This is one of our most frequently asked questions. In the middle of spring insanity I look forward to the peaceful time in winter when I can finally catch up on all those things I have been ignoring; yet now, in the middle of January, most of those same things are still waiting to be done. I know this is not just true for me but for most of my co-workers, but what are we so busy with?
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Ten and Tracer
Normal Ones
Last night I decided to check out the Digital Nature event here at the Gardens. My understanding from Rachel’s blog was that it was a digital art event with a focus on how technology does not have to be separate from nature. I really did not know what to expect but ended up attending what was probably the coolest event we have ever had here at the gardens.
What was great was how the Gardens were not only the host for this event but were integral to the art presented. One artist recorded the sounds of the wind moving through the golden rain tree, converted it to light and projected it back onto the tree. I enjoyed all the artists but my favorite was Ten and Tracer – he had literally created music from plants.
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The Plains Garden
The benefits of growing native plants are many – they are easy to grow, they increase native biodiversity, they reduce the risk of introducing invasives, and they use little water to name a few. In fall though, probably more than any other time of year, the overriding reason is their beauty.
It is easy to be jealous of Panayoti experiencing the South African spring right now however a walk around the gardens makes me see how much he is missing right here.
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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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I was once jokingly asked by a co-worker in a previous career if I was going to answer ‘the call of the compost heap’ and quit my job to garden full time. It seems that this turned out to be closer to the truth than I thought at the time.
Do you compost your kitchen and garden waste at home? If you do you are already aware of the reduction in waste going to the landfill that that causes. Varying sources estimate that 30-40% of waste going to the landfill is compostable.
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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.
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Though a common occurrence in parts of the southwest, century plants (Agave sp.), blooming in Denver are rare. Most years there is one blooming somewhere in Denver and we all take trips to visit it and marvel at the huge flower spike. This year we are lucky enough to have three blooming here at the Gardens.
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I love the fact that the current eat local movement has been making people look at what they eat and consider the health and environmental consequences of their food.
A friend sent me an article which made me stop and think about the changes I have made to my diet. Are they based on fact? Is eating local really the best choice?
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