Not all news is good news from the garden this week.
Continue reading “Gnome down! Beans up.”Gnome down! Beans up.
Category: outdoors
May Flowers
The yard garden has been underway for a month, the gnomes are on duty, and things are starting to grow!
Continue reading “May Flowers”Paddling in Colorado, Chatfield Reservoir
I got myself a foldable kayak and have been in search of metro Denver spots to take it out. So far I like Chatfield reservoir at Chatfield State Park, especially late in the season when it’s not busy! It’s about a 40 minute drive from Denver if you can be clever and avoid traffic peaks.
Portage spots
So far I’ve launched from two spots in the south (no wake zone) end of the reservoir: Fox Run and Kingfisher.
Restrooms: Both have pit toilets
Parking: Both have two rows of spots, medium lots, gravel.
Launch: Both have sandy (with some rocks) beaches you can launch from. Neither have any docks or structured launch facilities. Both lots are pretty close to the launch spots (Kingfisher about 100 feet, Fox Run about 150).
Water: Fox Run has the bonus of a water spigot which is handy for refilling bottles and rinsing off gear before packing up.
Things to see: Both are near some wooded sections where you can explore and look for birds. Kingfisher has the bonus easy access to the Platte River by passing under the bridge. This was a nice scenery change from the wide open reservoir.
What to bring: I brought a dry bag that I clip to the boat for my keys and cell phone. About halfway through I wished I had a PB&J sandwich to enjoy while coasting.
I brought my camera with a longish lens to enjoy some of the birds from a covert distance. Difficult to get good shots while on a drifting boat, but cool to see them closer. Binoculars would be good too.
Action shots
Kayak
If you’re curious, the kayak I got is an Oru Kayak, Inlet.
I opted for a collapsible kayak because I don’t have a garage for storage, and like being able to haul it inside my car. I opted for this instead of inflatable because I wanted to make sure the bottom was solid and I wouldn’t sink down into the kayak over time.
This option is way more expensive than an inflatable option (even though I bought it during a sale), but so far I really like it. It’s also pretty quick and easy to set up, and no noisy air pump. They’ve put some thought into how people will use and transport it.
Additional accessories I’ve bought include a paddling floatation vest, paddle grips (I was getting blisters), and a tether to tie my paddle to the kayak (my worst fear is dropping my paddle and it sinking while I’m in the middle of a lake).
End of June garden round-up
After months of waiting to garden… I’m already a whole month in! This year I’m playing things a little more chill and not updating or tracking as much. Here’s what’s going on:
Big picture
Flower power
This year I invested a little more in planting flowers (and also in not pulling up volunteer flowers), and it has been a lovely way to start the season. I started echinacea (coneflower) from seed last winter, grew it in the plot, and it never bloomed. This year it came back strong and has just started to bloom! It’s so exciting. Other favorites that I did this year: cactus flower zinnias, Kilimanjaro white marigold, calendula zeolights, glorious gleam and Alaska nasturtiums. I also had lots of mixed bachelor buttons and larkspur pop up and provide pollinator party spots and lovely early season color. I’m about ready to remove the volunteers to give my main plants more sun.
Milestones
- Eggplant! I’m growing these for the first time this year and just spotted the first blossom! I have no idea what to expect with these guys.
- Sugar snap peas! I’ve returned to the reliable mammoth melting sugar peas. I’m getting like 10 peas a day at this point. I’m hoping they keep it up before getting too hot and calling it a season.
- Squashes! All of my squash are in the ground- acorn, honey nut, zuchini, and something else I forgot. Zucchini looks happy.
- Luffa! Trying this one again for the second season. Tragically ended early last year, this one is about waist tall and looking good so far.
- Beets, chard – just starting to harvest greens.
