Si Pak Tani

Last week I had the pleasure of touring some Old Town Steamboat gardens and was particularly charmed by blooming clematis plants.   The cultivars had beautiful blue flowers on long vines, one covering a tall trellis, the other running along a porch roof beam.   Both were several years old and looked very happy.   I went home, inspired to find the clematis growing in my garden (planted by the previous homeowner 5+ years ago), and determined to make it as healthy as the ones I saw. First, though, I needed more information. I found research-based information and learned that clematis (pronounced CLEM e tis, Greek for vine) is a showy and hardy perennial that fares well in Routt County’s climate.   In the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup) family, it produces flowers most often in shades of purple, blue, pink, or white and blooms at various times during the summer months, depending on the variety.   Most varieties grow as vines but there are some mounding varieties. Native ...

Compost : to rot your unused organic material in a way that it can be used as a compliment and amendment to existing soil.  Composting in rural Colorado - a region robust with wildlife and challenged by severe weather- can be tricky, but it can be done. And it should be. Composting is a very important factor in the sustainability of our existence as it both reduces our waste (and impact on the environment) and improves our depleted soil (improving our environment). The how is the challenge, but it’s easier than you might think. Compost is a natural process of organic decomposition, and if done right, will not attract wildlife or pests, will not be affected by weather, and will provide you with an amazing, free amendment for your soil.  Items you will need: A bin – can be purchased or home-made, but should be no bigger than one cubic yard. A starter pile – should include 2 parts woody or brown material (dried leaves, sticks, straw, etc) and one part organic or green material ...

Pictures of indoor tomatoes before they were shortened and planted outside.   Picture taken May 27, 2016. When we last left my Indoor tomato saga it was April of this year and most were still doing well.  They began to bloom again in earnest indoor in early may.  The temperature had began to moderate to between 45 degree at night an and in the day.  While these temperatures feel great to us it is still too cold for tomatoes.  By this time the tomatoes were really growing.   They were 3 to 4 feet high and beginning to flower and form small tomatoes.  It was suggested to me that I put the tomatoes out on June 1 and when I do cut them back to between 9 inches and 14 inches.  Also cover them when I put them out.  I did that and covered with a white material that protected them but also let moisture in.  And because I have rodents and deer in the area I covered their area with a plastic bird netting.  I had constructed a small rai...