Posted May 3, 2012 by Mike Holloway, Horticulturist
Check It Out! It’s springtime in the Oak Grove. With the weather already warming up in Denver, the Oak Grove is a great place to go and cool down. Stroll through this natural setting and enjoy the shade that the canopy of oaks provides. There are forty-six oaks in this garden including species oaks and hybrids.
A carpet of sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) covers the floor, giving off a lovely scent as you make your way around the circular pathway. You will find various under story plants along your journey including Spanish Bluebells, Azalea ‘Rosy Lights’, ferns, hydrangeas, hostas, heuchera , Golden Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’), hardy figs, epimedium, Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) and many other gems.
This transplanted Kentucky boy gets a little homesick, so I’ve tried to bring a little Kentucky to Denver. I invite you to come and enjoy my little piece of home.
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Posted May 3, 2012 by John Murgel, Gardener
Plants aren’t the only thing becoming more active this time of year. Warmer weather triggers a lot of invertebrate activity, and you may be noticing that your home is suddenly (apparently) some sort of transcontinental superhighway for arthropods. Which is just one of the reasons that I love springtime.
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Posted May 2, 2012 by Jennifer Ramp Neale, Director of Research & Conservation
With nine staff scientists and seven Adjunct Researchers representing diverse research interests and educational backgrounds, the Research and Conservation department has many stories to tell. Join us on Wednesday, May 9 at noon in the Waring House for the next installment of our departmental lecture series “Re-search the Gardens: Meet our Scientists.”
Dr. Melissa Islam will share some of the research she conducted as part of her Ph.D. work on the genus Erythroxylum, best known as the genus from which coca originates.
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Posted May 1, 2012 by Marisa Eisenstein, Manager of Annual Giving
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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Posted April 30, 2012 by Featured Instructor
Few plants in Colorado are as intriguing, useful, and irritating – and generate as many comments in my garden – as the Devil’s Claw (Proboscidealouisianica). This often exotic and occasionally noxious plant begins life as a small dusty-green stem with oversized fuzzy round leaves but soon grows to a large sturdy shrub-like plant with a distinctive odor. The pink and white flowers resemble an orchid and morph into elongated pods with a curved tail which can reach over five inches long. In the early autumn the pods lose their green skins and turn to a skeletal wood frame containing the seeds for next year’s crop. The long tail splits and twists making each pod
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Posted April 28, 2012 by Angie Andrade Foster, Horticulturist
Winter Green, Denver Botanic Gardens winter outreach therapeutic horticulture program, just wrapped up its’ 13th successful year. This program offers a wide variety of opportunities for the elderly and people with disabilities to experience horticulture and get their hands dirty during the winter months. We provide creative and stimulating hands-on activities that enrich the physical, mental and social lives of participants.
All new this year we offered an extended program of 3 or 6 sessions called Cool Season Gardening. This program provided facilities a jump start to the gardening season.
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Posted April 27, 2012 by digger
Families are invited to join us on Saturday, May 5 to explore Japanese, Native American and Mexican cultures in Mordecai Children’s Garden from 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Families will have the opportunity to plant a garden to take home with them, discover the Japanese art of Gyotaku, and enjoy a snack from chipotle. Special guests Jeff Kagan and Paige Doughty will join us for a special kid’s concert!
Cost: $20 member for a family of four, $3 for each additional person. $25 non-member for a family of four, $4 for each additional person. Children two and under are free of charge. Please register online or call 720-865-3580 to reserve your family’s spot.
Where: Mordecai Children’s Garden. Family Fun Night access is through the Morrison Discovery Center gate at the southeast corner of York Street and 11th Avenue. Park in the garage, exit at Level 2, turn right and walk down the sidewalk to the entrance.
Global Gardens is the second of seven Family Fun Nights, held on the 1st Saturday of every month, April – October. More information about Family Fun Nights and a list of all family-friendly events can be found here.
Posted April 24, 2012 by April Miller, Head Librarian
Are you trying to plan, plant, or revive your garden this spring? Need to talk to an expert?
Don’t forget that Gardening Help from Colorado Master Gardeners is available in the Helen Fowler Library at Denver Botanic Gardens from noon-4 p.m. on Tuesdays and Saturdays through the end of April (starting on May 1 they’re here three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 12-4 p.m). They come out just to answer your questions–and their wisdom and advice comes free of charge! You can stop by while visiting the library or give them a call at 720-865-3575. Email works great for sending pictures of ailing plants or mystery specimens; send them a message at gardeninghelp@botanicgardens.org
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