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 February 27, 2010 by Ellen Hertzman, Manager of Volunteer 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 October 20, 2009 by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach
Autumn is imbued with intimations of mortality: dying leaves, dormancy, doom, gloom, Hallowe’en colors and ghosts and spooks: Boo! Gardeners know
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Posted March 3, 2009 by Cindy Newlander, Associate Director of Horticulture
Eranthis hyemalis blooming in Shady Lane on Feb. 25, 2009
The Gardens are quickly springing back to life with the 70+ degree days. I was wondering what was blooming across the rest of the country, so I contacted a few colleagues across the nation to see how their gardens were waking up in comparison to Denver Botanic Gardens.
Denver Botanic Gardens currently has many species of plants in full bloom or just beginning to bloom. Galanthus elwesii (snowdrops), Crocus sp. and cvs., Iris reticulata and its various cultivars, Cornus mas (Cornelian cherry), Eranthis hyemalis (winter aconite) and Helleborus sp. are all blooming. This morning I witnessed some of the magnolias (M. stellata and M. x soulangeana) starting to burst from their buds in the Waring House garden as well where they grow in a sunny spot against a south facing wall.
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Posted March 21, 2008 by Matt Cole, Director of Education
When I wrote that bulbs have a tough life, I was looking at only one side of the story. They have a wonderful life! Just look at the exuberant Iris and Crocus and how they add color and exuberance to the early spring landscape. They were under the snow earlier this week, but they really shook it off and kept going.
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Posted March 3, 2008 by Matt Cole, Director of Education
The life of a bulb is a tough one. For the bulk of the year, the plant lives underground and dormant, enduring until it’s time to shine. These Iris just get themselves up and going and Sunday’s snow put the brakes on. Nonetheless, winter will end and more and more bulbs and flowers will take advantage of warming spring to make their entry into life above ground.
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Posted February 22, 2008 by Matt Cole, Director of Education
As I was walking through the crossroads toward the Boettcher Memorial Education Building, I met local garden writer Marcia Tatroe and her husband Randy photographing Yucca and Dasylirion. We chatted about the lovely day, and then Marcia turned me on to some Crocus blooming in the Water-Smart Garden. What a lovely cheerful yellow! It was perfect for the day and the hour.
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Posted in: At the Gardens, What's Blooming - Comments(6)