ALCC news center
CSU HLA Departmental Mixer Email
Written by Colorado State University   
Monday, January 22, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

The Horticulture and Landscape Architecture Professional Mixer has been a Horticulture and Landscape Architecture signature annual event where employers meet students, staff and faculty while networking with Colorado State talent. At this event we will provide each employer with a table so only bring handouts, smaller items and a healthy stack of business cards to share!  Tables, company name table tents, and fillable name tags will be provided.

We will have hors d’oeuvres and light refreshments.

Please register and join us on February 21st between 5pm-7:30pm (employer check-in will start at 4:30pm) at the Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building.

As a new addition to the event this year is a Faculty - Industry Happy Hour from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. Colorado cider, wine, charcuterie will be provided, (rsvp required during registration payment processing). The Happy Hour event will be held in the Alpine Garden Community Hub located on the second floor of Nutrien Agricultural Sciences Building.

Please follow the steps below to register and pay for the event. Event descriptions, agendas, instructions and additional information about the event is contained in each of the registration and pay links. 

STEP 1 – Register through Handshake Hyperlink: Employers Registration Here

STEP 2 – Pay Online https://www.eventbrite.com/e/774546297827?aff=oddtdtcreator

STEP 3 – Send your Updated Company Logo to Karen Allison at [email protected]

STEP 4 – See you at the event! Additional information on parking and day of operations will be provided in the weeks prior to the event.  

If you have questions in preparation for this event, please contact Scott Curry at [email protected] and/or Karen Allison at [email protected]

We Look forward to seeing you there!

 
2024 ALCC Board of Directors Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, January 22, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

 Congratulations to our 2024 Board Members

Results or the 2024 Board of Directors are in. Please join ALCC in congratulating this year's Board of Directors. Together, ALCC and its board members will help guide, advise and oversee our organization through 2024. We look forward to a fantastic year!

PRESIDENT Brian Levins Designscapes Colorado, Golden

VICE PRESIDENT Anne Campbell Colorado Stoneworks Landscaping, Colorado Springs

SECRETARY/TREASURER Steve Steele Steele Dynamic Services, Denver

PAST PRESIDENT Zak George Zak George Landscaping, Fort Collins

Read more...
 
Pickens Tech hiring for Horticulture Department Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, January 22, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Location Pickens Technical College in Aurora, CO 80011

Horticulture Long-Term Substitute Teacher Jan 26 - May 31

Aurora Public Schools Compensation and Benefits

Summary: Horticulture Long-Term Substitute Teacher is responsible for instructing program courses, supervision of internships, and preparing students to enter the horticulture industry. The focus of this program is to train students in the areas of landscape and irrigation design and installation, greenhouse operation, and turf-grass management. Students will train to earn industry certifications in each of these areas.

Classes taught during this time will be:

● Plant Health Care

● Urban Agriculture

● Greenhouse Management

● Green Machines

Responsibilities:

● Provide theoretical instruction and laboratory experiences that reflect an understanding of the program's philosophy, objectives, and curriculum.

● Teach course syllabi and lesson plans in accordance with state and other stakeholder requirements. This includes developing descriptions and objectives for assigned courses and preparing and evaluating student assessment tools.

● Foster the program's responsiveness to community and/or employer needs.

● Participate in meetings, in-services, workshops, and other professional meetings and act as a resource person to members of the community and other faculty members.

● Supervise community internship and job shadowing opportunities for students. Perform other duties as assigned by the program administrator. Job

Qualifications:

● Must have some horticulture experience and knowledge of greenhouses

● A minimum of three years of teaching or related industry experience is preferred.

● Experience with the instruction and safe use of landscape and turf-grass maintenance equipment is preferred.

The successful candidate must possess or be eligible to obtain a Colorado Department of Education (CDE) substitute teaching license.

Job Type: Temporary Pay: $32.00 - $35.00 per hour

Schedule: No weekends

Work Location: In person

Please apply online through indeed

 
Northern Water wins fourth WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, January 08, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Northern Water, a public agency that provides water for food production and municipal, domestic and industrial uses in Northeastern Colorado, received a WaterSense Sustained Excellence Award for its work promoting WaterSense and water efficiency in 2022.

This is the fourth year Northern Water has won the award from WaterSense, a voluntary partnership program sponsored by EPA. In its efforts to help commercial customers save water, Northern Water performed 48 landscape consultations, inspecting landscape conditions and irrigation components and recommending WaterSense-labeled irrigation controllers and sprinkler components. Northern Water also helped save more than 7 million gallons of water by funding 11 projects through its Collaborative Water-Efficient Landscape Grant Program, which requires WaterSense-labeled equipment to be installed.

“The WaterSense program and products provide an ideal foundation to promote, facilitate and celebrate water efficiency,” says Frank Kinder, Northern Water’s Water Efficiency Department manager. “The public-private partnership delivers sustained water savings and high performance, allowing comprehensive conservation of this vitally important resource on which we all rely. We appreciate the value WaterSense provides to all stakeholders.” 

Since 2006, consumers and businesses using certified water-efficient plumbing products have saved 7.5 trillion gallons of water; 880 billion kilowatt hours of energy used to pump, treat and heat water; and $171 billion in water and energy bills. These efforts have also helped prevent 337 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions—equivalent to planting 5.6 billion trees.

“With extreme weather affecting water supplies and quality, saving this precious resource is more important than ever,” said Veronica Blette, chief of the EPA’s WaterSense Branch. “The 2023 award winners helped Americans look to WaterSense and save not just water, but the energy required to heat and treat it, reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with energy use.”

 
ALCC GreenCo set to defend green industry during election-year session Email
Written by Stefan Stathopulos, Hicks & Associates   
Monday, January 08, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

The Second Regular Session of the 74th General Assembly will convene on Jan. 10 and adjourn May 8. A recurrent theme throughout the last several years doesn’t seem to be changing this upcoming session. Colorado businesses will continue to be on the defensive on many issues. Yes, it is an election year, so we could see less earth-shattering legislation than last year, but that’s not guaranteed.

With the 2024 elections less than a year away, Democrats will look to gain a super majority in the Senate, which they already have in the House, and Republicans are looking to pick up seats in both chambers. The 2023 session was a busy interim for ALCC/GreenCO. We attended multiple interim committees, including the Sales and Use Tax Simplification Task Force, Transportation Legislation Review Committee, the Committee on Ozone Air Quality and the Water Resources and Agriculture Review Committee (which just became a year-round committee). As usual, there were multiple bills approved in the interim committees that addressed sales and use tax, non-functional turf in new developments and many more that we continue to stay engaged on.

We also participated in multiple rulemaking meetings, including on pesticides, and attended other regulatory meetings during the interim. The most pressing matter we engaged on is the possibility of new restrictions on the use of handheld and push gas-powered equipment by the Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC). ALCC submitted comments in tandem with NALP for consideration. ALCC has asked to limit the regulation to 10 horsepower or under and push the implementation date out, so the incentive program and manufacturers have a chance to catch up.

This year, Gov. Jared Polis called a Special Session, which convened on Nov. 17 to address property taxes in the state after Proposition HH failed to get voters’ approval in the November election. The session lasted four days, and multiple bills were passed to address not only property taxes but also TABOR Refunds and assistance for renters. We expect property taxes to continue to be an issue during the 2024 session.

As we prepare for the upcoming legislative session, we will continue to stay engaged and craft our 2024 legislative priorities, which include water, pesticide regulation, sales and use tax issues, industry regulations, and workforce development.

As we get closer to the 2024 Legislative Session, we ask that all ALCC/GreenCO members stayed engaged. The more engagement we have from members, the better outcomes we will have at the General Assembly.

If you have any questions or would like additional information, please feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

 
ALCC members bring home NALP awards Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, January 08, 2024 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

The National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) recognized three ALCC member companies during its 2023 Awards of Excellence ceremony at the annual Elevate conference and expo in Dallas this fall. The winners are:

Lifescape Colorado, Denver COO LeAnn Ostheimer, Women Leader of the year award; Residential Design/Build Gold Award for Hillside Beauty; Residential Landscape Management Gold Award for High Style in The Pines; Residential Design/Build Silver Award for Family Chic Retreat; Residential Landscape Management Silver Award for Twist of Sophistication; Residential Landscape Management Silver Award for Verdant Ascent

Singing Hills Landscape, Aurora Residential Landscape Contracting Silver Award for Amongst the Pines; Residential Landscape Contracting Gold Award for Monaco Modern

Timberline Landscaping, Colorado Springs Commercial Landscape Contracting Gold Award for Panorama Park

 
Pickens Tech continues to ramp up horticulture program Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, December 11, 2023 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Pickens Technical College in Aurora continues to train people for landscape industry jobs by providing hands-on learning in areas such as health, insect management, irrigation skills and more.

For the past year, Pickens has been building up its program and increasing enrollment, according to Pickens instructor Rachel Durkan. The horticultural program’s name has been changed from Urban Horticulture and Landscape Management to Environmental Horticulture. “This new name encompasses more industries within horticulture and will hopefully continue to attract more students,” Durkin says.

Last year, Pickens students did a once- a-week internship/shadowing experience in which they spent 10 Mondays working on projects, apprenticeships or internships with industry leaders. This program will start again in January 2024.

The 2023-2024 school year will include six field trips in the fall semester, including the Colorado State University trial gardens and seed collections, Denver Botanic Gardens, Arbor Valley and the Waterwise Gardens in Aurora. As part of the program, all students will now earn a Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM) certificate. “All students are excited to be attending ProGreen EXPO this year,” Durkin adds.

 
Arborist Apprenticeship as a model for workforce development Email
Written by Megan Townsend   
Monday, December 11, 2023 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Employers of all sizes struggle with recruiting, training, and retention. Apprenticeship could be the triple threat you need to help solve these workforce issues.

Recruitment: Prove to applicants and existing employees that you are invested in their career development.

Training: The apprenticeship model is a structured approach to on-the-job learning and related learning via on-line and/or classroom instruction.

Retention: Employers with registered apprenticeship have better retention rates.

Arborist Apprenticeship got its start in Colorado through the efforts of the Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership, a collective of tree care companies and municipalities dedicated to solving workforce issues and fostering apprenticeship in Colorado. In 2017, the Sector Partnership collaborated with Front Range Community College (FRCC) in Westminster to develop the related learning curriculum delivered to most arborist apprentices in Colorado. In 2019, the first cohort of apprentices began their journey with the first four Journeyworker Arborists graduating in 2022.

Last fall, the largest cohort to date of 17 apprentices started their first year of apprenticeship.

Apprenticeship in the Denver Metro is taking hold, and we are beginning to see new programs in the Western Slope and beyond.

Developing and registering an apprenticeship seems daunting, but with the help of county and state resources, it is not at all difficult. When working with The Apprenticeship Hub, a free resource, the time investment could be less than one day.

What does apprenticeship look like for an employer? First, you need to register your apprenticeship with the state. You then need to identify people within your organization who have the skills to serve as mentors for apprentices. The state requires a 1:1 Journeyworker (mentor) to apprentice ratio. You can then begin to enroll either existing employees or recruit employees to enroll. It is best to work with a consultant with The Apprenticeship Hub to design and register your apprenticeship. The Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership can help connect you to the right resources.

What does the training look like for apprentices? The majority of the apprentice’s hours are spent on the job learning the skills on the competency checklist. Remember, apprentices are paid employees. Separate from on-the-job training, there are about 440 hours of required related learning that can be delivered either online or in the classroom. The related learning program at Front Range Community College provides a combination of online and classroom learning. The apprentices at FRCC complete an assigned TCIA online module before attending class and then get hands-on training in a controlled environment with an instructor. These in-person classes are scheduled for a total of 13 days intermittently through the late fall and winter. This makes the related learning minimally disruptive to regular production schedules.

Can an employer have a registered apprenticeship without using Front Range Community College to deliver their related learning? Yes! While most employers utilize Front Range because of the reduced administrative burden to deliver this component of apprenticeship, there are programs registered in Colorado using a combination of TCIA modules and in-house or other training programs to deliver their related learning. This means a company does not have to be in the Denver Metro to have a registered apprenticeship.

How long does apprenticeship take? Most tree-care companies with registered apprenticeship in Colorado choose to register a competency-based model. This means once an apprentice attains all the skills on the competency list and has completed related learning, they can apply for their Journeyworker certificate from the U.S. Department of Labor. This process typically takes two to three years to complete.

What is the cost of having a registered apprenticeship? While this can vary, it is important to know there is an abundance of funding available for apprenticeship, making it very affordable. Last year and this year, a grant acquired by FRCC made tuition for the first year of apprenticeship only $150 or less per apprentice. While the tuition assistance through the grant at Front Range won’t always be available, there are workforce dollars available in every county that are easy for employers to obtain for their apprentices. It is important for applicants to connect with their county workforce center before becoming an employee to be eligible for maximum funding.

The bottom line is financial burden should not stop employers from pursuing registered apprenticeship. Grant dollars are available, and your county workforce centers are eager to help you secure them.

It is important to know there are resources and a community willing to help you set up registered apprenticeship at your company. If you would like to know more about starting a registered apprenticeship program at your company, please reach out to the Colorado Tree Care Sector Partnership at [email protected]. We meet monthly via Zoom, and anyone is invited to join our meetings to learn more about apprenticeship or just get help with workforce issues.

 
Landscape and Irrigation professions can get certificates 100% reimbursed! Email
Written by City of Greeley CO   
Monday, December 11, 2023 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Greeley Water Conservation urges local landscape and irrigation professionals to pursue certifications to increase their industry knowledge and support Greeley’s water-wise values.  

Based on available funds, the City of Greeley reimburses all costs for class materials and testing fees for select certifications up to $550. Professionals must pass all required tests and receive certification for reimbursement. 

Many of the courses are in English and Spanish. For a list of qualifying courses, go to GreeleyGov.com/rebatesEarlier this year, Greeley City Council adopted design criteria that requires certifications for commercial landscape installations. Since then, the demand for trained industry professionals has increased.

Greeley's Water and Sewer Board also supports the program.

“In Greeley and the West, we must grow more water-wise together,” said Water and Sewer Board Chairman Harold Evans. “Greeley Water is well-positioned for the future. We must ensure our residents have access to knowledgeable, certified and prepared professionals to support Greeley's values.”

Greeley Water Conservation sees this investment as a crucial step in ensuring proper maintenance of landscapes in the community. A well-installed, maintained and programmed irrigation system reduces water use and lowers customers' water bills.

Greeley Water Conservation recommends that residents choose landscape and irrigation companies with certified staff to maximize their water savings. Residents can find these companies at alcc.com/find-a-pro.

Email your questions to [email protected].

 
Continue to be part of the solution Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

SLC Initiative Furthers the Colorado Water Plan

In support of Colorado’s comprehensive Water Plan, released in 2015 and updated in early 2023, ALCC created the Sustainable Landscape Community (SLC) initiative to educate landscape professionals in both public and private sectors about sustainable practices and water conservation. SLC grew from the Sustainable Landscape Management (SLM) certificate program ALCC began offering in 2020.

Colorado’s ongoing, 20-plus-year drought has put increasing strain on both local and national water supplies. Climate change has severely impacted the Colorado River Basin, which provides water to 40 million people, and created historically low runoff levels, causing both Lake Mead and Lake Powell to near dead pool (inability to generate hydropower) levels. A recent study from researchers at New Mexico’s Los Alamos National Laboratory found that Colorado could see a 50 to 60 percent reduction in snow within 60 years.


In response, water utilities across the state have enacted watering restrictions to reduce outdoor water use since 2001, with more on the horizon. In fact, one major Front Range municipality reduced outdoor watering to just two days per week in 2023. ALCC created the SLC initiative to demonstrate how big water users, such as master-planned communities, HOAs and large commercial properties, are, or can become, part of the solution. SLC is a collaborative approach to implementing sustainable and water-saving practices and monitoring results to ensure cost and water savings are attained.

The first collaboration is with the Centerra community in northern Colorado. Developed by McWhinney and in partnership with High Plains Environmental Center and the Centerra Metropolitan District, Centerra will be the first to earn SLC designation in Colorado. Centerra’s SLC commitment will demonstrate how sustainable landscapes are regenerative and responsive to the environment and contribute to healthy communities.

The community will soon release a two-year study that will serve as model for other properties and communities. Now is the time to reduce water use through sustainability and answer the call to action for collaboration in Colorado’s Water Plan. If you manage, govern or oversee a community or property that wants to be recognized for its commitment to water conservation and sustainability, you can learn about the application process and find more information at alcc.com/slc.communities.

 
Master your numbers to navigate inflations impact Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Regrettably, it is all too common for companies to fall behind in the face of inflation because of their failure to regularly review and adjust their rates, negotiate favorable contracts and reassess their strategies during times of economic volatility. Instead of taking a proactive approach to safeguarding their profit margins, many business leaders react only after experiencing a cash flow crisis, when they find themselves teetering on the brink of failure.

As a landscape professional, it is imperative that you recognize the impact of inflation on your financial decision-making. Inflation refers to the gradual rise in prices over time, which erodes the purchasing power of money. It affects various aspects of your operations, from the cost of materials and equipment to labor expenses.


By understanding the influence of inflation, you can strategically plan and account for increasing costs. Incorporating this knowledge into your pricing structures and budgeting processes ensures the ongoing profitability and sustainability of your business in the long term.

Throughout the past few years, I have collaborated with various industry partners to gather data and analyze inflation trends within Colorado’s landscape industry. This involved comparing these trends with the broader U.S. Consumer Price Index, which serves as a measure of core inflation across a range of goods and services, as demonstrated in Exhibits 1 and 2. Notably, Exhibit 3 highlights significant price increases of 8.3 percent in plant materials over the last year, with even steeper increases of 14.8 percent observed in landscape supplies.

Now, envision the potential impact of these rising material costs, coupled with labor expenses, on your bottom line if you fail to adjust your pricing effectively and in real time. On one hand, I have witnessed numerous companies struggle as they find themselves caught between escalating costs and stagnant prices. Conversely, those who proactively adapt their pricing strategies tend to fare well during periods of inflation. You may be wondering about the possibility of not being able to raise prices because of price-sensitive customers, potentially resulting in a loss of business. In such cases, it becomes crucial to identify alternative areas for cost-cutting or focus on improving operational efficiencies to avoid experiencing a squeeze on profits.

Furthermore, it may be worthwhile to revisit your overall business strategy to navigate these challenging economic conditions.

What can you do? Inflation has a direct impact on your bottom line and profitability, with the potential to jeopardize your business. As the prices of goods and services rise, your expenses will also increase, potentially squeezing your profit margins and ultimately affecting your cash flow. By remaining well-informed about inflation and incorporating its effects into your pricing structures and budgeting processes, you can proactively adapt to rising costs and ensure the financial stability of your business.

Here are five key tips to help you combat the detrimental effects of inflation.

1. Keep a watchful eye on inflation and other macroeconomic trends.

2. Regularly review and update your rates.

3. Consider negotiating favorable contracts to safeguard your profitability.

4. Engage in monthly Financial Strategy Review (FSR) meetings.

5. Boost your financial literacy skills.

In the second part of this series, I will delve deeper into these tips and provide insights on how to effectively weather these economic times.

 
Jessi Burg turned her passions into a successful career Email
Written by Colorado Green Now   
Monday, November 20, 2023 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

Jessi Burg began her journey as an entrepreneur after surviving a series of toxic work environments. Convinced that there must be a way to value employees, pay a living wage and be able to work outside, she built her landscaping company, Pears to Perennials, in 2017. “After graduation from college in 2007, most of my jobs were seasonal in nature— summer camps, environmental education and urban farming,” Burg says. “So, when I opened my own landscaping company in 2017, I had a lot of ideas but was unsure about running my business. Eventually, I figured out the answers I needed and grew my business.”


Being a business owner gave Burg a voice, and she began advocating for the trades and seasonal and gig economy workers. She also learned a lot about the frustrations that can come with running a company, and that led to the launch of her second business, Outgrow Your Garage, which provides low-cost classes for business owners looking to scale.

Through Outgrow Your Garage, Burg offers online courses that teach companies how to grow sustainably, all built around the idea that professional development should fit into a professional’s workday. Burg built Outgrow Your Garage around her passion for accessible, affordable learning and inclusivity in the business world, with a mission to reduce inequity and promote strong communities through collaboration.

Designed for early-stage landscapers, Outgrow Your Garage is a culmination of what Burg wished she had known when she started in the industry, plus everything she has learned since. All courses are affordable, easy to access online and offer practical advice that helps businesses create action plans.

“I started as a landscaper, so the classes are built to solve mobile service business problems,” Burg says. “I won’t tell you how to run your business. My goal is to help businesses ask the right questions and build operations processes effectivel

Turning work into love

“I like to say that, at this point, I’m unemployable,” Burg says. “I left that one single office job because I didn’t like it—but I also wasn’t a very good employee. I like to be able to set my own hours and work on projects that interest me. I like to have the freedom to adapt my services to what’s most needed. Being self-employed means I can set up my ideal work environment.”

With Outgrow Your Garage, Burg gets to work directly with other landscape companies instead of running her own, which has given her the time and flexibility to move to the Western Slope and buy a farm.

“Ten years ago, I would never have thought I would be interested in running an online learning company for business owners,” Burg says. “I adore the problem-solving aspects. I know that I cannot fix systematic problems, but I can give tools to help companies grow.

The trades are often overlooked when it comes to business policy and ideas, Burg says. As a non-field worker, she can both advocate for small landscape businesses and also help them grow. “Good operations mean you can hire a field crew, get them set up in the morning and then do your admin work.”

Burg is building out a course-hosting platform to start licensing Outgrow Your Business content so other businesses, nonprofits, schools, libraries and industry groups can access it. “Outgrow Your Garage is an operations company,” Burg says. “A lot of business owners know what they need, but they do not know how to get there. My favorite thing to say about business is that you should aim for different problems. No business is problem-free, but if your problems are changing year to year, you are learning from your mistakes. And that’s how you build a stable business.”

Read more in this issue of Colorado Green Now:

 

Continue to be part of the solution

 

Master your numbers to navigate inflations impact

 

 
Designscapes Colorado creates beauty for every season Email
Written by Christine Manapace   
Tuesday, November 07, 2023 12:00 AM

Colorado Green Now

As any Green industry professional knows even the most meticulously designed and maintained landscapes are in constant flux. So, imagine the unique challenges and incredible rewards when a landscape company not only completes a stunning design-build project in natural mountain terrain, but then has the opportunity to maintain the property over 15 years. Throughout those years, Designscapes Colorado has evolved the landscape to optimize the Colorado mountain environment and its four seasons, winning 11 awards—most recently, a 2022 Gold Award for Residential Landscape Management from the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP).


Set on 23 acres of forested mountain terrain, the property includes a flowing river and pond. The property owners’ two primary goals when designing the outdoor space were to capitalize on the beauty of the creek and adjacent pond by providing views and access to the water and to create an inspiring setting for entertainment and relaxation. Designscapes Colorado installed a bridge across the river and pulled water from it for irrigation. The wraparound driveway has a central garden that holds a variety of plants and a sprinkling of native aspen trees, which have been planted in various other places around the property. Native plants and materials throughout the landscape complement the beauty of the natural environment. The abundance of wildlife in the area made plant selection crucial to help prevent animals from eating the new garden. The array of blossoms that thrive in each season are carefully selected and layered so that as soon as one plant is done putting on a show, another will come to life. This creates an enduring canvas of colors throughout the year.

Spring bulbs, summer blooms

In early spring, pots are decorated and planted for Easter. Then, as the weather starts to warm up, the landscape explodes with yellows, whites and blues as spring bulbs bloom. The client likes bulbs in the scillia, chionodoxa, and allium varieties, but deer- and rabbit-proof daffodil bulbs are also planted.

Perennials across the property peak during the summer and are paired with various annual flowers. Some perennial varieties used throughout the gardens include catmint little Trudy, strawberry barren, dianthus kahori, moneywort, snow-in-summer, sweet woodruff, lady’s mantle, lilacs, hydrangeas and veronica.

Every year, annual flowers are planted in rustic wood pots to add extra dashes of color during the warmer months. The flower varieties change every summer to give the property a fresh look. Designscapes Colorado also provides general maintenance services including regular mowing to help encourage strong root growth in the bluegrass, edging, fertilizing, weed control, pruning, deadheading and more.

Fall and winter interest

When bright summer colors wind down, Designscapes Colorado revamps the annual flowerpots by adding new flowers to existing summer ones or replacing them with fall flowers that can handle cold weather and frost. In the high-altitude environment, it’s essential to select hardy varieties, such as asters, snaps, pansies and violas, because the climate can change to freezing very quickly. Sometimes Designscapes Colorado adds cabbage and kale to the pots as well.

A similar rejuvenation of the annual pots happens in winter, with evergreen branches, tinsel, pinecones and other festive décor included to give holiday interest. Designscapes Colorado also hangs holiday lights and décor while performing winter maintenance services and planning for spring and summer changes.

One thing that sets this property apart, and helped earn it awards, is how Designscapes Colorado experiments with different plant pairings. Playing around with different combinations over the years has allowed for the utilization of local materials and created unexpected beauty.

 
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