Author: Susan Wroble

A Rose Named Peace

September 2022. When we bought a house in Denver, it came with a garden, and a history. The home had belonged to Matt and Elaine Mateyka, and Matt had made a second career (according the neighbors, his first was in the CIA) as a television gardener. Matt had died two decades earlier, but the bones … Continue reading A Rose Named Peace

The Roses to Plant: Cultivars for Use in Colorado’s Post-Japanese Beetle Life

By Susan Wroble, May 2020 What’s a rose lover to do? Japanese Beetles invaded the Denver area in 2006 and have exploded in numbers ever since. While some home gardeners are ripping out their rose beds, Colorado State University’s Dr. Whitney Cranshaw had a much better plan. Dr. Cranshaw, a Professor of Entomology, undertook a … Continue reading The Roses to Plant: Cultivars for Use in Colorado’s Post-Japanese Beetle Life

Hathaway: How Did She Know?

Summer, 2019 One Friday this summer, I was giving a presentation with Hathaway to the student researchers at the University of Colorado —  specifically, for those working at the Gary Pavilion, in the psychiatric unit. This is a completely separate building from the main Children’s Hospital, but the same parking lot. I was annoyed at … Continue reading Hathaway: How Did She Know?

WHY THEY WORK… A Review of Selected Recent Picture Books

June 2019 This review was originally prepared for a June 2019 Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI Denver South Connect & Critique group meeting. I hope you find it helpful. Note on page lengths: First is listed page length (including endpapers), second is the number of pages on which the story actually unfolds. Backmatter is not … Continue reading WHY THEY WORK… A Review of Selected Recent Picture Books

CRITIQUING: JUST ONE MORE THING

The goal: Critique without overwhelming. The problem? It’s really tricky. The solution: Just one more thing… With the talented author Judith Robbins Rose (Look Both Ways in the Barrio Blanco), I feel very fortunate to lead one of the Connect Groups for the Rocky Mountain Chapter of SCBWI. Our Denver South Connect & Critique follows … Continue reading CRITIQUING: JUST ONE MORE THING

CHESTER and GUS, by Cammie McGovern

Having raised six service dog puppies, I know only too well the challenges of those dogs needing a change of career. In Chester and Gus, Chester, the chocolate lab whose fear of loud noises kept him from becoming a service dog, is chosen to be the companion for Gus, a non-verbal boy with autism. The … Continue reading CHESTER and GUS, by Cammie McGovern

Elizabeth Holman and “Facility Dog 101”

First published in PeEmail, the Rocky Mountain Chapter of Canine Companions for Independence newsletter, April 2019 Colorado’s Canine Companions for Independence (CCI) village has known Elizabeth Holman first as a puppy raiser, then as a graduate team — first with facility dog Waffle, and now with Tootsie. Professionally, however, she’s Dr. Elizabeth Holman, Palliative Care Psychologist … Continue reading Elizabeth Holman and “Facility Dog 101”

Therapy Animal Opportunities in Denver

If there are two words that puppy raisers often dread, it’s “The Call.” Your pup is being released from the service dog program. The great news is that these dogs can continue to make a difference. You and your pup now have the opportunity to become a therapy team. The commitment varies, but is typically … Continue reading Therapy Animal Opportunities in Denver

PRACTICALLY PERFECT: Ideal Roses for Your Garden — and Their Secrets for Success

By Susan Wroble (Based on presentation by Tammy Jansen at the DRS 2017 SymROSEium) Like so many of us, Consulting Rosarian Tammy Jansen daydreams of the perfect rose. You know the one — its incredible form captures Queen of Show. It’s a disease-free, pest-free, non-stop bloomer. Of course, the perfect rose is thornless and self-cleaning. It has beautiful … Continue reading PRACTICALLY PERFECT: Ideal Roses for Your Garden — and Their Secrets for Success