Blog
Enjoy "Digging Into the Gardens" blog, written by Denver Botanic Gardens' staff. Learn about gardening, horticulture, research, conservation, special events, art, tours and much more.
Explore the Prairie at the Plains Conservation Center
The prairie teams with wildlife. This diverse and inspiring ecosystem supports a wide variety of plants and animals. Prairie dogs scurry between their burrows while the first wildflowers of the season
Can drones be used to monitor a tiny plant?
A demographic study of a plant population is usually a low-tech job. We drive and hike to a rare plant population. To measure the survival, growth and reproductive rates of the population, we
A Slice of Biodiversity: Sandsage Prairie at Ballyneal Golf Club
Last summer one of the projects I was most excited about was a biodiversity survey at a golf club. “At a golf club?!” you say. That’s right! Ballyneal Golf Club, situated near Holyoke, Colorado, on
Denver Botanic Gardens’ Plant Tissue Biobank
DNA contains the information that can help create a plan for conserving populations of rare plants in decline, inform strategies for restoring degraded ecosystems, identify species, describe new
Celebrating 55 Years of Volunteer Service
Loraine Yeatts, one of our most dedicated volunteers in the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium of Vascular Plants, recently celebrated a remarkable milestone: 55 years of unwavering service. Loraine’s
Tajikistan Transcendent
It may be years before I fully process my experiences in Tajikistan. The scale of the land, the richness of the flora and the ferocity of our travel schedule still boggles me. As I reminisce, the most
Investigating Soil Amendment and Mulching Best Practices
Gardening is a complex endeavor. A symbiosis with countless living things, both seen and unseen, and the management of numerous interactions with the nonliving world. As such, it can be challenging to
Notes from the Field
As the newly established floristic and outreach coordinator, this year I joined our Research & Conservation Department on various field adventures across Colorado. From the prairie of the Eastern
Collaboration for Conservation
Federally listed plants (rare plants that are considered threatened or endangered) are protected on public lands. However, sometimes there is conflict between energy needs and lands that support rare
Reconnecting with My Roots
I was born in Mexico City; my family and I arrived at the U.S. when I was just 8 years old. Eighteen years had passed since I’d been in my native country, but last May, I finally returned to Mexico to
Positive Impact of Green Roofs
Green roofs, also known as vegetated roofs or living roofs, are recognized as a sustainable strategy for urban development. These eco-friendly rooftops offer a multitude of environmental, economic and
Studying Effects of Genetic Diversity on Plant Population Performance (Hopefully)
Sometime around June 2021 an idea started forming in my mind. I was starting a new job as a scientist in the Research and Conservation Department. I wanted to study the effects of genetic diversity on