By J. Harrison Belknap
Our Association membership is indeed interested in the highway system within our city, and we are also interested in the beauty of Denver and our parks and their usefulness. The widening and relocation of Colorado Boulevard has been watched with interest and we are convinced that that important thoroughfare has been improved greatly. But we are concerned that in this improvement our fair city has lost valuable park area and that a beautiful planting of American Elms has been destroyed. Our concern is greatest because we fear that other contemplated highway changes may cut further into our dedicated park lands.
In the light of the very definite interest of the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association in the welfare of our people, and the usefulness and beauty of the dedicated park lands, I have been asked by the Editorial Committee of “The Green Thumb” to study and report on the Colorado Boulevard situation and to provide a layman’s analysis of the legal aspects as presented in the “Brief of the Plaintiff in Error”. That brief was presented by Mr. I. H. Kaiser, attorney for the “Plaintiff in Error”, Mrs. Madaline M. Welch.
First of all, as I see it, I should provide some background for the Colorado Boulevard project. This I will do. It is known that the State Department of Highways has had a right-of-way through the city for Colorado Boulevard. That right-of-way embraces land that has been a part of City Park and land that, to all intents and purposes, has been a part of the private properties abutting on the boulevard. It was decided by the State Department of Highways to realign the boulevard and in the widening to cut largely from the park area on the west, or park, side of the thoroughfare, and to use only a small portion of the right-of-way on the east side of the boulevard, opposite City Park. On the basis of that decision all of the right-of-way land on the City Park side would be used for the realigned and widened highway, and an additional 17 feet of dedicated park land would also be used. This means that a total width of 35 feet would be taken from City Park. On the other hand, the right-of-way strip on the east and private property side to the street edge of the then existing sidewalk only would be required for the proposed realigned and widened street. Our City Council agreed to this decision and set up two enabling ordinances. In addition it was agreed, in a somewhat inconclusive interpolation, that the city would be given eight thousand dollars for the dedicated park land taken, or to provide new trees to compensate for those that would be destroyed as a result of the widening of the boulevard. Now, we are all aware that the realignment and widening of the boulevard has been accomplished, and we know that dedicated park land has been taken from City Park.
In the initial court action the plaintiff asked for temporary and permanent restraint to prevent the use of dedicated park land for other than park purposes. But at the suggestion of the court, she agreed to refrain from pressing her motion for a preliminary injunction, with the understanding that the issues raised by her motion could be dealt with at once at the trial. The defendant agreed not to permit construction on the dedicated park land until after trial, or without giving the plaintiff sufficient advance notice to enable her to call the motion for a preliminary injunction for hearing.
The trial was in open court. After due deliberation, the court decided the ordinances of the City Council of the City and County of Denver to be consistent with the trust empowered upon the Council to preserve dedicated park land within the borders of Denver. The defendants were then authorized to proceed with the widening of Colorado Boulevard utilizing dedicated park land as proposed.
Suit was appealed to the Supreme Court of the State of Colorado by Mrs. Madaline M. Welch, “Plaintiff in Error”, against the City and County of Denver and the State Highway Commission of the State of Colorado to have the ordinances declared null and void on the grounds that City Council did not have the authority to take dedicated park land for other than park purposes under existing statutes and common law.
The further allegations of the plaintiff were that the greatest good for the greatest number of people as well as the public health, welfare and safety were not being served by the ordinances, and that the ordinances violated:
a. The basic City Planning concept of the preservation of dedicated park land;
b. the inviolability of dedicated park land; and
c. the consideration of available and reasonable alternates which should have been investigated before consideration was given to the encroachment upon dedicated park land.
The plaintiff has contended in the Supreme Court that error was committed in the Lower Court, and that the judgment given by that court should be reversed. It was stated in the brief that ordinances by City Council under the present charter did not have legal standing and that work should have been delayed until there had been a decision by the electorate of the City and County of Denver.
A point made by the plaintiff is that the City Council may not, according to the City Charter, sell or lease land dedicated to park purposes. And it was then contended that the action by City Council was, to all intents and purposes, a sale or lease. On the other hand, the defendant claimed that an easement only had been granted. It is understood that the City bargained with the State Highway Department and was to receive eight thousand dollars, which sum was a consideration in return for the City granting the additional land, or an interest in the land, to the State Highway Department for use as a thoroughfare. It appears also, as mentioned in the foregoing, that this amount may be used to purchase nursery stock to compensate for the loss of the two rows of American Elms.
As said before, we, as citizens of Denver, are vitally interested in our city and its services, including the thoroughfares, and we hope that the beauty of our parks and their usefulness can be maintained, and even bettered. We do not want to stand in the way of progress, but we are concerned that the action on Colorado Boulevard at City Park may constitute a precedent for similar violations of dedicated park land. We fear that our lovely Berkeley Park area and its lake will be reduced to but a small segment of its present size if presently considered plans are carried out. We respectfully appeal to the people of our fair city to be on guard against actions which do not consider all alternatives and which emphasize improvement in the arterial highway scheme, and which may tend to disregard the usefulness and beauty of our dedicated park lands.
Question: I recently received a potted azalea plant as a gift; can you give me some pointers on how to care for it?
Answer: Azaleas prefer a cool place, but must have some sun. They like to be kept moist, and the leaves should be sprayed occasionally with clear water. They are subject to red spider, so watch for this pest. Spraying the leaves is a preventive measure. Since azaleas like acid soil, they seem to benefit from an occasional watering with a solution of a teaspoon of vinegar to a quart of water. In the summer the pot may be sunk in the soil in the shade and returned to the house in the autumn. With good care, your azalea should bloom again and can be maintained for a long time.
Question: My neighbor uses the branches from her Christmas tree as a mulch on her tulip bed. Is this a good idea?
Answer: Yes, branches from the Christmas tree make a good mulch for the tulip bed. They keep the soil from warming up too early, resulting in too quick growth and loss of bloom. They are useful for mulching perennial beds, too.
Question: Could you give me the names of persons to contact about joining a garden club or plant society in our area?
Answer: The following is a list of persons to contact for the major garden groups:
MARSHALL NURSERIES
Better Built Trees—Landscaping with Personality
5825 W. 16th Avenue BElmont 7-0446
Mrs. Edmund Wallace, Federated Garden Clubs
The Regional Meeting of the National Council of Garden Clubs was held in Denver, October 16th, at the Shirley-Savoy Hotel. All seven states were represented. These included Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Nebraska, Kansas and South Dakota. Mrs. George Card, Chairman of the event, was ably assisted by Mrs. F. S. Mattocks, Co-Chairman. One of the honors for Colorado was the election of Mrs. C. C. Buckbee as Auditor for the Region, a new post created at this meeting. Mrs. Daniel Mooney, past president of the National Council of State Garden Clubs, is now working on the support and endowment of the permanent home of the National Council of State Garden Clubs, in St. Louis, Missouri. She suggested, at this Annual Meeting, that each Garden Club donate one dollar ($1.00) a year to the home, so that in four, or five years, the interest from this fund would completely cover the maintenance costs of this worthy project. Let’s do some serious thinking regarding this suggestion.
We are all delighted that Mrs. John Nickels was able to take a “few books” and go off to the northwest on a much deserved vacation at the conclusion of the Convention at Idaho Springs. The fact that she was elected president of Judges Council for the following year, means that she will soon be back on the job again with her own special brand of enthusiastic dedication to whatever task she undertakes. Mrs. Jeanette G. George of Boulder, is to be Secretary-Treasurer for the group.
The Columbine Garden Club members of Idaho Springs, under the handicap of an unseasonal snow storm, were ideal hostesses for the Annual State Convention of Garden Clubs held in their city September 29, 30, and October 1. The many thoughtful services, recognition of those who have long given of their time and ability without reward or favor, beautifully planned decorations and souvenirs, as well as the Convention planning itself, was done in such a fine way that those who were forced to cancel their reservations felt deprived of a special experience in Garden Club Conventions. Please take a bow, all you wonderful Idaho Springs Garden Clubbers.
MOUNTAIN PEAT FERTILIZERS
Nursery Stock and Evergreens
McCoy & Jensen
Nursery located 1 mi. west of South Wadsworth on the Morrison Road
Morrison, Colorado
WAlnut 2-1176 and WAlnut 2-1177
The Denver Forestry & Landscape Company
Call us for your Tree Spraying, Trimming and Removal
In Denver Since 1918
1677 S. Clarkson PEarl 3-1929
AFRICAN VIOLETS
House Plants, Bowls, Planters, Plant Stands, Supplies. The New Book, “African Violet Variety List,” Over 4000 Names and Descriptions, $2.50
CORYELL’S GREEN HOUSES
14,005 W. 64th (Hwy. 72) Arvada, Colo.
Mrs. F. C. Vetting has announced the following new Life Members to Membership in the Colorado State Federation of Garden Clubs:—
Mrs. E. R. Abbott, Littleton
Mrs. C. C. Buckbee, Denver
Mrs. Glenn Clayton, Englewood
Mrs. W. A. Crabtree, Denver
Mrs. J. B. Delano, Denver
Mrs. H. D. Duston, (deceased), Lakewood
Mrs. Owen Goodspeed, Aurora
Mrs. C. A. Hedburg, Denver
Mrs. E. F. Hennessy, Arvada
Mrs. T. L. Lewis, Arvada
Mrs. L. T. Mickle, Denver
Mrs. John Nickels, Littleton
Mrs. Albert Petrick, Englewood
Mrs. W. Ed Searle, Aurora
Mrs. G. A. Seastone, Englewood
Mrs. John Scott, Englewood
Mrs. S. A. Turner, Denver
Mrs. Peter Van Uithoven, Denver
Mrs. R. C. Wilson, Englewood
Mrs. J. L. Woodman, Englewood
It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you your new “Garden Briefs” correspondent, the former Editor of Colorado Composters, Mrs. John Scott of Englewood. May she enjoy the association with the Editorial Committee of The Green Thumb as much as I have.
★
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By M. Walter Pesman
You could always depend on Ray Miller! We hear a great deal these days of “featherbedding”, and we have seen some of it ourselves. I could only wish that those who are suspicious,—and the guilty ones as well, could have known Ray in his work, and in his attitude. He would always do his job well and conscientiously. Many of his horticultural accomplishments bear witness to his thorough way of doing things.
I first knew him as superintendent of Berkeley Park, at that time one of the outlying parks. He carried out many of the improvements planned by the newly appointed Parks landscape architect, S. R. DeBoer. Both worked together for at least thirty years on the Denver Park System. Ray became superintendent of City Park, later he was in charge of the western division of all city parks. Whatever job was given him to do, everybody knew it was going to be done promptly and properly, and with full knowledge of our unusual conditions of Rocky Mountain horticulture.
He became an expert on transplanting and on collecting native plant material. He’d always do just a little more than might be reasonably expected of him.
Born in Springfield, Kansas, he moved to Denver in 1905 at the age of twenty-six. His was a happy family. The two sons soon made a place for themselves, even if they did not remain with horticulture. His wife was active in many civic affairs.
When the Roadside Development program was initiated in Colorado, both Mr. Vail, the Highway engineer, and I, as landscape engineer, wanted Ray to take an active part as foreman and supervisor on the new jobs; a man was needed here who was familiar with nursery stock, including native plants, who could read blueprints with full understanding of what was planned, and who could deal with the public in many ways. Highway engineers are not always familiar with plants and their requirements. People adjoining roadside projects could not always see why they should cooperate in giving easements. Nursery contractors needed to be shown that the State Highways wanted to be fair and live up to specifications.
The new landscape supervisor soon showed that he could make friends with all, and gain their respect and understanding.
At times he had to carry out certain plans and specifications with his own crew. I remember one particular job in which he superintended the collecting, balling and burlapping of over a hundred rather large ponderosa pines in the midst of winter. They were planted just north of the Blakeland underpass: only one or two failed to survive the difficult ordeal. To this day they bear witness to his skill and know-how.
After the roadside program was discontinued, due to the war, Mr. Miller was wanted at various jobs where his skills, horticultural knowledge, and his enormous capacity for work were needed.
Not until recently was he willing to concede that a man approaching eighty ought not to attempt the physical labors of a younger man. Even then, he went on an arduous fishing trip after being an octogenarian!
To many of us, interested in horticulture, Ray Miller represents a symbol. If only we could train a hundred men in his attitude and pass on to them his knowledge of practical plant methods, we’d feel safer about the future of horticulture in the Rocky Mountain region. He has made a place in Denver and Colorado for himself, that will survive, and that will serve as an inspiration for all of us who strive for the best in horticulture.
Preliminary plans and drawings for the Spring Garden Show have been accepted by the Show committee. From the preview of these plans it is easy to see that the residents of this area are in for a garden extravaganza second to none. The committee has accomplished the basic ground work for this spectacular show and is now ready to proceed with the additional planning and staging necessary to make it a reality in April.
Mrs. Nickels and Mrs. Honnen discuss plans on how the Garden Show will be arranged in the scale model of the Denver Coliseum.
The entire show will be planned and staged in the scale model so that everything will be in readiness for the actual show in April.
Featuring today’s outdoor living, this show promises to be a great boon to gardening in the Rocky Mountains. Its success depends on the enthusiasm and cooperation of all the various gardening groups in the area. Your Association, confident of its success and recognizing its great educational value, is co-sponsoring this show with the Botanic Gardens. We urge you, as a member, to give it your enthusiastic approval and to pass the word on to your friends.
FERTOSAN
compost accelerator
This bacteria concentrate will rot down leaves, garden waste, straw, etc., into valuable compost quickly. Free instructions.
1-ton unit $1; 4-ton unit $3
From Western Seed Co., and all good seedsmen.
“Fertosan,” West Jordan, Utah
JOHN VAN WYK
LANDSCAPING
Lawn and Garden Maintenance
SK 6-0789 2101 So. Adams
This is the month of Evergreens. Their color and place in the landscape bridge the winter gap between summer and spring. At this season they are not only the dominant feature in the garden, but in the home as well, when they stand bedecked with tinsel and lights at Christmas. This is their shining hour. Theirs is the symbol of Christmas.
It is also a time for gardeners to relax, that is if you haven’t forgotten to hill up your roses or haven’t had time to plant your spring flowering bulbs. Of course, Christmas preparations will take up some of the slack time, but a good gardener should find some time for reading, now and in the wintery months ahead. This is a gentle reminder that, as a member of the Association, you have lending privileges at the Helen Fowler Library at 909 York Street. This excellent library contains a great many books on all phases of gardening, and is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Whether you are interested in roses or iris, bugs or plant diseases, landscaping or rock gardens, you will find an appropriate book in our library.
To make your Christmas shopping easier, here are a few suggestions for your gardening friends. “The Green Thumb,” itself, makes an excellent gift for the new home owner or novice gardener. Just use the gift blank on page 350 in this magazine. Good books on gardening, such as George Kelly’s “Good Gardens in the Sunshine States”, are welcome gifts. Your local garden shop is well stocked with tools and gimmicks that will make a hit with the weekend gardener. For the hard-to-please you will find gift certificates available at most of the nurseries and garden centers.
House plants become more noticeable and attractive now that outdoor plants have faded from the limelight. Like the plants in our gardens, they need some attention if they are to perform well. The addition, about once a month, of a soluble fertilizer to their water will take care of their mineral requirements. Check them occasionally for aphids and mealy bugs. If only a few are present, they can be removed with a cotton swab and alcohol. However if there is a heavy infestation, take them outside on a warm day (60-70°) and spray with malathion. Frequent syringing or spraying of the foliage is beneficial to most house plants. Take care not to overwater plants in ceramic or plastic containers without drainage. Small quantities of charcoal in the bottom of such containers helps keep the soil sweet.
While many of our birds have gone south for the winter, we find that many have taken up winter quarters here. When the weather is good, they seem to forage pretty well for themselves, but when snow covers the ground they are often hard pressed for food. Set up a bird feeding station in your yard and enjoy the antics of the different feathered personalities who come to take advantage of your winter hospitality. Some of the foods recommended for such a feeding station are: suet and fatty trimmings from meat; seeds of sunflower, pumpkin, millet, rye, barley, wheat, and numerous weed seeds. Most of the garden shops now carry mixed seeds for wild birds. In addition bread crumbs, popcorn, and nuts are welcome tidbits for the birds. Once you start a feeding station keep it filled. Birds learn to rely on finding food there and will suffer when you neglect it.
One word in regard to the weather, if it should stay dry for any long period of time, 3 to 4 weeks, get out the hose and give everything, particularly the evergreens, a good soaking.
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year—
—Pat.
Can you think of a better gift for a new gardener or old than George Kelly’s book, HOW TO HAVE GOOD GARDENS IN THE SUNSHINE STATES? It will be used and appreciated for many years.
Available at Botanic Gardens House, at book stores, or from the author at the COTTONWOOD GARDEN SHOP, 4849 South Santa Fe Drive, Littleton.
GEORGE and SUE
Cottonwood Garden Shop 4849 South Santa Fe Drive
PYramid 4-0430
Christmas Lighting and Decorating—Outdoors and Indoors, Theodore Saros. Van Nostrand.
“Here is a store house of ideas and suggestions the whole family can enjoy in preparing home Christmas decorations both outdoors and indoors.”
“Tips for competing in Christmas lighting display contests are given and helpful hints on photographing decorations are included.”
“Decorating projects utilize traditional materials but also emphasize the unusual.” Publisher.
Christmas Idea Book, Dorothy Biddle and Dorothea Blom.
Interesting use of traditional Christmas materials and some other plant materials in arrangements and decorations for tables, mantels, doorways, and Christmas wreaths and trees.
Decorating with Pods and Cones, Eleanor Van Rensselaer. Van Nostrand.
Selection, preparation and use of pods, seeds, cones, berries, nuts, the dried bough, bark, lichen, and burr in original and interesting home decorations.
Old Roses for Modern Gardens, Richard Thomson. Van Nostrand.
An interesting and scholarly history and description of the old roses of Europe and the Orient with an evaluation of the old varieties the author has grown. Appendices list roses for special purposes; the top 30 old roses from Will Tillotson’s collection of 150 and growers of old roses in the United States.
The Complete Book of Gardening and Lawn Care, Will Peigelbeck. Random House.
This book is arranged so that “you start with the site itself, learn about soils and plant foods, then go on to lawns, different flowers, shrubs and trees, and fruits and vegetables. After this comes discussion of special points, such as controlling insects and growing your own plants from seeds and cuttings.” Author’s Foreword.
—E.T.L.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
from
W. W. Wilmore Nurseries
38th and Wadsworth Wheatridge
HA 4-5584
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