Alpine Lady Fern on Pawnee Pass, Boulder County, Colorado
I remember my first travels in California and the East Coast as a child: what a shock to see huge sword ferns in the woods, or hillsides covered with hay-scented fern in Connecticut. I suspect many Colorado residents have never seen a fern
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Boulder artist Bonny Lhotka combines innovative printing methods with an age-old subject matter in the “Alchemy Garden” exhibit at Denver Botanic Gardens. Her mixed media artworks blend the precise methodology of laser engraving with soft, natural forms such as flowers to achieve an effect that begs investigation. When not referencing the natural world directly, Lhotka’s work addresses the passing of time and the change it brings.
“Alchemy Garden” presents 13 works created specifically for installation in the Gates Garden Court gallery space. On view through September 20; free with Gardens’ admission. Pictured here is Lhotka’s “Lavender,” mixed media engraving on birch boxes.
Colorado columbine
Colorado columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) usually blooms in May in Denver, and June and July in the mountains. Yet this picture was taken a few days ago below Lake Isabel, in the Indian Peaks Wilderness in Boulder County. Nearby a meadow was filled with marsh marigold (Caltha leptosepala) which is an April bloomer in the lowlands. There were masses of chiming bells (Mertensia paniculata) and other spring blooming plants on the steep slope where a snowbank lingered–a hint that this awesome display of springtime flowers was a product of our mountain environment and a special microclimate.
A few things to see at the Gardens this week…
The Gardens are blooming their little heads off at the moment. Here are a few flowers to know: Obedient Plant presents tall-standing patches of blooms—see it at Birds and Bees Walk and in the O’Fallon Perennial Walk, among other places. Bush Clover (Lespedeza) (above) is a cascading shrub covered with deep pink flowers most of the summer. Find it in the Japanese Garden. In the Plains Garden don’t miss the star-shaped, creamy white blooms of Mentzelia decapetala (below), which open towards evening.
The mushroom discovered that may be a new species
Gary A. Monroe @ USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database
Denver Botanic Gardens staff were among the thirty-six scientists who donated their time in the first Soapstone Prairie Natural Area Bioblitz, surveying all species in a 24-hour period. Ten scientist teams inventoried insects, mammals, fungi, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and of course plants.
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Mountain ash
Bright red fruit on Sorbus aucuparia 'Fastigiata'
This mountain ash had visitors stopping and staring and then asking “What is THAT?” yesterday. It is a slow-growing tree and according to Michael Dirr in his Manual of Woody Landscape Plants,
“Upright with strongly ascending branches, dark green leaves, good large sealing wax red fruits…”
I like the clump form with multiple glossy gray trunks which are also stunning in winter after the leaves drop. It flowers in spring with large flat clusters of white flowers
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Thanks to the green team volunteers for helping us compost this weekend at summer concerts!
Between the Pretenders show at Chatfield and Los Lobos last night at York Street, we collected 8 bags. I wonder how many we will collect tonight at Poncho Sanchez?
Are you looking for a fun fall activity to do with friends or family? Come to Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield’s Corn Maze and navigate through 8 acres of twists and turns. The T-rex-designed maze is for all ages and includes activities for the entire family including a McDonald’s mini maze, dino discovery area, and horse and pony rides.
Tickets are on sale now through TicketsWest at any King Soopers or can be purchased on-site.
