Colorado Green Now

The latest ALCC news, including Colorado Green NOW articles, legislative updates, and programming announcements. 

Aurora Water Stage 1 Drought Restrictions Email
Written by Colorado Green NOW   
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 02:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

 Aurora Water anticipates Stage 1 Drought Restrictions for 2023 irrigation season

By Adam Waters, Water Conservation Specialist at City of Aurora/Aurora Water

Amid the worst drought in 1,200 years, reservoirs in the western U.S. are being pushed to the brink. Years of dwindling precipitation, soil aridification and growth in demand mean a year of average, or even above average, mountain snowpack won’t bring the region out of its current water crisis. While Aurora Water’s reservoirs are faring better than some others, they started the new year at just 55% of their combined storage capacity.

In these situations, Aurora turns to its Water Management Plan (WMP) for measures to ensure the sustainability of its water resources. With drought lingering and lackluster snowpack forecasted, Aurora Water will ask Aurora City Council to approve a Stage 1 Drought Declaration for the 2023 irrigation season. Stage 1 drought aims to reduce outdoor water usage by 20%, primarily through increased enforcement of water waste violations and firmer user irrigation restrictions.

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New Plant Select recommendation Email
Written by Colorado Green NOW   
Tuesday, January 10, 2023 01:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

 Leprechaun southernwood provides texture and wildlife resistance 

 Contributed by Ross Shrigley and Bev Shaw for Plant Select®

It’s been said by Robin Sharma that “simplicity is the trademark of genius. Leprechaun southernwood (Artemisia abrotanum ‘Leprechaun) is the epitome of that trademark for landscapes in the intermountain region. Even as rabbits and deer are becoming a wildlife staple in neighborhoods, they won’t eat Leprechaun southernwood!  

Interestingly, in the Victorian era, this clean-scented, slightly citrus-smelling plant was included in handheld bouquets to mask overripe body odors of the day. Its pleasant, fine green texture enhanced the bouquets, acting as floral filler and showcasing other flowers in the arrangement. We have now found other uses for Leprechaun’s scent, though discouraging herbivory is an important asset.  

Look at a perennial border and imagine the enhanced presentation Leprechaun southernwood could make with its fine, airy texture and dark green coloration behind all the vibrant flowers. Combine it with groupings of Undaunted® ruby muhly grass to set off those red seed heads. This woody perennial behaves more like a shrub and can also be used as an informal or formal hedge by shearing it. Every fall, be sure to its sheared back to 4 inches. This annual maintenance practice will encourage the presentation of fresh emerald green growth each spring, while allowing space for a carpet of early spring flowering bulbs to bloom at its base. 

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Tom Delaney receives MVP ELITE award Email
Written by Colorado Green NOW   
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 04:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Tom Delaney has been with Rocky Mountain Trees & Landscaping since 1989. During that time, he has been on almost every crew, starting from entry level and working his way up. Now and for several years, he has been the company’s the go-to irrigation tech. 

Delaney knows the irrigation systems of Rocky Mountain Trees’ clients inside and out, having installed many of them himself. Many clients only trust Delaney to service their irrigation systems.  

During the 2022 season, Delaney was the only irrigation tech for Rocky Mountain Trees. In addition to being the sole tech, he has also assisted some of the maintenance crews, often weeding and pruning when on-site at clients’ homes for irrigation checks. He also coordinates with other crews on installations, trains staff on mowing and shares tips of the trade. It seems like Delaney is everywhere – and what sets him apart is that no one had to ask him to do any of these things. 

Delaney brings a level of detail about drought awareness to clients when setting controllers. He often says his plan is to “keep the water use in our landscapes just on the edge of dryness so they are more drought resilient. 

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Dustin Dayton receives MVP ELITE Award Email
Written by Colorado Green NOW   
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 03:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Dustin Dayton has moved through the ranks since starting with Zak George Landscaping (ZGL) in 2012 as a maintenance crew member. He moved to maintenance crew leader then on to a maintenance field operations supervisor position, then maintenance operations manager. In 2021, the company needed a full-time fleet manager, and called upon Dayton to fill that role. He is also the company’s snow commander. All in all, Dustin oversees 10 maintenance crews, three junior supervisors, three in-house mechanics, over 300 small engines, and many trucks and trailers. 

Dayton is respected by his entire team and a great resource for the leadership team to rely on for anything at ZGL. He sends multiple forms of media to his team including professional coaching and podcasts to inspire them to improve as people. Dayton portrays a very kind-mannered way of supervision. He understands their job and knows how they would like to be treated.  

The retention rate in the maintenance department that Dayton oversees is incredibly high compared to the industry standard several employees with more than 5 or 10 years of service. This is due to Dayton’s coaching and teaching.  

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Char Chacon receives MVP ELITE Award Email
Written by Colorado Green NOW   
Tuesday, December 27, 2022 02:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Char Farley Chacon has been with Designscapes Colorado since 2001, starting out as a team administrator, and progressing to her current position as Residential Team Manager over the past 20 years.  

Chacon demonstrates exceptional customer service with our clients and treats every employee with kindness and compassion. She is always producing the highest quality of work, which inspires others to do their best. She is dependable, responsible, empathetic, trustworthy and excellent at actively listening. The door is always open to Char’s office. 

In her desire to give back to the community, Chacon introduced the “Angels Among Us” program to the company. This program provides Christmas presents to children in need, and the company received an ELITE Award in 2021 for their work on this program. She also was a huge contributor in building and maintaining the Moonbeam Gardens at Clayton Early Learning, a program which provides healthy, fresh food to children, their families, and the community that are located within a food desert.  

Chacon’s co-workers describe her as “the heart and soul of Designscapes Colorado.” She sets the standard for every employee and has set the bar high.  

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