NEWSLETTER

APRIL 2021 in New Times Gardening surged in popularity last year during the first months of the pandemic and stay-at-home orders. There was more to this phenomenon than just spending more time at home. Plants have been proven good for our mental health, especially helpful in stressful times. Many families experienced these benefits for the first time this past year. Psychologists who have studied the effects of gardening on people’s well being find that it can help boost their morale and calm worries. Indoor gardening has also enjoyed a surge in popularity this year. Nurturing and just being around houseplants has been beneficial for those unable to have a outdoors or when the weather doesn’t permit outdoor activity.

Our desire to grow plants, especially vegetables and fruits, during a crisis is not something new. It dates back to the World Wars at least. In World War II, people were encouraged to plant Victory . A thriving Victory Garden meant having a healthy mix of seasonal produce that could be eaten fresh or canned for later. These gardens weren’t just about producing food either. They were a vital part of boosting morale for those on the home front.

The exercise that gardening provides was helpful last year when attendance at gyms was not possible. The satisfaction of doing something active that can also help you feed your family and calm you through anxious times may be why so many of us felt drawn to our gardens during the first weeks of the coronavirus outbreak. Now, a new growing season is here while the evolving pandemic drags on a little longer, so your gardening habit can serve you well this spring, too.

The surge in gardening has created some frustrating shortages. Since we grow so many of our own annuals and perennials, it has given us time to make adjustments to have a good supply of plants for you this spring. We look forward to seeing you soon. Happy Gardening!

ECHTER’S OPEN HOUSE April 10- April 18

Greenhouse tours with our growers will be offered each day. One Grand Giveaway-Win 1 of 10 $100 Echter’s Gift Cards to be given away during Open House

See page 5 for details. INTERESTING & FUN FINDS FOR 2021 Echter's has everything you need to add your unique style.

amazing new annuals

ROSALIE ANTIQUE SALMON ANGELMIST BERRY SPARKLER GERANIUM ANGELONIA Enchanting blend of pastel beauty. Lush plants, covered with orchid-like flow- new ers. Quickly overflows hanging baskets.

CHA-CHA DIVA HOT PINK CALIBRACHOA SUNSHINE BEAUTY OSTEOSPERMUM A dance of color for containers and bas- Vibrant orange edges fade to a bright yellow kets. Keeps blooming without pinching. center—a showstopper.

PEGASUS BEGONIA SWEET CAROLINE MEDUSA GREEN A spectacular thriller for combinations or SWEET POTATO VINE magnificent on its own. Unique leaves with deep lobes—a must-have for containers.

pretty new petunias

SHOCKWAVE LOVIE DOVIE BEES KNEES PURPLE TIE DYE Pinwheels of color. Pink Bright yellow blooms all Eye catching unstable stars on white flowers. season long. color keeps changing.

perfect new perennials

SUNRISE SALMON PINK AGASTACHE DREW’S FOLLY HARDY Subtle southwest tones on a water- wise SNAPDRAGON favorite. Continuous flowering. New from Plant Select, charming, long- blooming and very popular with bees.

TEMPO ROSE GEUM CORDIAL CANARY AJUGA Rose pink flowers, attractive foliage, attracts A shade-loving ground cover with bright butterflies and is deer resistant. gold-leaf foliage.

WHEE HOSTA Ruffled foliage with cream-colored edges— BLUE SKYWALKER VERONICA a beauty for the shaded garden. Upright spikes of royal blue on an easy-to-grow plant PEACH PEARLS SEDUM Clusters of golden-peach flowers and dark COVER GIRL TALL GARDEN PHLOX succulent leaves are a winning combination. A must-have for mid-summer color in the border. Fragrant.

2 | ECHTER’S NEWSLETTER radiant new roses

FLORENTINA ARBOROSE ANNA’S PROMISE Climbing rose with beautiful red Grandiflora with the unique color combina- peony-like flowers. tion of golden petals with a pink blush.

RASPBERRY CREAM TWIRL ANGEL FACE Climbing rose with striped petals Floribunda with loads of bright lavender with unique green apple fragrance. blooms and strong sweet citrus fragrance.

surprising new shrubs

CRANRAZZ BUTTERFLY BUSH SNOW DAY BLIZZARD PEARLBRUSH Beautiful summer color for your garden A blizzard of white flowers in late spring— and the butterflies will love it. grows best in light shade.

CLIFF FENDLERBUSH PEPPERMINT SMOOTHIE A native shrub with white flowers ROSE OF SHARON tinged with pink. It prefers A new variety with large double flowers that sunny, dry conditions. blend pale pink and magenta tones.

BOTTLEBRUSH BUCKEYE PANTHER NINEBARK One of the best summer-flowering shrubs Dramatic dark foliage provides for shady areas. Dark green leaves and perfect contrast to clusters of white tubular flowers. pink flowers in the spring. the great outdoors home sweet home

COTTON PRODUCE BAGS Make grocery shopping waste-free with these reusable cotton produce bags. A set of 3 different sizes.

GREENWICH BAY SOAPS Natural and botanical bar soaps gently exfoliate and moisturize with shea butter and virgin olive oil. outdoor friends

WOODLINK ADIRONDACK CHAIR SQUIRREL FEEDER Featuring a bright red finish, the open design allows easy access to add and remove corn cobs. Squir- OUTDOOR INTERIORS GOTTA HAVE SHADE rels will love their new hangout. The newest collection features a contemporary The right umbrella can blend of beige resin wicker and antique stained reduce temperatures up SQUIRREL-PROOF FEEDERS eucalyptus wood. Sectional seating features low to 20%. Treasure Garden Woodlink also offers a variety of backs and clean lines with convenient, built-in offers high-quality squirrel-proof bird feeders if you’d side tables. A wicker lounge chair and side table umbrellas with guide- rather just feed your feathered round out the collection. tilt options to create the friends. perfect shade.

SPRING 2021 | 3 vegetable gardening 101

Grow your best vegetable garden this year with these tips to get you started.

GIVE YOUNG PLANTS TIME the plants support themselves and TO ADAPT potentially heavy yields.

Whether starting seed indoors, or buying starts from a , be sure to allow the plants time to harden off before planting them directly START WITH THE GROUND outside.

For in-ground plantings and raised Some plants can tolerate light frosts, beds, till approximately 1-2 others can’t. inches of peat or compost Popular cold crops include to a depth of 6-8” EVERY broccoli, Brussels sprouts, YEAR. cauliflower, kale, lettuce, BUGS HAPPEN. IT’S INEVITABLE. For containers and pots, mint, mustard, peas, AND IT’S OK. fresh potting soil will spinach, and Swiss chard. Aphids and other sap suckers can help prevent diseases or Warm crops include corn, be managed with a strong blast of problems from the previous cucumbers, melons, water, neem oil, insecticidal soaps, or year, while allowing new tomatoes, peppers, ladybugs! plants to thrive. Adding a pumpkins, summer squashes, slow-release fertilizer to and basil. Soil dwelling insects like earwigs are your potting soil or garden soil can deterred by sprinkling diatomaceous jump-start your plants. If you are not using Season Starters, earth around the base of plants. avoid planting warm season crops until LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION Mother’s Day at the earliest and keep a Gardening is not all fun and games, frost blanket handy just in case! it can be a lot of hard work with Choose one with plenty of sun, as sometimes less most vegetables require a minimum of Once planted, check on them daily for than desirable 6-8 hours for optimal production. water needs, pests, pollinator visitors, outcomes. or just for fun! WHAT DO YOU WANT TO GROW? However, there is a GROWING GARDENS certain satisfaction Don’t grow something because some- CAN CHANGE DAILY. in growing your one said you should. Grow it because own food, and you want to, because you will care for In the beginning, your new plantings learning the lessons it, and eventually you will be eating it. may not need water daily, but once and processes the season warms up and they’re involved. And Read seed packets and labels for getting bigger, more frequent that’s what makes pertinent information watering may be gardeners resilient on planting times, necessary. and hardy folks! harvest times, and plant/crop sizes. Keep an eye on vining This may determine or indeterminate how many varieties plants and give you choose and them support where have the space to needed. Using tomato accommodate. cages, trellises, or fences can help

4 | ECHTER’S NEWSLETTER our annual open house

Don’t miss the opportunity to meet the staff responsible for starting seeds and growing and stocking the finished plants for your garden. BEHIND Our growing team will take you behind the curtain to the growing areas located behind the retail store and on the north side of 52nd .

THE SCENES TOUR SCHEDULE | April 10 – April 18

MONDAY – FRIDAY 2 pm GREENHOUSE SATURDAY 11 am & 2 pm SUNDAY 11 am & 2 pm TOURS To keep our employees and customers safe, please wear a face mask and practice social distancing while on your tour.

ECHTER’S ONE GRAND ONE GRAND GIVEAWAY!

giveaway NAME Be one of 10 lucky winners of a $100 Echter’s Gift Card. ADDRESS Bring in this entry form during Open House, April 10–18. We CITY STATE ZIP will draw winning names each day of Open House. PHONE EMAIL Limit one entry per person.

(when our staff doubles in size) are assembling garden decor items, spent vetting potential employees answering customer questions, or even and making the “you got the job!” helping out on the cash registers! calls. Kasaundra then guides our new employees through orientation. Her Kasaundra has been a superb addition approachable nature and seemingly to the Echter’s team in what can be a endless patience have proven difficult job. She has a natural gift for invaluable in helping our employees spotting just the right person for the deal with the busy spring season. job to ensure that each team within the Once hiring is over, Kasaundra can company works together as seamlessly pitch in wherever needed because as possible. MEET kasaundra goings she’s been working at Echter’s every A Colorado native, you can find summer since 2012. Kasaundra enjoying her favorite Like many on our team, she started pastimes including hiking, fishing, and Say hello to Kasaundra Goings! She is as a cashier and went on to help dirt biking. She also enjoys spending our Human Resources Manager, the out in other areas, learning new skills time with family and friends. first friendly face new employees see along the way. So when she’s not in her as they begin their journey at Echter’s. office, you might find her unpacking Her days in the spring hiring season, new pottery, stocking shelves,

SPRING 2021 | 5 tips from the pros

Echter’s plant doctors are available 7-days a week. It helps to bring in a sample for identification and diagnosis.

flower gardens and containers perennials, roses, and vines trees and shrubs Fertilize your spring-flowering Ornamental grasses add a beautiful To ensure a thorough watering bulbs after they’ve finished contrasting texture which can add down to the roots of your trees and blooming with Gro- year-round interest to annual shrubs, consider Rich Rose & Perennial and perennial beds. using a deep root Fertilizer. Don’t remove waterer or soaker the leaves until they have If you have a fence you’d like hose. turned brown. Green to hide, there are several plants leaves help build strength you can use besides shrubs. When planting in the bulbs for next Trumpet vine, silver lace vine, large trees, stake year. clematis, honeysuckle vine, them for the first year. Use 2” Virginia creeper, and climbing wide staking straps around the roses are all wonderful choices for tree. Do not use wire, twine or indoor plants Colorado. rope on the tree itself as it can damage the trunk. Place the On a nice warm day, take your stakes 2–3 feet away from the houseplants outside and give them tree, tie the strap to the stake and a shower. The plants will appreciate leave a little slack. Let the tree a good cleaning after a long winter sway slightly to develop roots and inside. caliper.

For new trees and shrubs, very vegetable gardens little pruning is needed for the first two years. Your plants Plant each variety of vegetable in a need to establish strong roots different part of your garden than and more top growth (leaves you did last year. Rotating your April is a good time to seed or and branches) to help the plant plantings will minimize repeated over-seed your . Use a high produce its own food to grow. problems with disease and insects, quality grass seed and apply new while keeping the soil healthy. lawn starter fertilizer after the seed is sown. Keep the area moist even feathered friends Use a soaker hose in your vegetable after germination. Do not apply garden and flower beds. You can pre-emergent herbicide/crabgrass It’s spring-cleaning either lay the control before or after seeding, season, don’t forget hose on top of as this will prevent grass seed the birds. If you the soil next to germination. haven’t cleaned your the plant or bury birdhouses this year, it to get water Core aerate your lawn before clean them out and directly to the fertilizing this spring. Not only then spray them with roots. Watering at does this help the lawn’s vigor and a bird feeder cleaner ground level with health, it also reduces maintenance before the new birds soaker hoses helps to prevent many and water usage. Be sure your lawn arrive. diseases and insects. is well watered a day or two before aeration.

6 | ECHTER’S NEWSLETTER Her days here at Echter’s are filled with celebratethe ROSE everything from looking for the latest gift items and placing orders to setting ECHTER’S up and assembling garden ROSE CELEBRATION spinners. You might find her stocking Saturday, May 1 Sunday, May 2 shelves, pricing items, or helping our & customers pick out just the right accent Meet rosarians from the Denver Rose for their home or garden. She has Society. They will be available to answer learned a lot since that first summer questions and assist in selection of and can now easily jump in to help out beautiful roses for your garden. MEET Pixie caballero in nearly any area of the greenhouse. Our roses are perfectly suited to Her natural affinity for helping others perform well in Colorado. Our full makes her an invaluable asset, as does line of Weeks Roses undergoes rigorous her love of learning and her imaginative testing in the growing fields. Weeks flair for creating displays. varieties are cold hardy and acclimate Say hello to Pixie Caballero! She is easily in our Colorado gardens. our Gift and Garden Décor Buyer, and When she’s not at Echter’s, she likes she’s responsible for choosing all of to spend her free time playing music, PLAY THE ROSE CHALLENGE drawing, reading or relaxing with a the irresistibly beautiful things you’ll Match our displayed roses to the correct little yoga. She loves to travel and has find on display in those areas. Her non- variety. It’s fun and everyone can play! stop energy, creativity, and permanent visited Nicaragua and Mexico City. optimism have made her a valuable Her genuine love of people leads her addition to our team. This Colorado to volunteer wherever possible. In the SAVE WHEN YOU BUY native visited Echter’s for the first time past, she’s pitched in to help those in in 2019, and it was love at first sight. areas affected by natural disasters. The 4 OR MORE ROSES She picked up a job application on that Colorado Nursery and Greenhouse during the rose celebration first visit! She joined us as a seasonal Association recently recognized her cashier and quickly transitioned into a with the Horizon Award for new green buyer position the next year. industry members. We’re so fortunate that Pixie fell in love with Echter’s and IT’S SEASON decided to join us! greenbucks Echter’s Rewards Members Once again, Echter’s will give you $2 in Greenbucks for every $20 you spend. Save your Greenbucks. Spend them like cash for up to half off your total purchase during Store information Greenbucks Days July 1-July 15.

Convenient, extended hours for your APRIL 21 – JUNE 3 5150 GARRISON ST busy planting season. MON – SAT 9-7 Take Wadsworth to 52nd Ave. NOW THROUGH APRIL 20 SUN 9-6 Then go west 1 mile to Echter’s. MON – SAT 9-6 303.424.7979 SUN 9-5 Email customer service at To learn more about our weekly sales, Closed Easter, April 4 [email protected] Rewards Member specials, and special events, visit echters.com and sign up for eNews.

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SPRING 2021 | 7