In my family tree, I have relatives who would look at this post, look at me and say “Pride and envy are each one of the seven deadly sins.”  But today, I’m thinking that local pride is better for me than  the aloe envy I was feeling.

  
I have aloe envy.
I recently saw the diversity of plants that thrive in the Souther California climate.  The aloes they have there are incredible.  More than any other plant (and there are lot of plants), I wish I could walk among the aloes on a regular basis.  Just look at them!

 
Did the jade vine’s blooms reach June?  Maybe…  But I didn’t see it.  The end of May appears to have brought the the end of the blooming run.  Still, that’s almost twice the time I first expected. 

It’s true landscape architects speak about a concept called “borrowed views.”  You don’t own the bucolic pasture, the fabulous waterfront, or the mountain range to your west, but you can see it from your window.  You’re “borrowing” that view to add to your own space.  But when I say “seen-again” plant, I mean taking a [...]

Flowers don’t wave to gardeners. They grow, they bloom, they wave gently in the breeze, but they don’t wave to gardeners, even if gardeners wave first. They reserve their flirtatious side for pollinators. They only wave to catch the roving eye of insects.

 
I want to express my appreciation for the neighborhoods all around Denver for making the effort to grow plants well and to grow great plants.  Some credit undoubtedly goes to the city, but a lot should be generously poured over all the home owners and residents who take the time to make their block and [...]

 
Just an update: I thought it was finishing (first photo above), this green-blossomed liana of a legume shows that it has the long haul in mind.  I’ve discovered that there are several more inflorescences on the jade vine (Strongylodon macrobotrys) and that you might

 
Wow!  That was a fantastic Earth Day.  About 6,000 people passed through the Gardens, seeing, learning and enjoying. It’s a chance for the Gardens to show its special strengths, like the Water-Smart Garden (above).  The Mayor visited to launch the Denver Daisy (Rudbeckia ‘Denver Daisy’) and many people took notice, including the Denver Post.  300,000 seed packets [...]

  
Remember that photographic puzzler I posted? Well, yes, the answer seems to have been widely known: the Laura Smith Porter Plains Garden was undergoing its every-few-years renewal burning. The other, exciting picture above captures a bit of the day, and the other shows blackened swaths. The sedate pictures below reveal the exciting success of the burn.
    

Today the Gardens were just lovely! I took advantage the great weather and strolled past blossoming trees and bulbs, bursting buds and leafing limbs, everything downright wonderful. What a contrast from Wednesday night! I guess when the weather is so beautiful, the wisdom of carpe diem becomes obvious.  Seize the day and enjoy the Gardens right [...]