Posted September 5, 2008 by Dominique Bayne, Former Senior Horticulturist
Are plants important? If so, why?
These seem like odd questions considering my career, but they have been on my mind a lot lately. To me plants are part of who I am; I have no interest in a planet without wild areas, without diversity, these are the things that give life color. Recent conversations have indicated that many people do not feel this way and want justification for spending resources on plant conservation and habitat restoration.
Read more »
Posted September 2, 2008 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
Scheer's Ball Cactus
It must have been 10 years ago when I first saw Scheer’s stunning cactus bloom on Dryland Mesa here at the Gardens: I had to have it! The extraordinary blend of gold and amber reminded me of the heady contents of whisky bottles, or trout streams in late summer
Read more »
Posted September 2, 2008 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
Hardy giant pelargonium
Few plants can match the giant Turkish Pelargonium (Pelargonium quercetorum) for drama or rarity. You’re not likely to find this in any other American botanic garden,
Read more »
Posted September 1, 2008 by Ellen Hertzman, Manager of Volunteer Experience
August Bounty
Preparing for winter? Yes, I’ve been thinking about winter for a couple months now, ever since I decided to try to eat more local foods. I won’t be limiting myself to eating only foods grown in Colorado, especially over the winter, but I am wanting to pay more attention to where my food comes from. And, I have extra incentive, since local foods tend to be cheaper these days than foods relying on expensive long-distance transportation!
I was in my garden the other day, harvesting beets and green beans to freeze. I found myself leaving the tinier veggies to grow for a few more days, knowing that they will go that much farther this winter. I imagined
Read more »
Posted September 1, 2008 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
The hacks of advertising and popular culture deem that the “common person” has a very low I.Q., Hence the fear of “elitism” and a desire to aim at the lowest common denominator. On the other hand, you must admit that there is a basic yearning for the rare, the unique, the recondite*. Hence treasure hunts,
Read more »
Posted in: At the Gardens, Conservation & Ecology - Comments(4)