Here Comes Spring
We Can Help With The Prep Work For A Gorgeous Garden
By Leslie Williams
Pauline Robinson Branch Librarian
Every spring I tell myself I’m going to start a garden and grow my own herbs or vegetables.
Growing up in Ohio, my dad had a garden where he grew tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers. I figure I could maybe do the same, in Colorado? I get really excited, and go to the Ace on the Fax and I look at the plants. I ask a lot of questions of the extremely knowledgeable staff and I get overwhelmed deciding which plants I should purchase. I leave the store. I return to the library and get further overwhelmed with our collection of gardening books.
This year I asked my colleague, Judith, to get me started. A master gardener, Judith found one book in particular in our collection that she felt was an excellent choice pertaining to gardening in Colorado (check out the shaded book review for details). Don’t miss the online resources to Colorado State University Extension links suggested at the end – they are a treasure-trove for valuable information on all things green.
For everyone who is in the mood for spring and getting ready to get outside and till the soil, our neighborhood libraries also have the following resources: The Park Hill Branch has a Seed Library, and in March and April; many libraries throughout the city will host gardening programs.
Happy planting!
Pauline Robinson March Programs
Tech Help Appointments | Mondays and Tuesdays, noon-1 p.m.
Get technology assistance from one of our in-house experts on your own device or a public computer. Learn the basics, such as email, social networking, word processing and eMedia. Call the library at 720-865-0290 to schedule an appointment for Monday or Tuesday.
Mardi Gras Mask | Monday, March 4, 2 p.m.
Decorate a mask with sparkles and feathers to celebrate Mardi Gras.
Finding Your Voice Writing Workshops | Tuesdays, March 5, 12, 19, 26, 4 p.m.
Finding your voice can be one of the most difficult, yet empowering, things you can do to improve your writing and help your stories come together. Come to this workshop prepared to write, read, discuss and hone your writing voice. Ideal for those beginning writers.
Preschool Storytime | Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for 3-5 year olds and their parents or caregivers.
Computer 101 | Wednesdays, March 6, 13, 20, 27, noon -1:30 p.m.
Drop-in computer class. Limit 10.
Central I-70 Project Update | Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m.
A member from CDOT will give an overview of the Central I-70 project, work that has been accomplished so far, community commitments, commuter outreach, and what is planned for the project over the next four years. Question & Answers to follow the 30-minute presentation.
Equity in Schools: We PHNEEd to Talk | Saturday, March 16, 10 a.m. – noon
Park Hill Neighbors for Equity in Education (PHNEE) invites you to a discussion of how to use stakeholder power to improve equity in our neighborhood elementary schools. Add your voice to this ongoing series of conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion in education.
The Pauline Robinson Book Club | Saturday, March 23, 12 p.m.
This month’s selection: What We Lose by Zinzi Clemmons.
Drop-ins are welcome.
Science is Fun Lab 101 | Tuesday, March 26, 4 p.m.
Use chemicals to make slippery slime. Learn all about acids and bases with our special indicator as chemicals magically change color instantly.
Science is Fun Wacky Water Workshop | Wednesday, March 27, 2 p.m.
Discover how cool water really is. Make water and alcohol have a tug-of-war with food coloring molecules. Stab a pencil through a plastic bag and not spill a drop of water.
Science is Fun Buzzing with Energy | Thursday, March 28, 2 p.m.
The forecast for the day is FUN as students transform into mini-meteorologists. Map out the facts as we investigate our planet’s unpredictable weather patterns. Prepare to feel the pressure … the air pressure, that is. Experience the winds of change as we get an up-close look at the changing conditions experimenting with tornadoes, hurricanes, thunder and lightning!
Science is Fun All Systems Go | Friday, March 29, 2 p.m.
Investigate the wonders of the human body from the inside out. Have FUN studying the structures and systems of the human body and discover how they all come together to create one bodacious body machine. From brains to blood cells, gain a whole new “funderstanding” of your own body as you find out what makes you tick.
Spring Party | Wednesday, March 27, 3 p.m – 4 p.m.
Welcome the warmer weather with spring crafts.
Free Coffee Chaff Give Away | Saturday, April 6, 11 a.m.
Chaff is a byproduct of the coffee roasting process that is a beneficial addition to your soil, compost, or chicken coop. Improve your garden while helping keep this free resource out of the landfill. Bring your own container to fill with coffee chaff from Commonwealth Coffee.
Park Hill March Programs
All Ages Storytime | Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for children of all ages and their parents or caregivers. Craft activity immediately follows the program.
Baby Storytime | Thursdays & Fridays at 11:15 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for babies ages 0-18 months and their caregivers. Play and social time immediately follow the program.
Toddler Storytime | Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
Stories, songs, rhymes and fun for toddlers ages 18-36 months and their caregivers.
Mardi Gras Mask Craft | Friday, March 1, 4 p.m.
Decorate a mask with sparkles and feathers to celebrate Mardi Gras. Ideal for ages 3 to 8, accompanied by an adult.
Coloring for Grown Ups | Saturday, March 2, 2:30 p.m.
Come for a nostalgic hour of coloring, in or outside the lines. Use our supplies to unplug and color your way to serenity.
Irish Dancing for Kids | Monday, March 4, 10:30 a.m.
Get jiggy in time for St. Patrick’s Day by joining the Anderson-Dunn Academy of Irish Dance for a 45-minute session, where they will teach the basics of Irish dance. Ideal for ages 4 and up.
Explore Your Family History | Wednesday, March 6, 6:30 p.m.
Discover how to trace your family history. Learn the tricks of the trade as James Jeffrey from the Western History and Genealogy Department guides you through the process.
No Strings Attached Book Chat | Saturday, March 9, 11 a.m.
Read whatever you want and attend whenever you can. Share a recent read, an old favorite, or anything in between.
Conversation for the Ages: Creativity | Saturday, March 9, 2:30 p.m.
What do we owe to each other? How do we talk about what matters most? Engage in one or all of our monthly discussions using classic and contemporary texts as springboards for talking about pressing issues.
Understanding Alzheimer’s and Dementia | Tuesday, March 12, 4 p.m.
Alzheimer’s is a disease of the brain that causes problems with memory, thinking and behavior. Join us to learn about the impact of Alzheimer’s, the difference between Alzheimer’s and dementia, disease stages and risk factors, current research and treatments to address symptoms and resources.
Teen Advisory Board (TAB) | Tuesdays, March 12 & 26, 6 p.m.
Join the Park Hill TAB. Help plan events and projects, talk about your favorite books, music, movies and make your opinion count. Plus, snacks. Ideal for ages 13-18.
You Can’t Unfriend Everyone | Wednesday, March 13, 6:30 p.m.
In conversations about current politics, a range of issues like gun control or discussions of white privilege and other forms of oppression, have you ever wanted to unfriend people? This interactive session from The Conflict Center will focus on a variety of ways that we unfriend people and review facilitation skills we can use everyday – such as reframing resistance, listening deeply, and navigating triggers – to stay “in conversation” instead.
Marvin Booker was Murdered Film and Discussion | Saturday, March 16, 11 a.m.
On July 9, 2010, Marvin Booker, a homeless street preacher with mental health issues, was killed by five sheriff deputies while being booked into the Denver Detention Center. The event was caught on tape, and witnessed by more than 20 people. His story is a case study of what a lack of law enforcement accountability looks like. Stay after the film for a discussion with Director Wade Gardner. Includes mature themes.
Kids’ Book Club | Tuesday, March 19, 3:30 p.m.
Book theme: The poetry of Shel Silverstein. Choose one or more of your favorite Shel Silverstein books of poems. Practice at home and be ready to share your favorite poems, including – if you like – reading them aloud. Snack: Popsicles! Ideal for ages 6 to 9.
Searching the History of Your House | Wednesday, March 20, 6:30 p.m.
Want to know what year your house was built, who lived there, and what they did for a living? Come learn how you can find the history of your home at the library.
Decorate a Treasure Chest | Monday, March 25, 10:30 a.m.
Spring break fun! Decorate your own cardboard chest to hold all your treasures! Ideal for ages 3 and up – accompanied by an adult.
Mindful Mobility | Tuesday, March 26, 4 p.m.
Through the lens of Taoist meditation, we’ll explore range of motion in the spine and major joints. Connecting breath to movement brings groundedness and ease to daily acts like standing, walking, and reaching for more in your life.
Glow in the Dark Dance Party with a DJ | Wednesday, March 27, 6:30 p.m.
Spring break fun for the whole family. A DJ from Snappy Little Numbers will provide the tunes, we will provide glow necklaces and bracelets . We recommend that you come dressed in white or neon which will glow in the dark under black lights. Ideal for families with kids ages 3 and up.
Panel Discussion: Reporting, Homelessness, and the Public Sphere | Saturday, March 30, 2:30 p.m.
Join the Denver VOICE, Denver Homeless Out Loud, Lighthouse Writers Workshop, the Denver Public Library and local writers for a conversation around reporting, homelessness, and the public sphere.
By The Book
A Few Resources For A Happy And Bountiful Garden
Rocky Mountain Fruit and Vegetable Gardening, Plant, Grow and Harvest the Best Edibles by Diana Maranhao
Covering Colorado and the rest of the Rocky Mountain states, Maranhao’s book provides a deep understanding of this complex area of microclimates, soil needs, water and nutrients.
Choosing this one over all the many garden books became obvious when I read through the in-depth sections. They include growing zones, seasonal plants, how to build soil, how to choose healthy plants at the garden store, (very helpful for beginners), how to start seeds and transplant them, and a great section on maintenance during the growing season.
It also covers fruit trees, shrubs, and vines with growing and pruning tips. It has great illustrations and wonderful photography, which is half the fun of any gardener during the winter to envision the spring garden. It provides a section on individual plants, with photos, recommended varieties, how to grow, when and how to harvest and specific growing tips.
Finally, it has a really good section on garden resources. Hopefully you will enjoy its breadth and depth. Two additional titles worth mentioning are Rocky Mountain Getting Started Garden Guide and Month-by-Mouth Rocky Mountain; what to do each month to have a beautiful garden all year, by John Cretti.
Gardening tips via Colorado State University Extension
• Access all topics: extension.colostate.edu/garden/
• For yards and gardens: extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/
• For a great resource of specific plants: plantselect.org/
• An excellent catalogue nursery is High Country Gardens, with unique plants for our climate and soils, and some pre-planned gardens: www.highcountrygardens.com/
• Local nurseries are always a valuable resource
— Leslie Williams