Page 49 - AreaNewsletters "May2023"

Basics of Birdwatching
(Part1)
Wed., May 3 • 6:30 - 7:30pm at Philip S. Miller Library
Are you interested in learning about birds or developing your birdwatching skills?
Join the Town’s Natural Resource Specialist for this indoor birdwatching program for beginners. Learn about bird identification, choosing and using binoculars and field guides, finding local birding spots, and so
much more
Registration is required at
CRgov.com/Registration
After taking the class join us for either a guid- ed walk along East Plum Creak Trail or a hike through Gateway Mesa Open Space as Part 2 of this series (attendance at the first indoor class is not necessary to join either guided walks).
until more flowering
begins, you have
a perfect excuse
to skip weeding
the dandelions
until just before the
plant begins going
to seed. The bees
will thank you by
pollinating your
plants all summer
long! Do pull the weeds before they go to seed.
And if you keep a vegetable garden, you’ll be even more interested in keeping your pollinator population healthy and happy. However, don’t get ahead of yourself! Despite the greening lawn and trees, the average last frost is not until May 15th or later across the Front Range. Even when temperatures seem favorable for early vegetable garden planting, many commonly grown vegetables prefer a fairly warm soil temperature. Raised beds will warm faster, and soil temperature can be simply tested with a dedicated kitchen thermometer. A few plants that can mostly withstand Colorado’s temperamental springs include cold hardy salad vegetables like kale, spinach, and leaf lettuce. They grow quickly from seed and are even healthier straight from your garden. Keep plants evenly watered and shade them if temperatures suddenly and sharply rise to keep leaves from tasting bitter. Crops for later harvest that can be planted now include radishes, potatoes, and turnips, and if you act quickly, it may be possible to get in another planting of snow peas. Happy Spring!
Brought to you by Colorado State University Master GardenersSM. Contact the help desk: dcmgardenr@ gmail.com and visit extension.colostate.edu.
720-733-6935
49 Castle Rock “AreaNewsletters” • May 2023