Serving Colorado Springs & the Pikes Peak region since 1872 | Monday, May 20, 2013
Artists and craftspeople know that the colors they choose - and leave out - are critical ingredients in their works' success. Color done well is captivating. Color done badly? It's just bad. Or drab. Yet a color tweak might be all it takes to turn up a piece's vibrancy and magic. An eye for...
Gardening in Colorado is a challenge. Techniques that result in great crops one year won't always work the next. As the days grow warmer, it's tempting to begin planting flower beds. But Susan Spencer, with Spencer's Lawn and Garden, suggests waiting a few days. Along the Front Range, the...
Dear Ken: I have 10 inches of rolled insulation in my attic. I want to get to an R-49. I am concerned that if I add cellulose, it will be too heavy. And what about fire? Isn't fiberglass better? - Glenn I like the idea of adding blown (loose) insulation on top of what you have because it will fill in all the spaces between the rolls....
The activity: Preparing for miller moth invasion Why: The spring of 2012 was the most memorable miller moth infestation in recent memory. The miller moth (Euxoa auxiliaris) found in Colorado is the army cutworm. The eggs are laid in late summer or early fall. Most eggs are laid in fields where vegetation is thick. The new year starts with the...
ummer days bring intense sunlight and drying winds followed by cool nights - all of which can hinder success for a gardener. But with the proper planning, there are ways to combat such conditions. Because they're not as hardy as perennials, annuals struggle to thrive in this diverse climate and altitude. So choosing the right ones can make the...
Whoever believes there's nothing new under the sun hasn't seen the plants being introduced for the 2013 gardening season. Think multicolored blooms, high-yield vegetables bred for containers and ornamental edibles packing still more nutrition as breeders try to anticipate consumer demand. Grafted tomatoes appear to be the hottest new trend...
Dear Debbie: We are doing a quick kitchen makeover and would like your advice about decorating the backsplash area to give the space some character. Are glass tiles going to get dated? We may be transferred in a year or so and are hoping to make a few upgrades that will help us sell. - Emilia Dear Emilia: Decorating with tiles is a timeless...
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY "Gigantic Annual Spring Plant Sale" - 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday; Demonstration Gardens, Monument Valley Park, 170 W. Cache La Poudre St.; hasgardens.org. WEDNESDAY "Perennial Garden Design" - 6:30-7:30 p.m., Phelan Gardens, 4955 Austin Bluffs Parkway, free; 574-8058, phelangardens.com."Reducing...
Sometimes the best view isn't what you see through a window but what catches your eye underneath it. Window boxes deliver color, edibles and fragrance. They're practical, too, as raised-bed gardens that elevate contents to within easy reach. "Window boxes are convenient containers," said David Trinklein, a horticulturist with University of...
Dear Ken: A plumber told me that a water softener can harm a water heater. Can you shed any light on this? - Keith I can't think of how it could harm a water heater. Since the water softener exchanges calcium and magnesium ions (hard) for sodium ions (soft), it makes sense that the softened water would result in less corrosive mineral...
Looking for a fresh way to liven up your garden walls? Living pictures - cuttings of assorted succulents woven together in everything from picture frames to pallet boxes - have caught on among garden designers and landscapers this spring as an easy, modern way to add color and texture to an outdoor space. 'Living pictures composed of...
A child's room is truly his or her castle. In this space, the beginnings of learning evolve; what is experienced through all the senses most likely will be seen, smelled and felt here. Parents think long and hard about what furniture to buy, how to decorate, what toys, books, puzzles and stuffed playmates will enhance this environment and...
