Posted September 29, 2008 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
If there were a beauty contest for cities, Capetown would surely be in the final cut, and anyone visiting this week would give Capetown the crown, The weather changes as quickly as New England this time of year. We have had torrential rain, crystal clear calm days with aquamarine skies, overcast and contemplative weather, and blustery sun–all in the last four days. Springtime in Capetown is captivating in all this weather. And the flowers! Protea in a multitude of species and genera are everywhere:
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Posted September 26, 2008 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
Clivia miniata
These first two pictures depict a formal garden planted in a neighborhood park not far from the United States ambassador’s residence in Pretoria. Never have I seen such meticulously clipped plants in such brilliant, contrasting colors! South Africa was first colonized by Europeans creating a garden to provision ships, and people have come here to garden ever since.
More commonly (as in the third picture) you find gardens featuring
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Posted September 25, 2008 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
I worried — why leave North America at the height of late summer, with the veggies overflowing in the garden, the leaves turning…the answer is Africa in springtime. What a glorious time to be here and get a second spring in the same year. Temperatures in Johannesburg and Pretoria were perfect, the days sunny, and flowers overflowing.
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Posted September 22, 2008 by Robin Doerr, Director of Marketing, P.R. and Special Events
On Thursday night, September 18th, Denver Botanic Gardens was presented with two top-category awards from the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) for the development and design of Denver Botanic Gardens’ 2007 Annual Report and the “Inside the Gardens” bi-monthly newsletter. Lyn Berry-Helmlinger, the Gardens’ Communications Editor, is responsible for writing, editing and coordinating both publications. Scott Dressel-Martin, the Gardens’ contracted photographer, contributed the award-winning photography for each. Both Lyn and Scott are examples of why Denver Botanic Gardens is one of the top botanic gardens in the world. The success of any organization depends on the people that work there. Both Lyn and Scott are the talented and committed individuals whose contributions are allowing Denver Botanic Gardens to continue to Flourish! Congratulations!
Posted September 17, 2008 by Dominique Bayne, Senior Horticulturist
Orbea longidens
There are many weird plants out there but succulents have more than their fair share. This Orbea longidens flower is a great example to remind us that though we find many flowers beautiful, they evolved to attract specific pollinators rather than for our pleasure.
Visit this plant in the Succulent House (located in the Rock Alpine Garden) but don’t get too close.
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Posted September 15, 2008 by Robin Doerr, Director of Marketing, P.R. and Special Events
Visit the Gardens this Saturday for an incredible a variety of over 10,000 bulbs, unique garden-grown plants and a hand-picked selection of trees and shrubs. Hang out with Denver Botanic Gardens’ horticulture staff and ask questions. You will learn valuable plant information that will send you home feeling like a master gardener!
Kiowa Valley Organics will be onsite selling local produce such as sweet corn, melons, peppers, winter squash, pie pumpkins, cucumbers, summer squash and tomatoes. Supplies are limited, so shop early.
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Posted September 15, 2008 by Robin Doerr, Director of Marketing, P.R. and Special Events
8.5 acres of pure challenge!
Really…..our maze this year at Denver Botanic Gardens – Chatfield is one of the most visited mazes in the entire country. We are really proud of that and each year we try and out-do ourselves by creating a more challenging maze than the year before. The 2008 maze has been open for two weekends now and we are hearing from almost all visitors to the maze that it is the most challenging we have ever had. Don’t just take my word for it – see for yourself by watching the video that was filmed and edited by Lyn Alweis, master genius videographer for the The Denver Post. The video can also be found at denverpost.com.
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Posted September 11, 2008 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
Is it a coincidence that Walt Whitman named his revolutionary collection of poetry “Leaves of Grass”? Grass is the dominant vegetation in our region, and ornamental grasses have revolutionized horticulture across America in recent decades. If I had to pick a favorite grass, right now
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