How do I know it’s spring? Because I made my reservation for the Plant Sale Preview Party at Denver Botanic Gardens. For me, this officially marks the start of spring and the gardening season. I always look forward to this event and have for some 30 years. Rain or shine. Snow or sleet. Never miss it.
It doesn’t get much better than strolling through the Gardens in May, pushing a cart and loading it up with beautiful and unusual plants. And did I mention the wine? Oh, the wine. A sip of wine, pluck a plant. Pluck another plant, sip a little wine. And then there is the food. Oh, yes. Great food. You turn down this path, and there are savories. Turn another corner, and there is dessert. What’s not to like? You don’t go thirsty or hungry or plantless.
It really is a party. Love parties. Lots of friends there, pulling their wagons which are full to the brim with hanging baskets, vegetables, herbs, annuals, and perennials. Not to mention a tree or two. Lots of serious plant people. Lots of beginners in the garden. Lots of people with big gardens. Lots of people with only window boxes and patio pots. A fun, festive, and frolicking evening it is. Something for everyone.
Post Written By: Judy Grant, Chair
Plant Sale Preview Party Committee
NOTE: Due to the popularity of this event–the Plant Sale Preview Party is SOLD OUT this year.
If you are still interested in finding wonderful plants for your home garden, the Spring Plant Sale is open to the general public with free admission and is May 11 & 12. We hope you can join us!
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As a dedicated plantaholic, I have always loved the Denver Botanic Gardens Plant Sale — interesting, new introductions, old garden stand-bys, Plant Select marvels, divine little alpine and succulent treasures. And it didn’t take me long to discover a great way to get a jump on the Mother’s Day crowd by going to the Plant Sale Preview Party.
NOW, I have learned I can up the ante by taking advantage of the new Personal Shopper Service Denver Botanic Gardens is offering this year at the May 10 event – a guaranteed cart (old Plant Sale pros will recognize the value of THAT, I’ll reckon) and forty-five minutes with an experienced Gardens horticulturist.
They can usher me right up to the newest and most exciting annuals for my containers and perennials and shrubs for my mixed garden beds, they can advise me on the right roses to plant in this challenging Colorado gardening environment, I can consult with them about a particularly problematic corner in my native garden, all while everyone else is sipping wine and munching on hors d’oeuvres.
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By:
Tam O’Neill, Plant Sale Preview Party Committee Member
The Plant Sale Preview Party at Denver Botanic Gardens is a favorite annual event in Denver and has turned into a new tradition of mine. The love of plants and nurturing a garden starts at home. I have fond memories of my own mom helping me plant zinnia seeds in a flower bed as a child (and vivid memories of the thrill of seeing them bloom!).
For the last few years I’ve attended the Plant Sale Preview Party with mom where we can spend some time browsing the amazing selection of plants with other plant fanatics. It’s great fun to enjoy a glass of wine while getting to shop in a relaxed, bloom-filled setting.
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The following posts were created by dedicated and passionate volunteers and staff of Denver Botanic Gardens. Please enjoy reading their stories and experiences about why the Gardens holds a special place in their hearts.
MIRACLE PLANT HOLDS A RICH HISTORY
By Nick Snakenberg
Tucked away in the southwest corner of the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, Aframomum melegueta is a rather unassuming plant. Most visitors are distracted by the showier bananas and papayas growing nearby, but this member of the ginger family has a story that may outshine its subtle appearance.
Aframomum melegueta, also known as Grains of Paradise, is a native of lowland areas of tropical West Africa. Before the spice roads from the Mid-East introduced a broader range of cooking spices, Aframomum was a staple for cooking, often being used as we now use black pepper. While its popularity as a spice has faded, there has been a recent resurgence in its use, not only in cooking, but as a flavoring in beer. In addition to its culinary uses, Aframomum is also locally known for its medicinal properties, being used to treat inflammations and infections. It also just happens to be a major component in the diet of the Western Lowland Gorilla.
When horticulturists at the Denver Zoo learned that we were growing Aframomum at Denver Botanic Gardens, they were anxious to get their hands on some. It seems that captive gorillas often suffer from an unexplained heart condition and by adding more plants from their native habitats, especially Aframomum melegueta, the condition seems to go away. We gladly shared plants with the Denver Zoo, but our sharing didn’t stop there.
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The following posts were created by dedicated and passionate volunteers and staff of Denver Botanic Gardens. Please enjoy reading their personal stories and experiences about why the Gardens holds a special place in their hearts.
VICK’S PLANT TRIGGERS CHILDHOOD MEMORIES
By Angie Andrade
As a horticultural therapist it is my job to use horticulture to stimulate minds and improve moods. Often times, this means bringing people back to the memories of their past using specific plants.
Through our therapeutic horticulture programs we offer an opportunity for older people and those with disabilities to connect with plants. During these programs we visit a number of assisted living facilities that serve people with varying degrees of dementia.
One of the plants that I always use is Plectranthus tomentosa, Vick’s Plant. This plant gets its name from Vicks VaporRub because the scent of the leaves smells surprisingly like the medication. Who doesn’t remember the days when your mom would rub Vick’s on your chest to help you get over a winter cold? Or maybe it brings back memories of using Vick’s to nurse your children back to health. We talk about these memories in each program.
I have heard countless stories of people’s past memories, and witnessed smiles and tears–all surrounding this plant. The power of horticulture is truly amazing and I feel lucky to be able to make these connections everyday.
Located in the back of the Sensory Garden you will find a large boulder water feature in the middle of the pathway. This fountain was designed to allow people of all abilities to experience and touch the water flowing down the rock. During our Summer Sensory program many groups travel through the garden to experience all of the senses, but most people don’t pay much attention to the water feature; then one day in late August, a daycare facility for people with developmental disabilities came to a program. This was a fun group. We had a great time planting herb gardens and talking about all the interesting plants. But there was one girl who was not interacting with anything we did until we made it to that fountain.
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How do I know it’s spring? Because I made my reservation for the Plant Sale Preview Party at Denver Botanic Gardens. For me, this officially marks the start of spring and the gardening season. I always look forward to this event and have for some 30 years. Rain or shine. Snow or sleet. Never miss it.
