Reflections
Newsletter
Take Root. Grow. Flourish.
Spring 2015
Letter From the Director, Michelle Provaznik
For the past two years, I have been meeting with my
colleagues at Colorado State University’s Department of
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture to discuss a possible
relocation of part of the thirteen acre CSU Plant Environmental
Research Center to our north. I am excited to report the
project is now underway!
A state-of-the-art greenhouse complex with classroom and
office space will be the primary new feature built on the site. In
addition, plots for graduate student research and organic food
production are also planned. Existing tree trials will remain for
the near future. A new water quality project will create wetland space to filter water from
CSU’s campus before entering Spring Creek. The new facility is called the CSU Horticulture
Research Center.
Upcoming Events
You’ll Love
Spring Plant Sale – May 8-10
Don’t miss our Spring Plant Sale this year—
we’ll have just what you need to grow
a beautiful landscape, bountiful veggie
garden, and lively containers. Our staff
and students from CSU and Front Range
Community College have been cultivating
since January to get thousands of annuals,
herbs, perennials, and veggie starts
ready for you. Proceeds benefit all three
organizations. Remember to bring your
own box for carrying your favorite plants
home! Watch our website for a complete
list of plants available at the sale.
Plant Sale Hours include:
Members-Only: Friday, May 8, 3-6 p.m.
Public Hours: Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
and Sunday, May 10, noon-5 p.m.
Member Morning Coffees
Attention Members of the Gardens! Take
advantage of the beauty of the morning
garden and join us for coffee and early
entrance into the Gardens on these special
days this summer. Our Friends will be
hosting Morning Coffee at 7:30 a.m. on
June 12, July 10, and August 14.
Yoga in the Garden
“It’s a dream come true,” said Steve Newman, floriculture professor and greenhouse
crops specialist at Colorado State University. “This new facility is a vote of confidence for
Horticulture and Landscape Architecture at CSU by the administration. It will set us apart
from other and I can see it growing into a regional Center of Excellence.”
We are excited to offer this special series
CSU and The Gardens are working with the City of Fort Collins Park Planning Department
on a plan for Lilac Park—the space connecting our two facilities, which has both Spring
Creek and the Spring Creek Trail bisecting it. As part of a future project, we hope to
connect our facilities with a trail and bridge while using the enhanced space for joint
educational programming.
on June 13, July 11, August 8, and Sept. 12.
The groundbreaking for the new CSU Horticulture Research Center occurred mid-March,
with completion slated for mid-summer. The synergies created by a large horticulture center
connecting CSU and The Gardens are very exciting and allow for expanded collaboration.
Friends Board of Directors
Randy Morgan, President | Dulcie Willis, Vice President | Sally Guthart, Secretary
Jessica Hunter, Treasurer | Jesse Eastman | John Papile | Marcia Petrun | Roger Warren
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again this summer for our yogi friends.
Partnering with Miramont Lifestyle Fitness,
The Gardens will offer Yoga in the Garden
Watch our website for more details to come!
What to do in the soil this spring?
• 2014 saw a large increase in vole populations. Check for
damage to trees, shrubs and perennials. Prune out any
damaged material and treat for voles where necessary.
• Check for visible frost damage on trees from the dry cold
weather this last November/December. Prune out any damaged
branches you didn’t get to or notice in the early spring.
• April is usually rose pruning season, depending on the weather.
Most shrub roses don’t need more than light pruning to tame
wild branches and remove any dead or damaged ones. Hybrid
tea roses should be cut back to about 12-18” and floribundas
to 24”.
• If you have trees or shrubs with the yellow leaves of iron chlorosis
(with green veins), add chelated iron to the soil in a wide swathe
around the plant so iron is available as plants leaf out.
Ideally, create a cage that is large enough to accommodate
• Many onions are day length sensitive. The plants need an
at least twenty “seed” potatoes. Be certain to leave one side
adequate number of daylight hours to initiate good bulb
of the cage with a gate. Plant the potatoes in the enclosure,
development. Plant onion seedlings in the garden during April,
covering them with six inches of soil. As the plants grow,
in fertile and well-drained soil. This will allow the seedlings the
continue to add soil to the growing plants. When plants reach
needed daylight hours before the days begin to shorten with
about 12-15” in height, add 4-6” of soil. Add soil two to
the summer solstice.
three more times in the summer. This is a good method for
• Try growing potatoes in a cage. Attach three or four foot tall
open weave fencing material to t-posts to create a cage.
those with heavy, poor quality garden soil, and those without
raised beds.
From the President, Randy Morgan
Last fall, the Friends of The Gardens on Spring Creek
was honored to be awarded a challenge grant by the
Community Foundation for Northern Colorado. The
challenge grant will match $1 for every $3 dollars
raised towards our Endowment Fund, up to $25,000.
Endowment Funds held at the Community Foundation
allow the Friends to build up a fund and take up to 5%
each year to support operations of the organization,
helping with long term sustainability of The Gardens.
Through last year’s Annual Campaign, we secured $30,000 towards the $75,000
we had been challenged to raise. This was the most successful Annual Campaign
for The Gardens and The Friends ever! Our sincere thanks to everyone who
contributed to the campaign.
The Friends Board and Gardens staff are working hard to raise the remaining
$45,000 by the June 15 deadline—we really want to receive the full $25,000
match! If you would like to contribute or know someone we should be in contact
with, please contact Michelle Provaznik, Gardens Director at 970.416.2486.
Thank you for your support of The Gardens and The Friends and stay tuned…more
exciting announcements are coming!
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Must-Have Plants for Spring
Redbirds-in-a-tree
Mark your calendars for May 9–10 as our Spring Plant Sale
is fast approaching! You will find these MUST-HAVE plants
conveniently at the sale. Members shop early May 8, 3–6 p.m.!
Dillon Hancock recommends:
Edrianthus tenuifolius ‘Grassy Bells’ is a low growing perennial
reaching only 4" high and spreading about 12" wide. It has slender
grass like green leaves with clusters of bluish-purple campanulalike bell flowers, which bloom in June. Grassy Bells prefers to be in
a partial sun location with afternoon shade and likes well drained
soil. You can find Edrianthus tenuifolius on the east side of the
southeastern most berm in the Rock Garden.
Armeria trojana is a small cushion forming rock garden plant with
tightly packed, slender green foliage. Bright pink clusters of flowers
rise above the cushions on thin green stalks in late spring and early
summer. Armeria trojana prefers full sun but will do well in partial
sun and requires very low water. You can find Armeria trojana
tucked amongst the rocks on the north faces of a few berms in the
Rock Garden.
Some new bulbs for the Rock Garden include: Crocus
tommasinianus, Tulipa clusiana chrysantha, Tulipa tarda and
Calochortus venustus.
Armeria trojana
resistant and long blooming, with large sprays of red flowers that
look like little birds, from early summer into fall. Redbirds-in-a-tree,
Scrophularia macrantha, is native to southwestern New Mexico. It
grows about 36” tall by 18” wide and is hardy to zone 5 (maybe
4). Its open habit makes it easy to tuck into a flower bed where it is
attractive without being over-bearing.
We have several varieties of cape fuchsias for our Plant Sale this
year, but the best is Phygelius capensis with no fancy variety
name. These lovely perennials are surprisingly drought tolerant.
This variety is at least a zone hardier than zone 6 and seems to be
quite adaptable to sun or part shade. This cape fuchsia features
large panicles of rich red tubular flowers with golden-orange
interiors growing about 3’ tall by 2’ wide. It begins to bloom in
mid-summer and continues producing flower stems until frost.
‘Mystica’ penstemon is a dark-leaved variety similar to ‘Husker
Red’ but with more reliably dark purple foliage. ‘Mystica’ has an
abundance of flower stalks in summer bearing white flowers tinged
Sherry Fuller recommends:
Redbirds-in-a-tree was chosen as a Plant Select® variety in 2008,
but still doesn’t seem to be widely used. It is drought tolerant, rabbit
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with lavender pink. It grows about 18” tall and wide, and while it’s
not as drought loving as many other penstemons, it will tolerate
some dry conditions.
Mary Miller recommends:
Gazania
Kalettes - Taking the gardening magazines and the media by
storm are Kalettes. These veggies are a cross of kale and Brussels
sprouts. Growing like Brussels sprouts, they form mini kale florets
instead of round, firm sprouts. The plants are large like Brussels
sprouts, with the Kalettes forming late in the season. Perfect as
tapas, these are destined to be a hit!
Jaune Flamme Tomato - A truly beautiful and prolific French
heirloom tomato, Jaune Flamme is an excellent tomato. Apricot
colored, four ounce tomatoes are born on elongated trusses.
Ted Schaaf recommends:
Zingy, fruity flavor is a perfect blend of sweet and tart. Jaune
Coreopsis grandiflora ‘Sun Up’ is a short lived perennial that
Flamme dries well, is great roasted maintaining its rich color.
can be treated as an annual. It’s more compact than its cousin
Celery - Celery is just not that difficult to grow! Celery is a
wonderful addition to the gardening repertoire of vegetables. It
will not be the bland celery you purchase from the store. Large
‘Early Sunrise’. ‘Sun Up’ produces semi-double, yellow flowers with
an occasional flash of red. With regular deadheading, ‘Sun Up’
produces color all season long.
plants, deep in green color and flavor will enhance any cooking
Gazania ‘New Day Rose Stripe’ is even more compact then other
endeavors! Its distinct architecture adds beauty to the garden.
Gazanias. This bold new Gazania has clear white petals with a bold
rose stripe. Gazanias are excellent drought tolerant ground covers.
Unique in that its flowers close up at night and on cloudy days.
Best of all, no deadheading is needed.
Pennisetum ‘Sky Rocket’ is an exciting new addition to our
annual Red Feather grass. Graceful green leaves, splashed with
From the President, Randy Morgan
white variegation, form an attractive vase like clump. Due to the
Last fall, the Friends of The Gardens on Spring Creek was honored
fact that their seed heads are sterile, their fluffy plumes will grace
to be awarded a challenge grant by the Community Foundation
Jaune Flamme Tomato
your garden throughout mid-summer.
for Northern Colorado. The challenge grant will match $1 for every
$3 dollars raised towards our Endowment Fund, upHalf
to $25,000.
Day Camps
Summer is Coming...
Endowment Funds held at the Community Foundation allow local
Gardeners and Chefs, June 8–12; July 6–10; Aug 3-7,
The Gardens offers a plethora of fun opportunities for exploration
non-profits to build up a fund and take up to 5% each year to
9 a.m.–Noon
of gardening, art, music, trees, and the natural world this summer.
support operations of the organization, helping with long term
Our Summer Camps are geared for children ages 5–11 years
Insect Investigators, June 15–19, 9 a.m.–Noon
old. Pre-registration is required, and scholarships are available. For
For the Birds, June 15–19, 1–4 p.m.
complete camp descriptions, registration, cost, and other details,
Music in the Gardens, June 22–26, 9 a.m.–Noon
please visit fcgov.com/gardens.
Budding Artists, June 22–26 and Aug. 10–14, 1–4 p.m.
Kid-ologist, July 13-17, 9 a.m. - Noon
Tree-mendous Adventures,
July 13–17, 1–4 p.m. Full Day Camps
Insect Investigators & For the Birds, June 15–19,
9 a.m.– 4 p.m.
Music in the Gardens & Budding Artists, June 22–26,
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Kid-ologist & Tree-mendous Adventures, July 13–17,
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
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‘Stop the Car!’ We’ve got some ‘Hocus Pocus’
going on
Spring is the time when your bulb dreams come into view, and our staff at The Gardens
has vivid dreams! Stop by this spring to enjoy 4,700 bulbs (44 varieties), which were
boosted from a grant from the Colorado Home and Garden Show last fall. Depending on
weather, the crocus, reticulated iris, glory of the snow, squill and early varieties of daffodils
and tulips will most likely be done blooming in April. The colchicum, fall crocus and saffron
crocus will bloom in the fall. We are trialing a few of these to see how they perform here
including the saffron crocus, mariposa lilies and quamash cammasia.
All of our bulbs are purchased from Brent & Becky’s Bulbs, unless otherwise noted.
Centre Avenue
150 Little Princess and tarda tulips
Children’s Garden
100 Ruby Giant crocus
50 Manly daffodils
Parking Lot
1000 Stop the Car tulips, blend of purple
and orange varieties, from Colorblends, in
Coffee Tree Island and first parking lot bed
50 Double Smiles daffodils
50 Hocus Pocus tulips
50 Mickey Mouse tulips
100 Purple Sensation allium
100 Pink Margarita tulips, from
Colorblends, in bed by entrance
30 Imperial fritillary
250 Secola daffodils along west parking
lot strip
Rock Garden
50 Tulipa clusiana chrysantha
Pollinator Garden in Garden of Eatin’
50 Mariposa lilies
100 Purple Prince and Jenny tulips
Plant Select - Entrance Garden
100 Crocus tommasinianus
200 Yellow and purple crocus
50 Schubert’s allium
25 Lilium leichtlinii
100 Quamash cammasia (in sign bed)
50 Spring Valley foxtail lily
100 Puschkinia scilloides libanotica
100 Saffron crocus (in herb garden)
25 Curly Lace daffodils – Fragrant Garden
100 Siberian squill
250 Marieke daffodils, coffeetree island
Sustainable Backyard
50 Diamond Ring daffodils
50 Thalia daffodils
100 Quamash cammasia
200 Yellow and Purple crocus
(in thyme “yard”)
50 Fire of Love tulips
50 Giant colchicum
25 Allium karataviense
100 Fall crocus
100 Snowflake leucojum
Xeric Parkway Strip along
Botanical Way
100 Fall crocus
100 Segovia daffodils
100 Bronze Charm tulips
50 Allium christophii
200 Glory of the snow
100 Reticulated iris
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100 Grape hyacinth
Volunteer Spotlight: Ed Stearns, by Heidi Muller
After a career at the Environmental
made about each plant throughout its
Protection Agency and 9 years
life—when it struggled with heat, for
volunteering at the Denver Botanic
example. Eventually, this database will be
Gardens, is there anything Ed Stearns
accessible online to the public. A person
doesn’t know about plants? “I’m not
will be able to search in specific gardens,
even close to knowing all the species,”
by plant name, the year planted, or
he replies, “and growers are always
any combination of the three. The
developing new varieties.”
horticulturists are no longer taxing their
Every Monday, Ed can found sitting at a
brains, there’s an educational component
computer or roaming the grounds at The
Gardens. He is working on a database of
every plant at The Gardens. That’s right—
every single plant! In the winter, his time
is spent filling the database with plant
descriptions. Spring, summer and fall, he’s
of plant survivability over time, and
anyone will be able to check the history
of their favorite plant. Learning the year
it was planted and the conditions it has
lived, a person can extrapolate what it
will take to look fabulous in their
outdoors mapping plant locations with
own backyard.
help from horticulturists and plant clubs.
This March, Ed completes his first year
There are many benefits of such
working on the plant database at Gardens
a massive database. It puts less
pressure on the collective memory
of our horticulturists. Notes can be
on Spring Creek, and his 10th year on
plant databases in general. What keeps
him going?
Ed accepts his volunteer award in 2014.
“It gives me a chance to learn every
week,” he says. “The information gained
from volunteering goes straight into
design and care for my own garden.”
United We Plant
Charlotte Boney, Volunteer Coordinator
Last year, six schools brought their 1st grade classes to The Gardens for a
new, special experience- two field trips in one day! The City of Fort Collins
Natural Areas Department and the Gardens on Spring Creek partnered to
offer a Combined Field Trip to local schools.
Students discover what gifts plant give us, how seeds travel, what parts
of a plant we eat, and how seeds take different forms. All sections of
the field trip reinforce Colorado Academic Standards and align with
the FOSS science kit that Poudre School District uses to teach 1st grade
science. Two of the stations take place inside The Gardens and are led
by volunteer Garden Docents. Volunteer Master Naturalists lead the other
two stations in Lilac Park, right outside of The Gardens’ fence on Spring
Creek Trail.
The program has proven to be popular with 1st grade teachers as there
is already a waiting list for this spring’s tours. Taking students to both
a garden and natural area in one day allows plenty of opportunity for
hands-on learning, exploration, and discovery. Students are able to compare what makes a garden different from a natural area, but also
how they are similar. Young students get to benefit directly when Natural Areas and The Gardens work together towards a common goal—
to conserve plant life and engage our community in environmental stewardship. Interested in helping? Contact Charlotte Boney, Volunteer
Coordinator, for more information at [email protected].
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How to find us:
2145 Centre Ave.
Fort Collins CO 80526
970.416.2486
fcgov.com/gardens
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Fort Collins, CO
Permit No. 2
2145 Centre Ave., Fort Collins CO 80526
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 3)
Official
Gardens
Sponsors:
Thank You to our 2014-2015 Official*, Perennial, and Event Sponsors
Advanced Energy
Agrium Advanced Technologies
Bath Nursery
Beet Street
Bohemian Foundation
Botanical Interests
Canyon Chop House
Cargill
CDOT-Bustang
City of Fort Collins, Fort Fund
City of Fort Collins, Utilities
Clay’s Ace Hardware
Colorado Creative Industries
Colorado Garden Foundation
Colorado Health Foundation
Colorado Mountain Winefest
Colorado State
University Athletics
Coloradoan
Comcast Spotlight
Cornerstone Home Lending
Co’s BMW Center*
Davey Tree
DeAnge Stone
Earthborn Landscape Design
Ed Carroll Motors
Eye Center of
Northern Colorado*
Fiona’s Delicatessen & Catering
Florafelt Vertical
Gardening Systems
Fort Collins Landscaping
Fort Collins Nursery*
Fort Collins Tours
Fort Collins Wholesale Nursery
Fort Fun
Gallegos Sanitation
Garden Art Landscaping
Garden Thyme
Gulley Greenhouse
Happy Lucky’s Tea House
Harlequin’s Gardens
Heidi Muller Photography
Jax Fish House
Kaiser Permanente
King Soopers
KUNC FM
Larimer County Natural Resources
LaPorte Avenue Nursery
Loveland Water & Power
Midtown Arts Center
Mini of Loveland
Miramont Lifestyle Center
Moot House
Natural Grocers
Northern Colorado Daylily Club
Northern Colorado
Rehabilitation Hospital
Odell Brewing Company
Old Town Spice Shop
OtterCares
Outpost Sunsport
Patio Plants Unlimited
Pinot’s Palette
Pringles
Radius Tool Company
Ram’s Point Winery
Restaurant 415
Savory Spice Shop
Sawtooth Art
Seasonal Soups
Serendipity
Spoons Soups and Salads
Society of American Foresters
Starbucks
Summit Lawn and Landscape
Sustainescapes
Swingle
Target
Throgmorton Plant Management
University of Colorado Health*
Urban Overalls
Walmart
Waterwise Land & Waterscapes
Whole Foods Market
Wilbur’s Total Beverage
Wild Birds Unlimited
Wild Iris Living
Zak George Landscaping
Thank you to Members who have joined or renewed at Supporting,
Contributing or Director’s Circle levels: (9/11/14 –2/2/15)
Anne Clark | Beth and John Tatarko | Chuck Riblett and Carolyn Taylor | Erika and Eli Strote
Francoise Smith | John Papile and Eileen McCluskey | Karen and William Hart | William Ray
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