Posted March 12, 2010 by Mike Kintgen, Senior Horticulturist
While the official solar start of spring is still eight days away on March 20th, I think it is safe to say that spring has sprung in the Rock Alpine Garden. True, there may be many more snow storms and still plenty of mornings to scrape ice off of windshields, but the true harbingers of spring are in full glory now. Other gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens are showing signs of spring as well, but few do it with such diversity as the Rock Alpine Garden (RAG). Three species of Galanthus, at least five species of Crocus, three species of Helleborus, Erica carnea, Draba aizoides, Jasminum nudiflorum, Cyclamen, Scilla and Iris reticulata are just part of the parade that will change almost daily now that it is March.
Crocus are one of the most famous flowers of spring but most of us think about or photograph them open in the sun, Monday’s cloudy skies allowed me to photograph them closed up revealing the often highly patterned or colorful reverse.
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Posted March 11, 2010 by Nick Daniel, Gardener Tropical Collection
Freycinetia cummingiana
Without a doubt, today was one of those days that the Boettcher Tropical Conservatory really made me take a step back and cherish my “office”. The amount of obscure and unique plants in bloom right is almost
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Posted March 11, 2010 by Ellen Hertzman, Manager of Visitor Experience
Freycinetia
This time of year, my house plants start sending out bright green leaves and cheery flowers. They recognize the longer, sunnier days and, since I don’t heat my house excessively, they revel in the warmth pouring through my south-facing windows. In the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, the tropicals are responding to the same signals, with new growth and blossoms in plenty just now. A few tongue-twisters for you this week:
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Posted March 5, 2010 by Ellen Hertzman, Manager of Visitor Experience
Iris reticulata
An early morning, early March walk reveals surprising delights.
• Colors: the muted greys and browns of late winter are ever-so-slowly
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Posted March 4, 2010 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
Spanish draba (Draba hispanica)
Poor drabas! Such a colorless name…and they have other image problems too–that acid
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Posted March 3, 2010 by Nick Daniel, Gardener Tropical Collection
Medinilla magnifica
If you haven’t been able to swing in and check out the Boettcher Tropical Conservatory in the last couple of weeks, now is a great time. We have just recently finished
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Posted February 27, 2010 by Ellen Hertzman, Manager of Visitor Experience
First Crocus at the Gardens
I checked my gardening journal this week. (I start each spring with good intentions, but writing in the journal occurs in inverse proportion to the amount of work that needs to be done in the garden!) I have been imagining that this winter has been longer and colder than recent winters. I wanted to verify that perception, using my crocus-o-meter.
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Posted February 19, 2010 by Mike Kintgen, Senior Horticulturist
Good things come to those who wait we are told. Helleborus vesicarius seedlings were set out in spring of 2006 after a supplier donated a pot full of 20 seedlings with the warning that it was a very tricky species to grow. He was in Virginia, not exactly a similar climate to southern Turkey and northern Syria where it is native. Denver is perhaps not an exact match either, but closer with summer drought broken only by sporadic thunderstorms.
Originating from montane elevations in alkaline clay soils, it has so far been hardier than predicated. ”Hellebores: a Comprehensive Guide” by C. Colston Burrel and Juduth Knot Tyler guessed zone 7. It has survived -10 degrees Fahrenheit with almost no snow cover
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