Every 4th of July celebration, the City's precision rafting teams get ready for a rematch at the annual Mayor's Cup Raft Race. It's a race against time and other City officials! You can expect to see elected officials from Federal Heights, Thornton, Broomfield, Commerce City, and Northglenn as they compete to claim VICTORY in the name of their City. The racecourse starts at the boat dock located on the southwest corner of Webster Lake at E.B. Rains Jr. Memorial Park. Rafters will paddle their rafts across the lake, around the big Firecracker in the lake, and then back to the boat dock.
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| Water Wise Gardening Tips & Planting Ideas |
Because a Water Wise yard doesn't have to be colorless!
 Where to begin...
There are many misconceptions about creating a Water Wise, or Xeriscaped, yard and garden because the concept is a departure from the norm of landscaping. To have a beautiful Water Wise yard, start by following these 7 Principles of Xeriscaping.
Planning & Design - Start with a site inventory and analysis. Document where conditions such as the location of drainage, exposures, soil types, views, and plants already exist, and use this information while planning. Divide the area into zones, different areas that require different water requirements. This process, called hydrozoning, begins with the center, an oasis. The oasis is the area that requires the most maintenance, receives the most water and is the area where people spend the most time. The next level out is the moderate water use zone. The furthest zone should be the low water use zone, which requires no supplemental water or very infrequent irrigation.
Soil Preparation - Soil preparation and improvement promotes better absorption or water and improved water holding capacity. In the oasis and moderate water use zones, adding compost increases the soilís water holding capacity. In the low water use zone, loosening the soil by rototilling will improve root development and allows better infiltration of water and air needed by the plants roots.
Appropriate & Practical Use of Turf - Turf really does play a role in being Water Wise. It reduces erosion, prevents glare from the sun and is an important element in cooling the environment. Consider how large a turf area is desired and where it should be placed. Try to limit turf to useful spaces and determine which grasses will best serve your needs.
Use & Group Appropriate Plants - The key to a good Water Wise garden is to not interplant high-water plants with those needing less water. There is a wide variety of colorful, fragrant and beautiful plants that can be planted in the less irrigated section of your yard.
Efficient Irrigation - Once the root systems of the plants are developed, irrigate according to the condition of the plants, not on a fixed schedule. Well planned sprinkler systems can save water when properly installed and operated. Apply only as much water as the soil can handle to avoid runoff. To promote deep rooted, drought tolerant plants, water infrequently, but deeply.
Use Mulch - Mulch provides a cover over the soil, reducing evaporation, soil temperature and erosion. It also helps limit weeds, which will compete for water and nutrients. Organic mulch, such as bark chips and wood grindings, will help keep the soil moist and reflect less heat.
Maintenance - A water wise yard still needs to be maintained. Pruning, weeding, mowing, fertilizing, and attention to the irrigation system are a must to maximize water savings. | | Colorful Colorado
True to its nickname, the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains has hundreds of varieties of native flowers, plants and shrubs in many different colors. Since "natives" have grown in the state for hundreds of years, they have evolved to shrug off most of what Colorado's environment can throw at them. Yes, even drought! Natives are a beautiful choice for any garden or yard as they are naturally water wise and can bloom from spring to well into the fall.
Another perk of having native flora around is the fauna it attracts. A myriad of birds, bees and butterflies might just become regular visitors to your yard! You can feel good about providing these insects and animals with the type of habitat they need to survive. | | Planting Tips
 Strong plants have a strong root system, and you can encourage that by following a few simple planting tips.
Start by selecting the strongest looking plant from the nursery. Look for leaves that do not have any brown margins, spots or holes. Also look for stems that do not have any breaks or cuts, as it could cause problems as the plant grows. A potted plant will already have a root system that can establish itself more quickly once planted.
Follow directions on installing the plant into the soil. Is the hole the right depth and width for the plant? Is it in a place where it can get adequate light needed for growth?
When watering be sure to use a method that gets the water on the plant without creating runoff. Keep in mind that as the season progresses, the root system gets bigger and a larger area will need to be watered.
Practice good housekeeping - follow-up maintenance in your garden can usually lengthen the blooming period of most plants. Removing dead leaves and spent flowers from plants will stimulate production of new growth.
In the end, it is important not to over fertilize, over water, nor over fuss. A healthy garden only requires a little TLC to keep it growing strong and healthy. | | A Few Water Wise Colorado Natives
- Beebalm - Monarda Fistulosa
- Black-eyed Susan - Rudbeckia Hirta
- Blanket Flower - Gaillardia Artista
- Bluebells - Campenula Rotundifolia
- Blue Flax - Linom Lewisii
- Columbine - Aquilegia
- Evening Primrose - Oenothera
- Fringed Sage - Artemisia Frigida
- Penstemon - Penstemon
- Prairie Coneflower - Ratibida Columnifera
- Pussytoes - Antennaria
- Spotted Gayfeather - Liatris Punctata
- Western Wallflower - Erysimum Asperum
| | More Water Wise Plants...
Perennials
- Basket of Gold - Aurinia
- Catmint - Nepta x Faassenii
- Creeping Phlox - Phlox Subulata
- Daylilly - Hemerocallis
- Hen & Chicks - Sempervivum
- Ice Plant - Delosperma
- Iris - Iris
- Jacobís Ladder - Polemonium Caeruleum
- Lambís Ear - Stachys Byzantina
- Mint/ Hyssop - Agastache
- Perrywinkle - Vinca
- Purple Coneflower - Echinacea
- Snow in the Summer - Cerastium Tomentosum
- Stonecrop - Sedum
| | Shrubs
- Broom - Cytisas
- Butterfly Bush - Buddlera
- Cherries/ Plums/ Choke Cherries - Prunus
- Creeping Grape Holly - Mahonia Repens
- Lilacs - Syringa
- Mugo Pine - Pinus Mugo
- Peashrub - Caragana
- Russian Sage - Perovskis Atriplicifolia
- Sage - Artemisia
- Serviceberry - Amelanchier
- Yucca - Yucca
Grasses (Ornamental)
- Blue Avena Grass
- Blue Fescue
- Little Bluestem
- Maiden Grass
- Switch Grass
Trees
- Apple/Crabapple - Malus
- Juniper - Juniperus
- Maple - Acer
- Pine - Pinus
This is only some of the many water wise plants available. For additional information or landscaping ideas, visit with your local greenhouse or speak with your landscape artist. | |
Information courtesy of Greg Vowels, Parks Operations Superintendent, and Mary Ann Dornfeld, Horticulturist, City of Northglenn; Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, www.alcc.com; The Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCo); Town of Parker, Colorado: "Xeriscape Principles for Landscaping During a Drought," www.parkeronline.org; and Xeriscape Colorado! Inc., www.xeriscape.org. |
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