May is THE gardening month of the year here in Colorado. Unless you are up in the mountains in which case you will have to be patient. Remember the most important item for garden success is soil. Get that right and the rest is a breeze. An ideal soil is the texture of the crumbled chocolate cake. Amend your garden space with compost and consider raised beds if your soil is uncooperative.
Have a plan and make a list before you go to the garden center. Incorporate plants that do well in this area. I veer towards the low water plants which also tend to be low maintenance. There is no point in planting azaleas and beef master tomatoes when there are so many better options.
This may be the year for a vegetable garden if you have never had one. Salad greens, radishes, cherry tomatoes, beans, leafy greens, and herbs all do well here. Enjoy the ease of walking out to the garden for your fresh produce and the thrill of accomplishment when your crop comes in. Just make sure you have enough sun and good soil to make it thrive.
For a treasure trove of information about what does well and when to plant it check out https://extension.colostate.edu/topic-areas/yard-garden/. You will find an abundance of information on anything from raising livestock to the best cherry tomatoes for your area.
Start small and go from there. You can always add on later if you have the time and energy. A small, well-kept garden is a source of infinite reward. A large weedy one? Not so much. Don’t overlook container gardens. Easy and great for small spaces.
Violets are some of the first flowers of spring and are both edible and medicinal along with being absolutely lovely. There are many varieties, from pansies to perennial violets to wild violets that like to infiltrate lawns and stream beds.
Violets grow in sun to light shade and prefer a rich garden loam and moderate watering. Purchase dense, sturdy-looking plants with lots of healthy, green leaves and buds. If they have been in a greenhouse, harden them off by putting them outside for a few nights tucked up close to the house. Don't forget to remove the stems of faded blooms, to keep them bushy and full of flowers. They are cool weather plants so they will fade out when summer heat sets in and often come back in the cooler temps of fall.
Violets are cooling and moistening and have been used as food, for poultices, and as a soothing anti-inflammatory for hot, inflamed tissue. Violet and pansy syrup have been used to ease sore throats and as a digestive tonic. A poultice of pansy or violet leaves, made by mashing leaves with aloe vera to make a paste can be applied to the skin to reduce inflammation. Violets have an affinity for the breast and are used for mastitis, infections, pain, and cysts.
Unsprayed leaves and blooms are edible and can be used in teas, salads, smoothies, soups, stews, butters, vinegars, and more. Leaves are rich in Vitamin A, C, and trace minerals. You can candy the flowers or add them to salads and baked goods for lovely garnishes.
