Posted April 26, 2009 by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture
After much anticipation, the community garden plots were laid out this week. The creation of this garden has taken well over a year. Back and forth negotiations with Denver Water to acquire their property at Congress Park, community meetings, planning and implementation, all these have been truly a joint effort by many people.
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Posted April 20, 2009 by Joe Tomocik, Aquatic Collection Curator
We are all anxious and ready for the fireworks to begin. The exotic tropical waterlilies are planted in 7 gal. containers in mid-June at Denver Botanic Gardens, when the water temperature remains over 70 degrees F.
Nymphaea ‘Aquarius’ is one of our very special “historical” tropical waterlilies. The plants are started from tubers in March or April. Our exciting new greenhouse complex will include a state-of- the-art propagation facility.
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Posted April 18, 2009 by Matt Cole, Director of Education
A street tree shows signs of spring under the snow.
The weekend’s snow and slush is a perfect reminder that all the work we gardeners do, the plants work every day, in the same place, no matter the conditions. I spotted this maple streetside in a Denver neighborhood and thought “The new leaves look so green under the white snow.” I returned with my camera as evening was falling and discovered something quite different!
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Posted April 18, 2009 by Ellen Hertzman, Manager of Visitor Experience
…is worth a whole lot of words! This pretty much says it all about April in the Gardens! This
week, our dinosaur exhibit raised its mighty head, which promptly got whomped with a heavy, slushy spring snow. Towering in the background, our construction crane will oversee us for a while longer, as our parking structure and Visitor Center rise from the ground to offer a terrific experience for visitors. Once the snow is melted–Tuesday? Wednesday?–the grounds and flowers will express their delight in having more moisture than we’ve seen all winter so far. April in the Gardens is a time of transformation–this year more than ever. Come enjoy.
Posted April 17, 2009 by Dominique Bayne, Senior Horticulturist
Teddy bear cholla (Cylindropuntia bigelovii) and Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens) at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park CA
Evening primrose (Oenothera deltoides) and sand verbena (Abronia villosa) at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park CA
It is probably no surprise that many of our gardens are inspired by nature. Though many of the desert plants cannot handle our winters – these photos were taken in CA at exactly this time of year in 2005, whilst today it is snowing here – there is no reason we should not be able to grow many of the desert annuals. The sandy gravelly desert wash area at the south end of Dryland Mesa was inspired by trips to the California deserts and designed to provide a similar soil environment to the places shown in the photographs. This garden was affected by some of the construction this winter, but last week almost three pounds of seed was sown in the sand and gravel.
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Posted April 13, 2009 by Doris Boardman, Web Technology Manager
Installation of the life-size dinosaur sculptures started today at York Street. It is amazing to see how realistic they appear. Our talented horticulture and operations staff are doing everything possible to make it seem like our prehistoric guests actually are at home roaming the Gardens. Plant displays will showcase prehistoric plants and their modern relatives. “Jurassic Gardens” opens on April 17.
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Posted April 12, 2009 by Ellen Hertzman, Manager of Visitor Experience
Easter dawned today gray and drizzly–not what we might hope for on an April Sunday. A few brave souls are visiting the Gardens, where our newest exhibit–Jurassic Gardens–is being installed. But I have a quiet moment to post a little color.
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Posted April 6, 2009 by Leigh Burbank Rovegno, Horticulturist, Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
In case you haven’t heard, the Obamas have decided to reinstate the victory garden on the White House lawn! This has not been done since Eleanor Roosevelt’s garden that was planted during WWII. Click here If you would like to read more about this exciting event.
Also, there is a movement to join the Obamas in committing to growing your own organic victory garden. You can sign up here.
Our trial organic vegetable garden is underway here at Chatfield.
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