Growing up in Vermont, I was immersed in a culture of environmentalism before I understood what that even meant. At age 5, I was part of a “kids against pollution” club where a group of friends and I got together on Sunday afternoons and sauntered around local parks recording strangers talking about their perspectives on the climate crisis. We were accompanied by an ambitious mom who perhaps thought folks might be more responsive to such controversial topics when approached by a group of disarming 4 to 7-year-olds. While at the time I assumed I was simply playing with friends and meeting new adults, I understand now that we were stimulating important conversations about an exponentially urgent issue. </p> Reading the news about wildfires burning the Earth’s lungs (i.e., forests), hurricanes sinking our largest cities, floods and droughts leaving our fields fallow, plastic islands and warming temperatures damaging the once flourishing ocean life can leave us feeling helpless and overwhelmed. But action can be a cure for discouragement. I view this crisis as a more manageable problem when I remember that it is caused by humans, and therefore, I can make a positive impact by taking specific daily actions to help the environment</a>. </p> Finding community can also help alleviate some of this eco-anxiety. Together we are stronger. Together we can commit to making the changes needed to preserve our communities and the flora and fauna we know and love. Start by finding something that inspires you. You can walk through the Gardens, noticing a plethora of pollinators on each flower, or the spring crocuses bursting through the hard ground from winter – there are countless wonders just outside, and the first step is noticing and appreciating them.</p> Today, I am honored to work with an organization committed to making necessary changes for the health of the planet and its inhabitants. From regenerative agriculture</a> practices at Chatfield Farms to sustainable water management</a> to installing a solar farm for renewable energy</a>, Denver Botanic Gardens demonstrates that organizational change is possible. At Chatfield Farms, low-till methods are used in the chemical-free vegetable garden, allowing healthy organisms in the soil to thrive while preserving nutrients. The Gardens then distributes this sustainably grown produce at pay-what-you-can farmers markets</a>. These initiatives demonstrate what can be accomplished when organizations work together. </p> This article was written by Facility Custodial Technician Jo Kennedy.</strong></em></p>
There’s no better way to beat the winter blues than by dreaming of this season’s garden! Before choosing your plants consider garden size, location, soil and amount of daylight it receives. If your space is cool and shady, it’s not worth the agony of trying to grow peppers and tomatoes in Denver’s short growing season. Instead, stick with hearty greens like spinach and kale or roots like radishes and potatoes. If you have a sunny spot on a porch or a patio you can grow a container variety of tomatoes where they’ll have a better chance.</p> Small gardens can produce more than you might think. Consider putting your tallest plants on the north side of the bed so they don’t shade other plants. Interplanting or companion planting is a great option for dense gardens. Try growing basil under tomatoes or transplant lettuces and then seed carrots around them. By the time the lettuce is ready to harvest the carrots will be up and ready for the extra space. Herbs and edible flowers add variety and attract beneficial pollinators to your garden.</p> If you’re planting densely, particularly with heavy feeders like broccoli, corn or melons, you’ll want to make sure the plants have enough nutrients. Cover crops keep soil covered between crops, and the leftover debris boost your organic matter and feed the microorganisms that are so important to soil health. Including legumes like peas or beans in your cover crop naturally adds nitrogen to your soil. Adding compost is another way to give your soil a natural boost. Try using a natural mulch between rows or beds to retain moisture and exclude weeds.</p> If you have heavy clay or thin, rocky soils you don’t want to try growing foot-long carrots. Use raised beds or opt for a shorter variety. Sandy soils drain water and lose nutrients quickly, but clay soils retain water and hold nutrients much longer. Consider this when adding amendments and planning your garden watering. Smaller seeds like lettuce or carrots will germinate more evenly if they have consistent overhead water but beans, squash and tomatoes don’t like their leaves being wet because they are more susceptible to disease. Once your seeds are up or plants are in the ground set up soaker hoses or drip irrigation so you’re only watering the soil and not the leaves. </p> Nutrient-dense produce comes from plants grown in healthy soils in harmony with nature. Avoid spraying herbicides or pesticides as these negatively affect the soil and water and therefore you. Instead, encourage birds and predatory insects to control any pest problems and pull weeds by hand. Additionally, heirloom varieties tend to have more flavor, ensure genetic diversity and have been bred to grow in specific climates. Search for local seed companies to find the best option for your area. Not only does this support a local farmer, but you’ll be also able to save your own seed!</p> </p> This article first appeared in the March issue of Life on Capitol Hill.</em> </p>
Now is the time to make plans for your garden before the frenzy of spring arrives. How do you begin designing your own home garden? Or updating one you inherited? All the decision-making can be overwhelming. Simplify by breaking the process down into steps, saving the best for last (the plants). </p> Start with Inspiration</strong></p> Browse magazines, books, social media and websites for gardens that you love. Go for a stroll in your neighborhood, go for a hike or meander through Denver Botanic Gardens. Even art museums or galleries offer garden inspiration. Once you find something that strikes your interest, try to pinpoint specifically what you like about it: Is it the sculptural impact of dense shrubs and cacti? Does it bring back fond memories of childhood? Is it the protective feeling of a shaded seating area? Often, it’s just the feeling that the garden evokes, not necessarily the specific plants that draw you in. Once you have a general idea of the style or feeling you want to create you can move to the next step.</p> Consider Architecture</strong></p> If you are designing for your house, it’s important that the style and layout marry with the building. Is it adobe with rounded corners and soft curves or Victorian: symmetrical and angular? Begin by looking at the footprint of your house and drawing lines out from major architectural points (either on paper or spray paint out in the yard). This can lay the foundation for the shapes of the garden beds or hardscaping. </p> Plan for Function</strong></p> Decide which shapes on your plan should become planting or hardscaping. This is where practical considerations are paramount. How will theses spaces be used? Maybe the space will be a seating area or offer an unobstructed view. Consider materials that are regionally appropriate and relate to your house. Maybe red sandstone pavers fit best—or perhaps grey, crushed gravel.</p> Think Green</strong></p> Now you can get creative with plants. There are many ways to design a planting scheme. Here’s a simple option. Research three plants indicative of your chosen garden style. Make sure they grow well in your area and look nice together. Next, choose a couple companion plants that share some commonalities with your main three, such as similar leaf shape, same fuzzy texture or same color bark. In the gallery below, Heuchera pulchella, Schizachyrium scoparium</em> and Sedum spurium </em>‘Red Carpet’ </em>all share hints of maroon coloring and prefer dry, sunny gardens. Don’t be afraid to keep the palette simple and repetitive. Remember, you can always change it!</p> I hope you feel inspired to start your garden design. Leave a comment below and let me know what your design ideas are or if you have any questions. </p> Schizachyrium scoparium</em> photo: Andy Mabbett</a> </p>
“Denver Botanic Gardens conducts cutting-edge scientific research to support plant conservation, study plant biology, and improve horticultural practices. The Gardens' research program focuses on various topics such as plant taxonomy, ecology, ethnobotany, and plant breeding. The results of this research are used to inform conservation efforts, improve horticultural practices, and enhance visitor experiences at the Gardens. The Gardens also offer opportunities for students, researchers, and volunteers to participate in ongoing research projects and contribute to the advancement of botanical knowledge.”</p> This is what the new service ChatGPT</a> generated when I gave it the prompt “Write 50 words about the scientific research at Denver Botanic Gardens.”</p> By now you may be tired of this gimmick, but it is no doubt interesting and exciting that artificial intelligence is on its way to becoming a technology that anyone can use. And, no, I am not just trying to get out of my blog writing duties. I was curious what the technology would get right or wrong about a topic near and dear to me; turns out it is pretty darn accurate and even reads well (although it wrote 80 words, not 50).</p> Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize technology and industry, but not likely in the sensationalized “robots are going to take our jobs and then destroy us” way. Rather, it will help us make advances in fields like medicine, engineering and yes, biodiversity conservation. Soon we may be using artificial intelligence to help make predictions and evaluate methodologies to aid in protecting ecosystems. These tools can help us determine where and when species are likely to go extinct or become invasive, which restoration methods are the most effective for a given ecosystem or even which genes afford a population the tools necessary to adapt to a changing climate.</p> But what are scientists at Denver Botanic Gardens doing right now to make these objectives possible? Data are the life blood of artificial intelligence and every day we continue to generate and make freely available the most high-quality data describing plants</a>, fungi</a> and their relationships with the environment. Through collecting specimens, conducting field experiments and sequencing genes we are contributing to a knowledge base that can be used by artificial intelligence to inform its development and outcomes. So next time you hear someone going on about how artificial intelligence is set to destroy the world, remember it might also be the thing that helps save it. </p>
At Denver Botanic Gardens, we are already making plans for Earth Day on April 22. This is also an SCFD Free Day at the Gardens and we're going to have lots of things going on that day for you at both York Street and Chatfield Farms.</p> Sustainability is one of the Gardens’ four core values, and we are continuously working on improving sustainable practices. For example:</p> Turf reduction and native plants</strong></li> </ul> This spring, removal of the grass strips bordering York Street is on the agenda, to be replaced with plants that have low water needs but add loads of texture and color. Many of the plants in our collections</a> are native plants that naturally thrive in Colorado, with less need for additional watering. The Gardens of the West collection are examples of these, as well as much of the Internationally Inspired Gardens collection.</p> Our cafes work with compostable tableware and aim to use local ingredients</strong></li> </ul> As you may know, both Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro use disposable tableware (all cups, cutlery, plates) that is actually compostable! They also work with suppliers that source breads, cheese, meats, vegetables and bakery items as locally as possible. Additionally, we continuously seek to improve and increase our vegetarian and vegan menu options.</p> The Freyer – Newman Center is LEED Gold certified</strong></li> </ul> Have you visited the Freyer – Newman Center? Opened in 2020, this addition to our grounds offers art galleries, an auditorium, updated classrooms and a new home for the herbaria and Helen Fowler Library. The building’s LEED Gold certification means it upholds the highest sustainability standards in architecture. It features rainwater drainage into the north side, photovoltaic solar panels on the roof and moveable wooden panels under the glass ceiling to make the most of natural lighting and heating. </p> Lots of local items in our gift shop</strong></li> </ul> Like most people, we love a good souvenir—but the Shop at the Gardens tries to avoid plastic trinkets. Instead, the Shop features long-lasting sustainable gifts such as books, apparel, home decor, artworks and jewelry; many of which are handmade and local. </p>
Ansel Adams (1902–1984) is virtually synonymous with landscape photography. His majestic photographs highlight the grandeur of the American wilderness and convey his lifelong support for conservation efforts in the United States. </p> Revealing the untouched beauty of the American West, especially California’s Yosemite Valley, his photographs aimed to promote transformative experiences of nature, just as Adams himself had enjoyed since his childhood in San Francisco. Adams’ photographs raised public awareness about environmental concerns for millions and encouraged government officials to protect lands under threat.</p> Adams was an expert in photographic technique, both in the field and in the darkroom. The exhibition on view at Denver Botanic Gardens through October 1, Ansel Adams: Early Works</a></em>, is exceptional for its focus on Adams’ early prints of some of his most famous photographs from the 1920s to 1950s. These “vintage” prints, which are more intimate than the larger ones he made later, highlight not only Adams’ enduring love for the American landscape, but also his evolving artistic style over a career of 60 years.</p> Ansel Adams: Early Works</em> is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions, LLC. All photographs are from the private collection of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg. </p>
