Fall is an amazing time in the Gardens! Be sure to take advantage of blue skies and cooler temperatures–come to the Gardens and enjoy these beauties. Here are a few things to look for this week.
• The Joy of Succulents: While spring belongs to Delosperma, fall showcases a number of sedums, which flower or otherwise show off this time of year.
Is it agaSTASHee? Aga-stach-ay?
Sunset Hyssop (Agastache rupestris)
is it Aghasta(phlegm)ee, how the heck do we pronounce the darned thing? Even ten years ago most of us would not have known an Agastache from a….from a….
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When you visit this week, here are a few things to see:
A Touch of the Tropics: Though we think of hibiscus as a tropical or house plant, a number of hardy varieties make a splash this time of year. Hibiscus moscheutos has nearly dinner-plate size flowers in reds, pinks, and white. Check out the pink-streaked version along Shady Lane, which features a beautiful reddish leaf as well. The lovely Rose of Sharon bushes that bloom in lavenders, whites, and pinks all over town in late summer are also a hibiscus: Hibiscus syriacus.
Happy to be Dry: Sprays of tiny lavender flowers characterize the Sea Lavender, seen in the Water-Smart Garden as well as in the Perennial Walk. Not a lavender at all, these plants are similar to Statice, in that they are dry to the touch.
Likewise, check out the brilliantly colored Strawflowers,
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Ambassador Jan here! Can I just tell you that the Chris Isaak concert last Sunday at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield was a LUMINOUS event?!!
I arrived before the gates opened so I could prepare to help you find the BEST spot in the coolest, greenest grass-carpeted venue around. This event marked the first summer concert at Chatfield since the amphitheater has been renovated and it was, dreamily, like stepping into a classic movie. The Wizard of Oz comes to mind….
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Available for purchase at Garden Grapes & Hops
Yesterday, beautifully decorated flower pots flooded the Gardens in anticipation of Garden Grapes & Hops. This is the first year the Gardens will auction off flower pots. Here is a sneak peak of what you will find at the event, Friday, June 12 from 5:30-9:30 p.m. Along with food, beverages, and live entertainment, browse 40 whimiscal, unique, and one-of-a-kind flower pots made for this fun event. Tickets are available online ( http://tinyurl.com/oumont) and will be available or purchase at the door.
John Temple’s column in the Rocky Mountain News today, ‘Simple moments, rich rewards’ was very inspiring. Not just because I work at Denver Botanic Gardens, but also because the article hits it in the nail regarding the little things in life that really matter. Every morning I look out my kitchen window and the sight of geese in the golf course behind my house or the Daphne that still refuses to stop blooming or the water bubbling in my pond or the dried seed heads of the ornamental grasses swaying in the wind all inspire me as I start my day. It is these simple pleasures in life that are truly memorable.
Yesterday, I drank jasmine tea and ate a mooncake at the Montreal Botanical Garden; it is the season of the Magic of the Lanterns, and the Chinese Garden is adorned with many colorful and graceful figures that have been designed in Montreal and made in Shanghai. They are filled with lights in the evening. It’s a big event and draws massive crowds of all ages.
How lucky I am to be here!
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August Bounty
Preparing for winter? Yes, I’ve been thinking about winter for a couple months now, ever since I decided to try to eat more local foods. I won’t be limiting myself to eating only foods grown in Colorado, especially over the winter, but I am wanting to pay more attention to where my food comes from. And, I have extra incentive, since local foods tend to be cheaper these days than foods relying on expensive long-distance transportation!
I was in my garden the other day, harvesting beets and green beans to freeze. I found myself leaving the tinier veggies to grow for a few more days, knowing that they will go that much farther this winter. I imagined
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