Park Hill Roots: Observe, Then Experiment
By Marne Norquist
As the air warms up and the dreary January days are no longer, we know that Spring is just around the corner. The snow is a bit heavier with moisture and melts more rapidly than the cold, single-digit days of the dry January snow. We can begin to see little bits of green peeking out through the snow. Growth is emerging. The crocus blooms and the daffodils bud. The Agave sustains its bold form through the spring snow. Our gardens are waking up, ever so slowly.
February is a great month to assess our microclimates – the small, specific space within an area, as contrasted with the climate of the larger area. Gardeners are keen to their microclimates. It is an opportunity to grow something that would otherwise not succeed in the overall space. An exposed courtyard that is adjacent to a garage and is surrounded by hardscape is ideal space to experiment with varieties that are specific to warmer zones – succulents, yucca and the like. Or, the north side of a building where the snow lingers until mid-April and moss can persist through our long, hot summers. Do you have a low point where a willow or a dogwood would thrive without any irrigation? Can you cultivate a perfect environment for a beautiful California succulent? Experiment with your Park Hill microcosmos.
Rake the blown-in leaves from your garden beds and see what is happening. What is beginning to grow? What bulbs are budding? We can also craft our own microclimates by installing shade trees, shrubs or tall fences to create shady spots. Stone patios can be positioned to create a hot space. Garden locations can be manipulated by you. Assess your space. Look to see what part of your garden is waking up first. Are the hyacinths beginning to bud earlier in one part of your garden? What will awaken first? Which plant is still dormant, quietly getting ready to explode with color?
As you stroll through our lovely neighborhood, pay attention to south-facing, exposed gardens. Do you notice a microclimate in your garden? On your block? For years, there was an actual Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) plant thriving along 25th Avenue. Every time that I walked past, I was amazed by this Mediterranean plant that survived yet another Denver (Zone 5) winter. Granted, it was in a lovely microclimate. It was on the border of the garden, adjacent to the south-facing sidewalk. The heat from the concrete, as well as the other plants insulating its roots and keeping them moist, created an ideal world for this otherwise Zone 9 herb.
Ahhh….yes, February in the garden. Mother Nature teasing us that Spring is in full force, when, really, it is still very much winter. Yes, the gardens are leisurely waking up and gearing up to fully engage us and our world, but cold days and snow storms are still ahead. February is but our very first taste of Spring.
An Agave plant in the non-irrigated Water-Smart garden at Denver Botanic Gardens offers a bold form in a winter garden.
FEBRUARY GARDENING TIPS
- Prune trees & shrubs for optimal performance and form.
- Deep water trees, shrubs and even your perennials. Any day over 40 degrees is ideal.
- Finalize what edibles you will grow. If necessary, begin sowing seeds indoors.
- Visit the Denver Botanic Gardens for inspiration and to witness amazing mircroclimates.
Marne Norquist is a professional horticulturalist with 12 years of experience designing and installing gardens. A native of Park Hill, she now cultivates a plot on Dexter street, where gardens – edible and ornamental – and two kids grow. She can be reached at marnenorquist@gmail.com.