A prolonged warm spell created an opportunity that an alert Operations Team was quick to exploit–completing minor pool repairs and sweeping our larger pools squeaky clean.
Four Community Service workers did a splendid job in removing the mulch from the waterlilies in the upper pool. Following suit was the ever-loyal Colorado Water Gardening Society (CWGS). The energetic volunteers came in for two Sundays cleaning the waterlilies in the Monet Pool and setting them in place.
Following suit was the talented and committed Denver Botanic Gardens’ Horticulture staff which (with a touch of flare) quickly and efficiently had the south end of the pool spic-and-span.
On the afternoon of Tuesday, March 17, 2009, water flowed into the Gardens’ pools, nearly four weeks ahead of schedule. Visitors can now walk our storied gardens enjoying the dramatic deep reflections and soothing sounds of our classical waterways.
Eighty-years young Denver Botanic Gardens’ super volunteer Larry Knowles and Nepenthes alata at our Information Desk.
There are seventy species of tropical pitcher plants, first described in Madagascar in the 17th century. Insects and animal life are captured and digested when falling into sweet smelling nectar at the base of the modified leaf extensions…pitchers. Fantasy-stories speak of man-eating pitcher plants. Rodent capturing leaves are more realistic. The tropical pitcher plants are heavily vining, and do great in hanging baskets! They are dioecious, each plant bearing male or female flowers; thus, two plants are needed to produce seed. New plants can also be grown by cuttings. See pitcher plants right now at our Information Desk.
‘Pink Ribbon,’ a Wonderful Christmas Wish…Time flies and before you know it the waterlilies will be doing their thing again, flowering profusely and brightening the lives of people world-wide. The brilliant pink hardy waterlily Nymphaea ‘Pink Ribbon’ (hybridizer: Songpanich) was a hit once more in the summer of 2008 at Denver Botanic Gardens. A portion of the sales of ‘Pink Ribbon’ goes to the Susan G. Komen Cancer Foundation in the fight against breast cancer.
Sporting a lovely blue flower in the research greenhouse last week was the exotic species tropical waterlily, Nymphaea capensis. The plant was grown from seed and presented to the Gardens by Curator of Native Plants, Dan Johnson. Dan and C. McMaster collected the seed in the wild (Feb. 2006) in South Africa, locality of Swellendam, from waterlilies flowering in a large pond at the base of Swartberg Pass. We will be monitoring this special waterlily and anticipate displaying N. capensis in the outside pools in 2009.
The brilliant yellow tropical waterlily Nymphaea ‘St. Louis Gold’ is lighting up the propagation greenhouse at Denver Botanic Gardens. Possibly the brightest yellow waterlily of all, ‘St. Louis Gold’ was hybridized by the legendary Dr. George H. Pring. With ample light and water temperatures above 70 degrees, tropical waterlilies can flower even during the winter months, adding fragrance and excitement to your home or greenhouse.
Waterlilies
Sensory Garden Gem
Created by the 2008 interns and expertly maintained by Horticulturist Angie Andrade-Foster, this delightful water garden features tumbling water and a classical, tiny, red, Marliac waterlily Nymphaea ‘Ellisiana’ (Hybridizer: Latour-Marliac). This darling garden is beckoning to see you.
Romantic Gardens Pool
The featured Rocky Mountain Legacy (RMLC) waterlilies are displayed here and all are unique, beautiful and Gold Medal winners.
The six hardy RMLC waterlilies are: N. ‘Denver’ (hyb.: Strawn), N. ‘Denver’s Delight’ (hyb.: Tomocik), N. ‘Colorado’ (hyb.: Strawn), N. ‘Cynthia Ann’ (hyb.: Strawn), N. ‘Joey Tomocik’ (hyb.: Strawn) and ‘Attorney Elrod’ (hyb.: Tomocik).
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In the Monet pond, the leaves of the Gardens’ favorite lotus Nelumbo nucifera ‘Mrs. Perry D. Slocum’ sporting plate-like water resistant leaves. In the background is an exciting graffiti artist’s mural (Lady Pink) and reflection. The colorful murals are part of the Gardens’ popular “Urban Nature” exhibit.
Nelumbo ‘Rosy Clouds’ lotus continues to flower magnificantly in the Victoria (upper) pool. The flowers open in the morning and close in the afternoon, for three consecutive days. They are delightfully fragrant. N. ‘Rosy Clouds’ is an excellent lotus for Colorado Gardens.
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