Posted May 31, 2009 by Celia Curtis Adamec, Public Programs Manager
To this date, our most popular post continues to be one that Elizabeth Bublitz of Paw-Friendly Landscapes wrote on ‘Paw-Friendly Gardening.’ Luckily for us, she is back in blogging mode and sending us new posts! Here is one for those of you who have or want to install a garden fence. If you enjoy Elizabeth’s posts, be sure to check out her class on August 13 at the Gardens (visit our calendar page to register!).
Healthy Fences
The number one deterrent of dogs escaping, or wildlife entering, is investing in a fence. There are numerous types of fence – cedar or vinyl privacy, picket or three rail. They vary in height as well.
Many dogs jump up on fences when they are triggered by people passing by, especially dog walkers, squirrels and other “exciting” noises that grab their attention. However, 6’ cedar and vinyl fences lose their upright pitch and can eventually fall or break defeating their purpose. When dogs jump on the fence, their nails can also get caught in the slats and be pulled out. What follows is a trip to the veterinarian and many days or weeks of rest.
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Posted May 30, 2009 by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture
As I stroll through the Gardens every week, I am constantly amazed at how each garden changes from week to week or even day to day. I am fortunate I have the luxury to witness this weekly transformation and would like to bring this to you through this blog by featuring a garden each week.
This week, the must see garden is the South African Plaza. This garden showcases hardy and non-hardy South African flora that perform well in Denver. Many of the collections in this garden have come from plant exploration trips to South Africa conducted by our Director of Outreach, Panayoti Kelaidis. The gems of this garden are the iceplants, Delosperma spp., which are currently in full bloom. These amazing, low growing plants put on a floral show like none other. A few currently in bloom are the orange flowered
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Posted May 29, 2009 by Anna Sher, Director of Research & Conservation
Dr. Sam Mitchel studying his favorite fungi
Forty years ago, a family physician named Dr. Sam Mitchel turned a hobby into a real scientific endeavor by establishing a “mushroom collection” at Denver Botanic Gardens. The fungal collection at the Gardens is now the largest actively curated herbarium of Rocky Mountain fungi in the world, with over 24,000 specimens representing over 2,000 taxa. Preserved collections of plants and fungi are called herbaria (herbarium is singular), and are an essential resource for scientists, land managers, botanical illustrators, horticulturalists, explorers, historians, educators, and others needing documentation or records about plants and fungi.
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Posted May 19, 2009 by Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Research Associate
Sclerocactus glaucus habitat
What threatens Sclerocactus glaucus (see a video showing some of the causes)? Installation and maintenance of huge pipelines that move oil and gas from the well pads miles and miles to the collection facilities; roads; browsing and trampling from livestock; weeds; and people who collect them from the wild to name a few. Why are we doing something about it? Just look at the beautiful landscape and plant community. Do you want to lose that? Neither do we.
Posted May 17, 2009 by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture
The green roof at Denver Botanic Gardens opened in November 2007. Within a year and a half, this garden has established very well creating a green space where once was a regular cemented roof. Situated above our former gift shop (soon to become a bistro), this one-of-a-kind green roof features native and drought tolerant plants that thrive well in our semi-arid climate with limited water.
Green roof installation in 2007
A variety of plants were selected in creating this roof to test which plants will perform well as green roof plants in our region. Departing from the regular norm of using Sedums as green roof plant materials, this roof is living proof of how, with experimentation, we can create a green roof utilizing a diverse plant palette. Designed and created by our resident green roof expert, Senior Horticulturist Mark Fusco, Denver Botanic Gardens is a pioneer in green roof research for our region.
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Posted May 15, 2009 by Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Research Associate
Celebrating Wildflowers isn’t only for the little ones. You can enjoy Colorado native plants in the metro area. You don’t want to miss this great, free, guided tour of spring blooms on Green Mountain. The Bureau of Land Management’s botanists will teach you all about the beautiful spring blooms.
When: This weekend, May 16th at 10 a.m.
Where: Green Mountain parking lot just west of Alameda and West Florida Drive.
Posted May 14, 2009 by Allison Yentsch, Special Events Coordinator
Are you looking for something fun to do this summer? For a reasonable price you can experience myriad of local fare, beverages, and lively entertainment! In the mood for ice cream? Or beer? Or wine? Or Italian, Indian food and more? Check out restaurants such as Steuben’s, Bombay Clay Oven, Lik’s Ice Cream, and many more! Enjoy the sounds of Chris Daniels and the Kings as you meander through 15 booths of food and drink among the beautiful backdrop of the Gardens.
Tickets now on sale! Click here to purchase your tickets to this fun inexpensive event.
For more information and to view the entire list of restaurants, please click here.
We hope to see you on Friday, June 12th!
Posted May 8, 2009 by Michelle DePrenger-Levin, Research Associate
Sclerocactus glaucus: Collection for genetic analysis
Each year, as spring rolls around, the Research and Conservation staff load up a 4-wheel drive vehicle with our gear, head out across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain west region in search of rare plants. This year we’re bringing the field home to you. Watch our first field video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqE5b4AXYRM.
Our first trip takes us west to the threatened cactus, Sclerocactus glaucus. This lovely little cactus is found in Western Colorado along with several other rare plant species. This is also an area with intense oil and gas development, residential growth and spreading weeds. Our aim is to protect the western region by studying and protecting this tiny cactus.
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