I got back to my desk after a lunch meeting today, and there was a message from a co-worker saying I must go look at the northern portion of the Cottonwood Border because it looked “absolutely stunning.” How could I possibly sit down to work at my computer after a statement like that. So off I went to check it out. Read more »

Attention! Two car parking spaces have gone missing in Denver Botanic Gardens’ parking lot, between York and Josephine Streets. Apparently those two spaces were replaced by ribbons of sturdy black metal bars called “bike racks.” They say that these racks can accommodate up to 28 bicycles. However, so far only a few of those wonderful machines have been spotted utilizing these new racks. Summer has kicked in, so why not bike it to the Gardens, give the trees and fences a break, and lock up to the new bike racks!

People who live nearby often walk their dogs along York Street. Awhile back, somebody in guest services started giving the dogs a dog biscuit if they came up to visit the Gatehouse with their owners. Denver Botanic Gardens cannot admit pets into the gardens, just service dogs, however we enjoy our visits with these furry friends at the front gate.

Over time, it became something the dog owners, the gatehouse attendants and the dogs grew to look forward to doing. Some of the owners have told me that when they and the dog turn the corner at Ninth or Eleventh Avenue onto York Street, Read more »

The employee offices at Denver Botanic Gardens are surrounded! Surrounded by the beauty, the originality, the creativity, and the imaginations of Colorado. Coming July 10th is the annual Birdhaus Bash Auction and Garden Party. Some birdhouses are made and decorated by friends and families and some by local celebrities. The birdhouses are then auctioned off and proceeds go to Youth Education Programs and Adult Tour Guide Programs here at the Gardens. Part of getting ready for this event is the collecting of birdhouses. These creations have begun to invade our closets, shelves, corners, and Read more »

I have been asked two questions repeatedly this week. The first by visitors to the Sacred Earth garden: “What is the red plant?” The second by people eating lunch with me: “Why is your lunch bright pink?

The answer to both is the same: Amaranth (Amaranthus cruentus). Read more »

The advent of our new Urban Homesteading classes, it seems, has coincided with a national resurgence in interest in backyard “farming.” Everything from urban vegetable gardens to backyard chickens to beehives is making big news. Recently, Michael Pollan wrote eloquently of the importance of growing your own food as a first line of defense against global warming. Even more recently, the topic came up again in the context of rising global food prices. And chickens have been in the news over and over again as the latest must-have chic pet (I’ve fallen victim myself - more on that soon). This past weekend, the bees made the news - all over Denver, Read more »

Every morning at this time of year the deep red petals of Papaver orientalis  ‘Beauty of Livermere’ unfurl  slowly to reveal a mass of purple black pollen coated stamens.  I say slowly but they have a slight look of sleepy unpreparedness  and I am not the only one drawn to them as they, and I,  are still shaking out the creases.  Sure, there are usually a few early morning visitors but we are always outnumbered by those whom the poppies are really trying to attract: the bees.

The Birds and Bees Walk was designed to include many plants attractive to pollinators and other forms of wildlife. The poppies however were planted for the bees alone. Read more »

This is a question I get asked quite frequently. To me as a horticulturist and a plant lover, it is a very complex question to answer. It is like asking a mom to choose her favorite child. Each plant has its own unique individuality from its growth habit to flower color, some desirable and others not quite so. Trialing various plants to determine their adaptability to a particular region is what botanic gardens do best. At Denver Botanic Gardens we test plants from various regions of the world and it is this diversity of plant life that makes a visit to the Gardens unique and exciting. Read more »

Did the jade vine’s blooms reach June?  Maybe…  But I didn’t see it.  The end of May appears to have brought the the end of the blooming run.  Still, that’s almost twice the time I first expected. 

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Yesterday I had to take a moment, breath in deeply, exhale, and soak in my surroundings. I sat on an old quilt on the southeast corner of the amphitheatre munching on brie and berries, sipping red wine. Next to me were my friends and loved ones. Most of our pre-concert conversation consisted of how we couldn’t believe that we were at the “Cake” concert, how beautiful our surroundings were, how perfect the weather was, and how lucky we were to be there!

As I took a “time-out” to look around, I saw that concert attendees seemed to be in agreement. Everyone was laughing, socializing, sharing, eating, and anxiously awaiting Cake. The man sitting to my left had nestled his bare toes in the grass, and his hands were busy picking apart his fried chicken. Read more »