Larimer County CSU Extension

Somehow it's already June, and this month is packed with free and low cost webinars, workshops, and events. 😊

Grow something, learn something, and find us along the Bike to Work Day route! 🌱🥒🚴‍♀️

See them all at our Event Calendar 👉️ https://buff.ly/rx3Ai6Q.

Mark your calendars! FoCo EcoFest & Xeriscape Garden Party returns Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 10am to 1pm.

Join Master Gardeners at Washington Park for the Native Plant Swap & Giveaway. Nothing to swap? No problem! Everyone is welcome to take home a limited number of plants. Please bring your own bag, basket, tray, or box to transport your plants home.

🌱 Your garden called, it wants free native plants!

🌼 The NoCo Native Plant Swap is happening at FoCo EcoFest, and we've got HUNDREDS of free native plants ready to find a new home. Bring plants to swap, or simply show up and take some home. Zero pressure, all plants. 🌻

Nothing to swap? No problem! Everyone is welcome to take home a limited number of plants. Please bring your own bag, basket, tray, or box to transport your plants home. 🪴 If you do have plants to donate, please check them in at the swap.

📍 June 6, 10 a.m.–1 p.m. at Washington Park
🔗 FortCollins.gov/EcoFest

What plants have you personally lost in the battle against the Colorado climate? Stop guessing at what will thrive! Join Master Garders for a stroll to see first hand what thrives in our landscapes.

Totally free, light snacks provided!

🌿 Plants that Thrive
🌿 Tuesday, June 2, 6-8pm
🌿 CSU Perennial Gardens

Here are just a few plants you can count on in Colorado:

Angelina sedum: This stalwart beauty is lime-green all summer and turns russet orange as temperatures drop in the fall. It's about as perfect of a groundcover as you could ask for.

Golden Candles thermopsis: A spring-bloomer, this is a stop-you-in-your-tracks plant with bright yellow flowers. Introduced by Plant Select in 2020, this is a great plant for sunny spots.

Silver sage: If it can grow in a sidewalk crack, it can grow in your landscape! But watch the water on this one, because it does best when hot and dry. The leaves are almost furry.

Partridge feather: A great low-growing plant with wonderful feathery foliage. This plant looks good year round, even in winter when everything else fails to impress.

Next week! Larimer and Weld county citizens, please join us in this virtual collaborative session where your voices will help lead the way about your community’s current strengths and challenges in leading sustainable, community-driven action. We are stronger together!

¡La próxima semana! Ciudadanos de los condados de Larimer y Weld, los invitamos a unirse a esta sesión virtual colaborativa donde sus voces ayudarán a guiar el camino sobre las fortalezas y desafíos actuales de su comunidad para impulsar acciones sostenibles lideradas por la comunidad. ¡Juntos somos más fuertes!

Your gut affects more than some people realize.

Join us for a free workshop at to learn about how the gut affects digestion, immunity, and overall wellness.

Exploring Gut Health: The Basics
Thursday May 28, 6-7:30pm
Berthoud Library: 236 Welch Ave, Berthoud

Register for free! https://qr1.be/TMI94V

In observance of Memorial Day, the Larimer County CSU Extension Office will be closed on Monday, May 25. We will return to normal business hours on Tuesday, May 26.

Wishing everyone a safe day of rememberance.

Food Preservation classes are back!

From canning to freezing to fermenting, it's prime time to learn how to safely preserve food at home and make the most of seasonal harvests.

Check the event calendar for upcoming dates and registration details: https://buff.ly/mm2E7bZ

Branch Out is a wrap! This spring, 10 youth ages 8–12 joined us at Arapaho Bend Natural Area for this free 6-week program designed to help kids discover how time in nature supports mental, emotional, and physical health.

Kiddos explored outdoor safety and navigation, nature journaling, mindfulness, wildlife identification, and creative projects like nature art, succulent planting, and building bird feeders. Along the way, they enjoyed fishing, scavenger hunts, and park cleanup activities, and more, each designed to highlight well-being.

Thank you to all the families who joined us and made this season of Branch Out such a success! 🌳💚

Master Gardeners are hard at work with this year's vegetable trials!

One trial is putting six indeterminate cherry tomato varieties to the test:
❤️ 2 red varieties
💛 2 yellow varieties
🧡 1 orange variety
💜 1 purple variety

Last week, the seedlings were upsized into larger planters to give them more room to grow. Next up, they’ll be transplanted into the ground at the ARDEC Horticulture Research Center, where they’ll be monitored throughout the season. Which variety will have the best flavor, productivity, and performance?

Stay tuned!