African violet fertilizer to promote growth. Rubber tree plant 7.5/10 – Whether you want a medium-sized house plant
or a stunning tree (they can grow upward of 50 feet – but indoors typically six to nine feet), the rubber plant is your go-to. These plants like well-draining aerated soil. Apartmenttherapy.com recommends one part peat, one part pine bark and one part coarse sand, or perlite, to keep your rubber plant happy. Bright indirect sunlight is preferred, and some growers recommend sitting them near a window with sheer curtains. These plants grow during the summer and are dormant in winter (which is why it rated a 7.5 on the survivability scale despite many resources saying they are easy to grow). Mist the leaves and keep the soil moist with lukewarm water during summer, watering just after the soil becomes dry to the touch, and reduce watering to once or twice a month in the winter. If the leaves turn brown it needs more water, if they are yellow and brown and drop off you’re over doing it. Remove dead or dying leaves and fertilize once a year in the summer. eace lily . These plants will flourish indoors and are a popular home and office option, but be aware they are toxic to pets. They flourish with medium to low light. Plants kept in low light will tend to look more like lush green foliage, and those with more light will grow more of the white blooms. Peace lilies tend to be more susceptible to over watering than under watering, so wait until the soil feels completely dry before watering. According to gardeningknowhow. com, these plants will eventually require repotting, and sure signs this needs to happen are drooping less than a week after being watered; and crowded, deformed leaf growth. NASA research has shown these plants are Begonias
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PLANTS
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cont. from pg. 10
incredible air purifiers and remove VOC benzene, a carcinogen found in paints, furniture wax and polishes. t also absorbs acetone emit ted by electronics, adhesives, and certain cleaners. egonias . These plants have beautiful blooms that come in a wide variety of foliage colors and pat terns. nowing specifically what variety of begonia you
Spider plant
have can determine specifically how to best care for your plant, but in gen eral they like bright, indirect light and high humidity. Sit ting your flowers in a shallow tray of pebbles and water, which allows the plant to get the hu midity they need in doors without water logging the soil, is
recommended. oot rot is common in these plants, and some experts advise watering only after the plant begins to show signs of being dry not an uncom mon site for many attempted house plants of mine anyway . ake sure to keep the leaves dry, as they are sus ceptible to powdery mildew. Spider plant . know for a fact can keep this plant alive for a not insignificant period of time, as en oyed one in my office for many years. was told after it died it should have been repotted, and for this dropped its survivability by a half
point. Spider plants are considered one of the best house plants. They like well drained soil and bright, indi rect light. Allow the plant to dry out some between watering. ou can also propagate this plant by planting the small offshoots that dangle from the mother plant, called “spiderettes.” As a side note, according to a orth Da kota State niversity study, cats are attracted to spider plants, as they are mildly hallucinogenic to felines and offer the same affects as catnip. ven though the plant is considered nontox ic to pets, eating them shouldn’t be en couraged. esearch at the niversity of awaii at anoa also showed these plants help reduce stress at work and improve air uality. Aloe These guys make it to the top of my scale for survivability. They are pretty, hearty, are multifunc tional, and re uire minimal care. They are great for sunburns which ’m also prone to and don’t meet their demise easily. These plants like sunlight, so place them near a window or the brightest area of your home or office. ardenguides.com recommends using a cactus potting soil mix or adding per lite or building sand to regular potting soil for your aloe plant. se a pot with a drainage hole too. These plants don’t like to sit in wet soil long. Soak all the soil and then let it completely dry before watering again. These aren’t persnickety plants and generally don’t need fertilized. Air plants These incredible plants don’t need soil to survive. This means their odds of surviving me are fairly high. lace these plants in rain or bottled water for minutes every days, they will only absorb the amount of water they need. ollow that by laying them out to dry com pletely and these beau ties will flourish. f you can’t give them a bath that often you can mist them light ly between soaks. The Air plant Air lant Supply ompany suggests a longer two hour soak every two three weeks in drier climates. These amazing plants like bright filtered light. To keep your air plant happy you can also fertilize by adding a pinch of bromeliad or orchid fertilizer to your mister or plant bath, but it’s not necessary. t’s popular to see these plants in small glass contain ers or globes. ou will have to water the plant less often if your plant is in one of these, as it will take more time for the plant to dry out. ust makes sure it isn’t in direct sunlight.
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Catering to Colorado’s native plants
Special to the Surveyor Please, excuse your excuses when it comes to gardening. Just because you don’t have the magical “green thumb” doesn’t mean you can’t cultivate a flourishing garden. ou simply need to cater to your audience. In this case we are not referring to Colorado’s rapidly growing population as the main target audience. Rather, you will need to be mindful of the steadfast ualities of the olorado landscape that have been present for centuries on end primarily, this means being mindful of the alkaline soil and the uickly changing weather patterns. The best way to set yourself up for success is to work with your surroundings by selecting plants that are native to olorado. The benefits of using native plants are plentiful. ative species re uire less external inputs such as water and fertilizers. They are also more resistant to pests and diseases when planted in a landscape that mimics where they would naturally grow in the wild. This summer, whether you are attempting to care for a garden for the first time or you are taking a second (or a third, or a fourth) stab at it, go easy on yourself. Consider integrating some of the following native plants to your landscape ocky ountain penstemon penstemon strictus referring the dry climate and sunny days, penstemons flourish in well lit areas with little water. Their bluish purple flowers bloom from summer through fall and they can grow as tall as 36 inches. lanket flower gaillardia aristata lourish-
rairie one o er
ing all summer long, blanket flowers will add a vibrant and cheerful bloom to your garden. Delivering bright red, yellow and orange leaves, these flowers attract pollinators and are deer proof. erfect if you live within spitting distance of the foothills. rairie coneflower ratibida columnifera Attracting the butterflies and bees, the prairie coneflower is a heavy bloomer growing a nice shade of mahogany red petals edged with yellow. These flowers love to bathe in the summer sun and are highly drought tolerant. rairie winecups callirhoe involucrata rairie winecups are as easy to grow as life feels when you are sipping on a glass of wine watching the
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sun set. Their bright magenta pink flowers provide ground cover making for good erosion control. • Rocky Mountain columbine (aquilegia caerulea othing screams olorado pride like growing the state flower in your own back yard. hile these flowers can thrive at high altitudes, if you are growing them on the front range, they prefer cool and shaded beds that receive regular water. lazing star liatris punctata Sprouting purple flowers which bloom uly through September, the blazing star will form a deep root system that helps protect it in hot and dry climates. The best part about the above plants is they are all perennials. This means they are persistent by nature. These olorado loving native plants will grow annually, returning for their blooming season without the need to replant. onsider these plants your start to finding success in the garden. ut why stop there? nce these native plants give you a stroke of confidence, let the success party trickle into your lawn. aintaining a healthy lawn doesn’t have to be complicated. Some uick tips include setting a sprinkler system up to avoid over watering, providing nutrients to your soil by using a fertilizer, and attempting to keep your lawn thick and lush to avoid weeds from growing. ith these native plants and lawn care tips combined, you just might see your thumbs turn a shade greener with time. f you have any uestions about the plants or tips in this article, swing by ossil reek ursery at South ollege Ave. in ort ollins to talk to any one of our experts on staff.
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Landscaping to please the eye and mind Special to the Surveyor Spring is among us. As the morning bird chirping becomes a daily alarm and the extended hours of daylight pulse warmth back into our afternoons, it’s time to crawl out from your winter den and reconnect with Colorado’s great outdoors. With over 300 days of sunshine, Coloradan’s are naturally inclined to spend time outside. However, it is important to note you don’t need to venture far to reap natures benefits. ith proper landscaping tailored to meet your personal needs and style, you can enter an outdoor oasis with a mere few steps out your door. In efforts to create a well-rounded living environment, recent landscaping trends in Colorado consider both how your outdoor space looks and makes you feel. Homeowners are experiencing an added sense of satisfaction when landscaping efforts blend their aesthetic and emotional needs. So, as you begin to dream up your outdoor escape, consider how some of the following trends might help guide your final design The health factor: The World Health Organization predicts that by 2030 anxiety will become the number one health issue. Between demanding work schedules and the constant buzz of technology, this isn’t hard to imagine. Taking this into consideration, it is increasingly more important you create easy access to a space dedicated to unplugging. Going beyond making healthy food choices and exercising, self-care embraces daily relaxation. Landscaping trends to help accomplish this include integrating air purifying plants that can cleanse the air and clear your mind. Tranquil water features can also provide calming sound features that come in many shapes and sizes, including larger ponds liked for their reflective ualities to more subtle water features in black stone dishes. Colorado’s dry climate: Yet again, another winter has come and gone without any substantial snowfall. Plummeting back into a drought, the lack of moisture combined with increasingly warmer summers makes for major water concerns. While placing your own personal water needs above those of your plants, consider choosing hardy and resilient plants that can survive in the warm and dry climate. When it comes conserving water, it is important to think long-term. Can you plant trees and shrubs that
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will provide shade and a natural protection from the heat? Consider also integrating a rain barrel into your landscaping design to capture water that can be used for your outdoor needs rain water harvesting was recently legalized in . So ial er vs. ie a Do you recharge in the company of others or recoil from the outside world in need of quiet time? If you are in the game to entertain, consider building a patio that reflects a modern outdoor living space. ecent trends include clean and simple designs e uipped with tile flooring think talian porcelain , an outdoor bar and grill with space to sit around and socialize, and an outdoor music system. If you prefer more of a quiet sanctuary, a cozy outdoor fireplace, soft lighting think strings of caf style bulbs , and cozy seats built low to the ground is a great option. Sustainability: Going green is just downright trendy right now. The good news is there are many ways to integrate this into your landscaping scheme. Consider environmentally-friendly options like incorporation LED lights and solar panels to light your patio area. reate an area for gardening that is e uipped with an efficient water irrigation system and a space for composting. You can also consider xeriscaping parts of your outdoor space to be mostly self-sustaining. Materials: When choosing material, be sure to keep your budget in mind. Current landscaping trends are using more raw materials to accomplish a modern and contemporary design. This can include combining wood, steel, sand finished concrete, or pavers. When mixing various types of material into a design, think “less is more.” With so much to consider, approaching landscaping as a true art form rather than a daunting task will help see you through your outdoor projects. Be sure to pick and choose elements that will best suit you’re your needs. And remember, it doesn’t all need to get done in one year. Landscaping is a progressive process that should live and grow with you adapting to your needs as they evolve. Alpine Gardens has been creating handcrafted landscapes for northern Colorado for 40 years. Their expert staff is ready to design the landscape of your dreams. Call today at 970.226.2296 to schedule your appointment today.
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Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 5, 2018 Page 15
What are the various options available for home owners looking to install wood flooring? By John Martinez and Jason Miloradovich Family Carpet One There are multiple options for true hardwood flooring in regard to species and overall coloration and texture. The overall hardness of various species will play a part in performance of the floors, and some different textures, like hand scraping, can minimize how surface scratches and wear show on floors. Prefinished woods vs. sand-and-finish wood refinished floors come out of the box with the stain and wear layer already applied, whereas sand and finish floors are installed as raw wood, sanded, stained, and lac uered in the house. The benefits of a prefinished floor are less dust, a surface that can be walked on immediately no moving out of the house during the installation process , and often times a much more durable finish. any pre finished woods, and all hardwoods offered by amily arpet ne, have aluminum oxide impregnated in the finish. Aluminum oxide, also referred to as a diamond dust finish, creates a wear layer that cannot be walked off and never needs to be refinished. o fine, dusty mess and moving out of the house again. Solid wood vs. engineered wood Solid hardwoods will be made from a solid piece of wood of one species from top to bottom. ngineered woods will have a top layer of the visual species and a core made from a pressed wood or plied core. Solid woods are thicker and often more costly, as they use more of the “pretty” wood type. ngineered woods can be made thinner and can offer a higher density of the overall product if a pressed or uality wood core is used. ngineered woods can also provide a more stable wood due the construction. hat are some key differences people might want to think about before choosing
flooring options laminate, engineered, bamboo, traditional hard wood, click lock vs. glue? verall lifestyle should be considered and is very important to the decision making process. Are there kids and pets in the household? oncerns with moisture? Traditional hardwood and engineered woods are more susceptible to indentations from furniture, dog claws, and even high heeled shoes. oisture issues will also affect hardwood. ater damage, and even improper cleaning, can cause a wood floor to peak and buckle. ften times we will see gaps appear in wood floors during our dry olorado winters that close back up with higher humidity use of a whole house humidifier will benefit your floor . aminate floors have a higher impact resistance but are damaged ust as easily from excessive moisture. Another option is a luxury vinyl plank with a waterproof core. These install similar to laminate floor without concerns from spills and pet accidents. lick and or glue together floors are a floating floor installation that is not affixed to the subfloor of the home at all. These installation methods expand and contract as a unit, so we don’t see the small gaps during winter that we do with nail down floors. They often re uire more transition pieces and an underlayment which will sometimes be attached from the manufacture and sometimes added during the installation. These floors will also have more give and a slightly different sound when walked upon. ail down installations re uire fewer transitions and feel like traditional hardwood floors. What should people consider when determining the best fit ow much, for example, should li ing habits and household occupants (pets, children) impact decision making iving habits and overall lifestyle should be very important considerations. Solid wood can and will get indentations from larger breeds of dogs. As mentioned, hand scraping and products with a dense core can help this. rotection on the feet of furniture is important. ouses with small children should consider water proof products in bathrooms and other areas where water is a concern. hat kind of guidance can you offer for matching wood choice to personal style, e.g., contemporary s. traditional Again, lifestyle will affect how a floor performs. t is important to consider what a customer’s visual re uirements are in con unction with performance needs based on their households. ere at amily arpet ne we always try to educate a customer on the different types of products, pros and cons, so they can make an educated decision that fits for their individual home and its needs. hat en ironmental or logistical factors affect decision (e.g., basement s. second story, climate) rade level of the room being installed is important. The ma ority of manufacturers will not warrant solid wood flooring in a basement. A concrete subfloor will re uire a floating installation, whereas a wood subfloor can be nailed down. Different species of wood react differently depending on the climate. or example, bamboo wood, which is harvested in high humidity climates is a poor choice in our dry weather and will often result in splits and cracks. hat are pros and cons of adding radiant- oor heat with wood ood resists heat transfer much more so than tile and therefore will not be as efficient. t can also lead to a higher level of expansion and contraction in the wood. Can e eryone install solid wood oors hat if you are installing o er concrete ver concrete will re uire a full spread glue or floating installation. Can wood oors work into most budgets ardwood material comes in a wide range of price points, however installation of any hard surface material will cost more, and there is more prep and additional work involved, like removing and resetting the baseboards. As an example, an installed hardwood is often times twice or more the cost of carpet when fully installed. ow much work should home owners expect to put in for some of the main options if doing the installation themsel es Skill level, experience, and tool set will play a factor. hile hardwoods can be installed by many homeowners themselves, it can be a fairly labor intensive ob. lick floors are often easier for a homeowner and do not re uire the specialty fasteners and staplers that nail down installations will, but both are viable options for do it yourselfers. ith any material purchase amily arpet ne offers to coach our customers through the installation process. e are always “on call” for any of our customers who run into dilemmas and uestions during their installation. ur do it yourself customers have had a zero percent failure rate. ur goal is for any flooring purchased through us to look its best, whether purchased with professional installation or not.
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Page 16 April 5, 2018 Berthoud Weekly Surveyor
All about trees - what you should and shouldn’t plant in Berthoud By Rudy Hemmann The Surveyor The Berthoud Tree Advisory Committee notes Berthoud has a long, rich heritage of tree-lined streets, and through the commitment of the members of the committee Berthoud has received recognition as being named a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation annually since 1983. Unfortunately, the health and well-being of the trees which grace the town’s rights-ofway, public parks and private properties may soon be challenged in a way not seen since Dutch elm disease attacked the nation’s elm trees from the late 1940s through the 1980s. Today trees, particularly those of the ash variety, are a concern to those involved in urban forestry, due in large part to the emerald ash borer. This nasty little bug (it is the larvae of the bug, not the adult, that causes damage to, and eventual death of, the tree) that has led to an ordinance banning the Autumn Blaze Pear tree planting of any variety of ash tree on public properties within the town limits. (This includes tree lawns, parklands and the cemetery.) Regarding the urban forest, the town’s website states, “Tree plantings should be made with the same methodical planning that is used when making substantial financial in vestments. Tree planting is a significant, long term investment in property and the en tire community. That investment should complement a home and increase in value over time.” Avoidance of fast growing trees (such as poplar and “Chinese” elms), some conifers, shrubs and other unsuitable plants, are usually not recommended when plantings are made on public lands, since they pose maintenance issues. Trees unsuitable for rights-of-way and public lands plantings may only occur on private property. It is not the town’s intent to limit freedom of choice in plantings but instead to mold and influence the future of erthoud’s urban forest for the benefit of future generations.” Deciduous trees allowed along rights-of-way or on public lands, typically over 40 feet in mature height are: • Oak (Quercus) genus: bur*, chinkapin*, chesnut*, English*, shumard*, Texas red*, heritage*, bur-gambel hybrid*, fastigate English*, crimson spire*. • Elm (Ulmus) genus: choice city*, prospector*, accolade, triumph, discovery, brandon, regal. Make sure cultivar is resistant to Dutch elm disease and elm leaf beetle. • Legume (Fabaceae) family: shademaster honeylocust*, skyline honeylocust, imperial honeylocust, Kentucky coffeetree*, Kentucky coffeetree espresso*. • Linden (Tilia) genus: redmond, greenspire, American, glenleven. • Planetree (Platanus) genus: bloodgood, exclamation, northern advance. Make sure cultivar is resistant to anthracnose. • Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) genus: Canada red*, sucker punch*. (height usually 20-25’) • Maple (Acer) genus: bigtooth (single stem)*, state street*, caddo sugar*, columnare, fairview. • Buckeye (Aesculus) genus: Ohio buckeye*, yellow buckeye, Texas buckeye*, prairie torch hybrid buckeye, common horsechesnut*. Other trees allowed along right-of-way by common name: hackberry*, western catalpa , Turkish filbert, ginkgo, apanese zelkova , American yellowwood, American horn beam, red baron crabapple height feet , apanese pagodatree Smaller deciduous trees suitable for wider tree lawns (10 feet or more) or larger roadway medians as well, as on public-park or open-space lands. These trees generally reach heights ranging from 15 to 25 feet: Autumn blaze pear amur chokecherry callery pear leveland select pear crabapple (coralburst, spring snow, Indian magic, red jewel, dalgo, thunder child, radiant, TinaSsargent gambrel oak goldenrain tree hawthorn toba, ashington, thornless, ussian, cockspur, downy hotwings maple apanese tree lilac ewport plum red buckeye regal star magnolia serviceberry wavyleaf oak • Acceptable conifer (evergreen) types – wide range of heights and spreads – Consult the nursery where tree is purchased to determine proper size of tree when mature. olorado blue spruce bristlecone pine eastern red cedar ocky ountain uni per one seed uniper gray gleam ichita blue uniper lack ills spruce osman pine Scots pine uropean larch pinyon pine concolor fir, white fir Austrian pine
spartan uniper cologreen uniper skyrocket uniper fastigate orway spruce anderwolf’s pyra mid pine ponderosa pine Siberian larch Trees prohibited for any new planting within the Town of Berthoud right of way or on public lands. • Any of the ash species (Fraxinus spp.) including green, white, purple, blue, mountain, or any other ash. Due to emerald ash borer. • Any of the poplar species (Populus spp.), including but not limited to cottonwood, aspen, silver poplar, Lombardy poplar • Any of the willow species (Salix spp.). • Box elder tree (Acer negundo). • Siberian (Chinese) elm (Ulmus pumila). • Any weeping or pendulous type tree (i.e. weeping birch). Any shrub or hedge which by its habit of growth would obstruct, restrict, or conflict with necessary and safe use of the public rights-of-way. • Conifers or evergreens which would eventually grow over the sidewalks or streets. • Any honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos) that bears either seed pods or thorns. • Purple locust, black locust, BradfordpPear, Russian olive, tree of heaven, tamarisk, red maple, silvermMaple,b Birch. Trees to avoid. Planting of the trees listed below should be avoided by homeowners due to the issues that develop with these plants over time. t’s also worth noting fruit trees have difficulty getting established on the Front Range and require a devoted owner for proper care. ed maple aspen ombardy poplar silver maple birch Siberian elm ussian ol ive box elder cottonwood sunburst honeylocust willow tamarisk tree of heaven black locust purple locust mulberry black walnut due to thousand cankers disease . isit the Town of erthoud website and click on forestry to find out more about the town’s urban forest or to learn what the town is doing to fight the looming merald Ash Borer invasion. Breaking News – Emerald ash borer (EAB) confirmed in Lyons, Colo. A press release late last week by the Colorado Department of Agriculture has confirmed EAB has been found in Lyons. According to the report, an adult beetle was captured from an ash tree in Lyons. EAB has already been detected in Longmont and Lafayette. Berthoud, with its large population of ash trees, may well be next.
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Time to spring clean, but no time to haul it away? Call a professional hauler “a one of a kind anti ue emporium.” “ unk is completely relative. verything you see in this room all When it comes to spring cleaning, came from unk,” Adam said. figuring out where to send the stuff Thrift spans , s uare feet is ust as important as doing the rewith , of it dedicated to the sales moval work. floor — the rest is for offices and pro“ or most homeowners, they don’t cessing. have the facilities or e uipment The stock comes entirely from or the time to haul it away to the hauls — clients contact the assons dump,” said Allen asson of oveor unk ing land, co owner of to pick up the unk ing ort items, either ollins oulder boxing them and Thrift up or needin erthoud. ing them to be “We can come packed. lients in and in a very also call them short time haul after a garage away all of their or estate sale unwanted stuff to get rid of the and save them rest, Allen said. some time.” “ e ask Allen and his people to make son, Adam of a pile of everyilliken, opened thing they don’t a unk ing want,” Allen Photos by Shelley Widhalm franchise one and a half years Allen Wasson, left, and his son, Adam Was- said. “ e’ll be son, co-owners of Junk King Fort Collins/ in and out of ago to pick up Boulder, opened a store earlier this month, their home in and haul away MR Thrift, to sell some of their finds. an hour in most everything from cases. t will be small knickgone out of their life forever.” knacks to furniture and yard and The assons take the items, which construction debris. Allen has owned may be a single thing to several several businesses over the past truckloads, to drop off at various outyears, including a commercial anitolets through their connections with rial company, and has sold real esthe landfill and various recycling tate. companies. They recycle electronic The professional unk removal waste, mattresses, tires, scrap metcompany has franchises nationals, paint, household chemicals and wide, but the assons wanted a place other materials. to show and sell some of their remov“ hate seeing stuff go to the landals, so they opened Thrift, fill when it’s perfectly good stuff,” Alassachusetts Ave., in mid arch. len said. “ ” reflects the asson’s D A, or ome and business owners do not Doing usiness As, of aster ecyhave to find the right recycler or deal cling nc. with a trip to the landfill, where they Through their franchise, the asneed to know the rules and may face sons cover the orthern olorado extra charges or be unable to drop off area, removing furniture, home d cor, some things, like electronic waste, art, anti ues, knickknacks, collectpaint and household items, Allen ibles, toys, tools and other items from said. homes, rental properties and busi“ would encourage people to not nesses. They recycle, repurpose, dolet stuff pile up,” Allen said. “They nate and sell what they can and take don’t have an unsightly mess that the rest to the landfill. piles up over the course of time.” “ ur goal is to keep percent of it As far as deciding what needs to out of the landfill,” Adam said. go, clients vary in their methods, The assons realized they could Adam said. Some get rid of things not keep up with their growing inventhey haven’t used in three months, tory of resalable items, which they while others wait a year, he said. stored in a warehouse. They opened a Some clients go through an annual storefront in a national historic buildpurge, often picking the springtime, ing, originally the asonic Temple Adam said. erthoud odge o. marked with “A lot of people have an emotional a sign dated September . attachment to their stuff,” Adam They gave their store the tagline, By Shelley Widhalm The Surveyor
Allen Wasson, co-owner of MR Thrift in Berthoud, holds up some of the items that are for sale.
said. “They have to make the best determination that will serve them going forward. would encourage people to get rid of stuff sooner rather than later, because over time things lose value.” lients also need to decide if they want to keep or get rid of their items. They can determine the value in various ways, such as holding up the item to figure out the emotional and other connections they have to the ob ect,
Adam said. “ verybody has their own way of valuing an item,” he said. “There’s a therapeutic side to de cluttering and getting rid of stuff. There’s a freedom that’s gained when you get rid of that stuff.” Thrift will have a grand opening in late spring. The hours are a.m. to p.m. ednesday to Saturday.
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Berthoud Weekly Surveyor April 5, 2018 Page 19
High end Thirty Three line by Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture By Heidi Kerr-Schlaefer The Surveyor As a kid growing up in Littleton in the 1980s, after school Ryan Schlaefer could be found riding his bike in his Littleton neighborhood with his friends, or making up games for them all to play. During the summers he would ride over to the mall and play for hours at the local arcade, or go to the pool with little sister. However, when school was in session he was always drawing. In general, he wasn’t especially motivated by academics, but he excelled in his art classes, winning awards and making his art teachers proud. Perhaps none of his teachers were surprised that, after graduation, Schlaefer enrolled at The Art Institute of Colorado. After finishing a degree in graphic design, Schlaefer spent a brief period of time working for a firm in downtown Denver, but it didn’t take long for him to realize corporate America was not his cup of tea. In a 180-degree turn, he went to work building homes for a custom home builder, and while it seems like a major departure from a career in art, it’s funny how life plays out, because this was actually the beginning of a path that would eventually lead him back to his first love — art. In his mid-20s Schlaefer moved to Washington State and went to work for a high-end building supply company where he eventually started their custom-built mantels department. This was his first experience in building case goods. Several years later he moved back to Denver,
where he went to work for a high-end furniture manufacturer. This company’s furniture sold in showrooms across the country, and Schlaefer’s position here became more than a job; it became a chance to learn more about the craft of furniture design and manufacturing. In 2004 Schlaefer formed Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture, Inc., and opened the company in Loveland, Colo. Today his furniture is sold tothe-trade and represented by CARTER, INC. at the Denver Design District, and while Schlaefer takes great pride in designing functional pieces, his furniture illustrates his innate artistic abilities. His newest line is the perfect example of how Schlaefer uses inspiration to hand draw and then produce furniture that has a story Open side table from the and a raison d’être. Thirty Three line. Several years ago Schlaefer was asked to design a cabinet to act as a storage area for a homeowner’s vinyl collection.
Also an avid vinyl collector, Schlaefer was truly inspired by this project, which eventually resulted in his Thirty Three furniture line. The Thirty Three line is available in a bronze finish for the first in the long history of Schlaefer’s furniture collection. “Being in a town known for bronze art,” said Schlaefer, “has meant that I have always wanted to find a way to incorporate this element into my craft.” The bronze finish is created using a “cold cast” bronze. This is essentially a liquid metal applied over a wood substrate. The final finishing effects use traditional patina and burnishing methods. “This process offers the bronze metal finish with a wonderful flexibility for customization,” said Schlaefer. In addition to bronze, a Thirty Three line is also available in a variety of colorful finishes. What’s next for this 14-year-old furniture company? The plan is to find representation at a showroom in the Phoenix area. “We made a trip to Arizona in February to talk to showroom owners, and I feel strongly that my collection is a good fit for the design tastes of the area,” said Schlaefer. The company hopes to have representation there by this summer. The Thirty Three line of furniture can be seen in-person at CARTER, INC. at the Denver Design District. Visit Ryan Schlaefer Fine Furniture online at www.RTSFurnitureDesign.com or call Ryan Schlaefer directly at 970-213-2353.
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