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1 week ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
I know folks who can get by on four or five hours of sleep, then function like normal. I am not one of those people. If I have less than eight hours, I run into door jambs, walls, trip for seemingly no reason and have difficulty remembering basic information, like my name. Overall, I do sleep well, thankfully.
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2 weeks ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
I feel fortunate to live in an older neighborhood with mature trees. We have a plethora of birds that come and go depending on the season, as well as the year-long residents. Over the years, I have written about xeriscape gardening and pollinator landscaping, but was surprised to learn that I had never discussed plants for our beautiful feathered friends. Native plants are key to designing a bird-friendly landscape. These plants have adapted to our climate, soil and environment.
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2 weeks ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
There has been a lot of bending, stooping, squatting and reaching at my house lately. It is our annual yard clean-up time, which creates a lot of muscle soreness, aches and pains. It always takes a few weeks to get back into gardening shape after a mostly sedentary winter. Can plants help with pain? I think most herbalists would say absolutely. In general, they may not be as strong as some over-the-counter medications, but when used wisely they have helped me. Willow bark is one of my favorites.
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4 weeks ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
Last month I received an email from The Herb Society of America highlighting its herb of the month — salad burnet (Sanguisorba minor). This is one of those plants I have heard of in passing over the years, but never really knew much about. Come to find out, it has an interesting history. Salad burnet is native to Egypt and the more temperate regions of Europe, but it has managed to establish itself here in our country.
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1 month ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
In last week’s column, we discussed planting the right tree in the right place. In our semi-arid environment, it is also important to consider choosing plants that tend to be more fire resistant if they will be near the home. We recently received a free juniper for Earth Day. I was researching the tree to determine where to plant it when I learned they are considered highly flammable. Junipers, along with pines, firs and spruces, are not recommended to be planted near the home.
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1 month ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
Many years ago, before attending graduate school and undergoing a deep dive into the world of plants, I had been known to select the wrong tree for the wrong place on more than one occasion. The first home my husband and I purchased after getting married was located directly next to the grumpiest neighbor in town. With virtually a blank slate in the backyard, we began creating our Garden of Eden — fruit trees, shrubs and vegetable, herb and flower gardens.
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1 month ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
When I stopped eating meat about 15 years ago, I researched plant-based alternatives for protein. This is when I first learned about tofu, which is made from soybeans. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to prepare it. I think one of the first items I tried making was a tofu cheesecake. Does it sound awful? It was. These days, I am a tofu-eating machine. I love the stuff, but I strictly use it at dinner time as a meat alternative. No more desserts. It is also very inexpensive.
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1 month ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
Our backyard flooded last summer. Over the winter, we secretly hoped the yard fairy would sprinkle magic dust over the situation and make it go away. Unfortunately, the little pixie must have been hibernating. We were staring at the same sopping wet mess this spring. We hired a contractor. The plan: remove the top twelve inches of soil, re-grade the area, install a French drain, layer rocks over the subsoil and pipe, lay down geotextile fabric over the entire yard, add top soil and new sod.
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2 months ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
I have always admired those horticulturists that are like walking encyclopedias. You can ask them almost anything and they will answer immediately. Unfortunately, I am not one of them. My brain has a cram and dump function that does not allow for easy retrieval. I can usually find the answer, but it takes more than a New York minute. Because I opted out of arboriculture in graduate school, I have occasionally enlisted the help of a professional arborist.
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2 months ago | 
broomfieldenterprise.com | Kelley Rawlsky
I get excited when I read about scientists studying the health benefits of plants. In this case, researchers believe a compound found in rosemary may be beneficial for people with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. This compound, carnosic acid, is an antioxidant and has anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is a key component of cognitive decline.
