All posts by GVMEcology Admin

Garden Meeting May 11

Demo Garden

Just in from Susan Lamb (GVM Demonstration Garden Manager) “Spring is upon us and it’s time to turn our sights to gardening and the bloomin’ plants! The garden committee will meet Monday afternoon (May 11) at 1:00 in the basement of the GVM office, unless otherwise advised. Any and all who have an interest in xeriscape designs and plants are welcome to join us!”

Announcement: A new Garden page was added to our blog today for the subcommittee to add mountain gardening information.

April Wildflowers

Wildflowers
Spring Beauty
Spring Beauty

April 24-26, 2009: Jim Erdman reported these April blooms in GVM. He welcomes comments and additions.

  • Ball Cactus (Pediocactus simpsonii)
  • Bluebells; Chiming Bells (Mertensia lanceolata)
  • Biscuit Root; Wafer Parsnip; Wild Celery (Cymopterus acaulis)
  • Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
  • Crane’s Bill; Alfilaria; Filaree; Red Crane’s Bill (Erodium cicutarium)
  • Dwarf Mountain Fleabane (Erigeron compositus)
  • Mouse-ear (Cerastium strictum)
  • Pasqueflower (Pulsatilla ludoviciana)
  • Spring Beauty (Claytonia rosea)

Click “more…” to see images and details from Jim. Continue reading April Wildflowers →

Mystery Plant ID

Wildflowers
Mystery plant
Mystery plant is White Scorpion-weed

During our October 2008 workday at Crellin Lake, a large, odd-looking dried plant was spotted by Judy and Harry. They pulled it up from the north east lake shore and kept it through the winter. During our April Ecology meeting,  Judy turned over the unusual specimen to me.  I just got back from the CSU Herbarium where Jennifer Ackerfield, Research Associate, identified the plant and showed me the pressed, reference specimen. The name of the plant is White Scorpion-weed or White Phacelia (Phacelia alba Rydberg). Continue reading Mystery Plant ID →

Our Mountain Cactus Story

Plant List, Wildflowers
GVM Ball Cactus by L. Huckabee 5/20/09
GVM Ball Cactus, L. Huckaby 5/20/09

Jim Erdman sent this information: Ball or Mountain Cactus (Pediocactus simpsonii) is a common and beautiful cactus you will find throughout Colorado. It is a globular type of cactus reaching up to 6 inches in diameter and is strongly tubercled [meaning rounded projections]. Prickly-pear seems to be more abundant than the Ball or Mountain Cactus, probably because it’s found in more visible masses, especially when in flower. Continue reading Our Mountain Cactus Story →

GVM Pine Beetle Spraying $ Info

Forest Mgmt, Pine Beetle

4/28/09 Email from Susan Lamb to Ecology Committee: “Yesterday I talked with Jeff Smith, owner of Tiger Tree Land Management, to confirm the price of spraying for mountain pine beetle. The price remains the same as last year: $13.19 per tree. There was a conflict in price ($13 vs $11) mentioned at our Ecology meeting last month, so here ’tis straight from the horse’s mouth. This is also the price that Jeff and Steve H. have agreed to for GVM if 500+ trees are sprayed. Just thought we should all be on the same page.

Tiger Tree will start spraying in GVM in a couple of weeks. More information is available at their website: http://www.tigertreeinc.com/.”