Those energetic Routt County Master Gardeners are at it again. They are marshalling their forces to deliver as much local gardening information as you can take.

Are you new to Routt County and wondering if it’s time to plant tomatoes — or if an azalea will do well in your new mountain paradise? Or maybe you’ve been gardening here for some time and would like to visit with some other gardeners.

Maybe you found a suspicious critter on your indoor plant and need support. New yard and don’t know where to start? Visit with the Routt County Master Gardeners at Bud Werner Library Hall from 5-7 p.m. on April 30 and/or May 1. 

Gardening in the high mountain west can be infinitely rewarding as well as a little challenging. Our short growing season, low average temperatures and dense soils may invite you to explore beautiful hardy or native plants you have never heard of. If you enjoy harvesting fresh vegetables and herbs, there are lots of opportunities to become highly creative in finding ways to grow what you love in your own yard.

Perhaps your repertoire will expand to include plants and vegetables you have not considered before. Who doesn’t love a sweet, crisp carrot right from the ground? Or the dizzying scent of flowers, or the beauty of busy pollinators at work. Lots of cool-weather, short-season vegetables do very well here and we’ve got lots of tricks to mitigate the intense high-country sun and easily extend the growing season.

If you are more of a flowering plant kind of gardener, come and learn about selecting and caring for the native plants that thrive here despite browsing deer and voracious grasshoppers. If you have a photo or name of a plant and are wondering if it will grow here — ask a Routt County Master Gardener.

The Routt County Master Gardeners are partnering with the Bud Werner Library to have an interactive, educational event designed to help all levels of gardeners, even those of you who have convinced yourself you can’t grow anything. The format of both events includes a 30-minute talk, starting at 5:30 p.m., that will provide an overview of our local growing conditions and a summary of expertise and topics available as table topics. Bring your questions to this fair-like activity and the Master Gardeners will be happy to provide you with answers.

Topics that will be covered by Master Gardeners include New to Routt County; our local Soil; our Climate; Seed Selection for successful vegetables; Container Gardening; Season Extension; local Weeds; Gardening with Kids; High Mountain Perennials including using natives; and Insects.

The Yampa River Botanic Park, Colorado State Forest Service, and the Routt County Wildland Fire Mitigation Council will also be on hand with information and answers to your questions.

Master Gardener Office Hours start May 2. You can stop by or call us at 970-879-0825 during our office hours from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursdays for a free consultation at the CSU Extension office (136 6th St. Suite 101) or email csumgprogram@co.routt.co.us with your questions.

Jackie Buratovich was raised in a central California farm family and loves making things grow in and around a solar home here in Routt County. She received her Master Gardener training in Boulder County in 2003 and acknowledges that, while growing conditions here are more challenging, being back in an agricultural community is like coming home.