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
Your personal invitation to the Colorado Pollinator Summit
I’d like to extend an invitation to you to join our Colorado Pollinator Summit on November 6. Whether you’re a researcher, educator, land manager, policy expert, community organizer or homeowner, you
The Eclectic, Eccentric Nature of Mushrooms & the People Who Love Them
Mushrooms are wondrous and curious organisms. They grow in bizarre ways and places, but this aspect of their nature draws people to them like artists to Burning Man or foodies to a Michelin-starred
Eyes on the (garden) ground: Tracking plant dispersal & movement at York Street
When strolling through a public garden in peak bloom, where the colors and smells of expertly designed spaces mingle and meld, visitors often feel transported to a joyful place. The sensory tableau
Restoring Our Urban Spaces
Last year we started working with the Colorado Golf Association at CommonGround Golf Course to help improve wildlife habitat on the course. After conducting a floristic inventory in 2022, we decided
The life of a conservation seed collection: A story in five chapters
Chapter 1: Birth A young scientist – let’s call her Alex – and her enthusiastic sidekick load up a Jeep Cherokee with an herbarium press and paper bags. They are heading off to the mountains of
Why does biodiversity matter?
Why does biodiversity matter? This is the sort of question that feels so immense, so integral to our scientific endeavors that it can be surprisingly challenging to articulate, though the conservation