Welcome 2012!
Collaborative Art by MIA No MIA
Ode to Atlantis
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Early Summer 2011
(A) Watercolor sketch for proposed woodland garden project by Greg Marquez.
(B) Early Summer containers with “Cappuccino” Petunia, “Evening Glow” Geranium, “Big Red Judy” Coleus and “Pinwheel” Petunia.
(C) A garden study of light and dark.
(D) Newly planted woodland themed garden.
(E) Terrarium with houseplants and glow in the dark rocks.
Succulent Container Gardening
Succulent and sedum container gardening is one of the most exciting and appropriate trends in Rocky Mountain regional gardening! Best of all they are water wise and drought tolerant once they are established!
All containers were produced by Cosmos Design except for the cactus patch container courtesy of E. J.
A Garden’s Next Top Flower 2011
Today’s Petunia is anything but ordinary. Nurseries like Welby Gardens located in Brighton, CO are bringing new breath to an old annual favorite, the petunia. Pinstripe is definitely the favorite, with it’s thin yellow stripe on a deep purple background, followed by Caramello, a pale peach number with a spotted throat; Sunray, a pale yellow with dark yellow centered variety and for the most dramatic flare Black Velvet, a true black petunia. These petunias are sure to give any full sun planting that extra something special for 2011 annual gardens!
Earth Day 2011!
Cosmos Design is a full service landscape design and maintenance company.
Happy Earth Day!
Let’s all celebrate our great Mother Earth today!
Cosmos Design in conjunction with Denver’s Aveda Renaissance Day Spa is auctioning off landscape design services. Money raised goes to Western Resource Advocate’s water conservation and restoration programs.
Welcome Spring!
Snowflake on a stem
whispers to its relatives-
I’ll take over now.
~Amy LV
A Winter in Tuscon
Typically for any one in the green/landscape industry, winter is the time of the year, to hibernate, become insular, rest, reflect, and hunker down for a long cold winter’s nap.. .and usually, it is what I do. However, a good friend of mine recommended that I drive a few hours with her to sunny Tuscon, Arizona aka the “painted desert”.
The Southwestern natural landscape
I was excited, for I had been to the enchanted lands of New Mexico many times and had always enjoyed the solitude, the expanse, and the muted colors of the high plains desert. A vast area of land allows for solitude, and a chance to open up and hear one’s own heart beat. And now, here was a chance to visit the “painted desert”, a hot, colorful and dramatic landscape.
The drive is not long; 10-12 hours, and the landscape is breathtaking and is truly the wild west in every sense of the word.
My eyes are activated instantly to my new surroundings. The midday light is strong, and contrasted; the natural landscape is full of juxtaposition. Patches of purple prickly pear nestled in desert grass; tangled branches of trees contrast the stately form of the saguaro cactus.
Speaking of cactus; they are as varied as types of people.
Lovely to look at!
Despite this hot, extreme climate, the desert is just as fragile as any other ecological system. It is dependent on annual rainfall, and if temperatures drop below the norm, it spells disaster for the plants and vegetation.
Teddy Bear Cholla; Chain Fruit Cholla; Purple Prickly Pear Catus
The sunrises and sunsets are magnificent and make for light conversation. Even though I myself am a night owl, I found myself setting the alarm to watch the early morning light and its spectacular and often psychedelic display.
The sky line is low, offering magnificent sunsets which seem to go on forever.
The urban landscape also offers magic and variety.
…and Tusconians are kind and friendly!
The painted desert is a truly magical place!
Winter Watering 2010
Winter Watering
Dear Valued Client,
This Colorado winter is exceptionally dry and it is imperative to water, especially if you are establishing a new garden or have newly planted trees and shrubs.
Winter watering is best done during the hottest part of the day. Just set your hose/sprinkler on a timer (approx. 10-15 mins.) and move from one area to the next.
How to determine if your garden needs winter watering?
The screwdriver test is the most simple and effective way to determine when to water. Simply insert a screwdriver into the soil – if the screwdriver is inserted with relative ease or if soil residue appears on the screwdriver after being inserted, the soil has sufficient moisture. If however you have difficulty inserting the screwdriver, this may be an indication to water the area. In general, a long soak of water is better than a short spraying of water.
As always, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns.
Cosmos Design
felecia@cosmosdesigndenver.com