For several folks in our group, today is the beginning of the second phase of our Peru Discovery adventure. After seeing the country’s desert coast and high Andean Mountains, we are off to the Amazon River basin of Southeastern Peru. After a quick flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, we hopped a short shuttle ride to our Amazon adventure headquarters where we downsized our luggage for our trip up the Tambopata River and into the jungle. During our ninety minute boat ride, we enjoyed an al-fresco lunch of fried rice, chicken and a delicious salty cheese all served wrapped in a banana leaf. Our utensils and napkins as well as all the food containers were compostable which meant our entire meal created no trash. Next time you get take-out food, take a moment to analyze just how much trash is created from that one meal and how many millions of people are doing the same thing every day. Earth Day is always a good time to recommit to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Our destination for this leg of our trip is Posada Amazonas, a jungle lodge operated as a partnership with the local community of Infierno. Their goal is to develop a profitable, responsible ecotourism experience while directly involving the local people. The lodge and its activities create jobs and provide income to the 170 plus families living in the Infierno territory. After meeting our guide Yuri and checking into our rooms we immediately set out on a hike to an observation tower for an over-view of the jungle. At nearly 120 feet in the air, you get a spectacular view and a new appreciation for the vastness of the Amazon basin. As far as the eye can see in any direction, there are trees, water and more trees. The snow-capped Andes Mountains, the source of all the river water, can be seen far in the distance. We spotted several bird species from the tower and while on our hike, we saw incredible plant and insect diversity and heard the sounds of all the other wildlife (especially monkeys) that were more reluctant to be seen. We have an early wake up call in the morning so after another tasty dinner, we turned in early. With limited electricity there isn’t much need to stay up late and besides, hiking in the mud can be very tiring. This morning we head to an oxbow lake, a small swampy lake created when a hair-pin turn in the river becomes cut off from the main current. It was raining most of the morning, but that didn’t stop us from seeing caiman and several species of birds and the almost comical looking long-nosed bat. We also got to go fishing for piranha – catch and release of course. We hiked back to our boat and continued another 4 ½ hours upriver to the Tambopata Research Center for an even more secluded jungle experience. During the boat ride, we saw numerous capybara, caiman, turtles, birds and monkeys. We had an especially good opportunity to observe a group of Red Howler monkeys clambering through bamboo growing along the river’s edge. Our boat driver expertly held our boat close to shore directly in front of the monkeys, all while fighting a mighty river current. After settling into our rooms, we headed off on another hike, this time to a cliff overlooking the river. Again, we saw numerous plants, insects and birds and Yuri even managed to coax a huge Tarantula from its hiding place for all of us to see. Yuri is proving to be an excellent guide and we both enjoy comparing notes on plants we observed during our hikes, both of us learning from the others expertise. We relaxed around the lodge, enjoyed another delicious meal and again turned in early. If the weather cooperates, tomorrow we hope to enjoy an experience that few people have the opportunity to witness - the descent of hundreds of parrots on a favored clay-lick. We are keeping our fingers crossed. </p>
Denver Botanic Gardens works hard to conserve rare plants. There are over 120 species that are of conservation concern within Colorado and these plants can be found all across the state. With our small staff of conservation ecologists, we can only reach a small subset of these plants in a given year. Only by having volunteers join us in our efforts can we expand our impact. If you are interested in participating in rare plant monitoring and conservation consider enrolling in our western slope training which prepares volunteers to assist us in the field. In this course you will learn about the theory and practice of demographic monitoring, seed collection and conservation, and rare plant population data collection. We will practice these skills in the Piceance Basin by monitoring two federally listed mustards. Taking this course will allow you to apply to be a Rare Plant Monitoring Steward and join Denver Botanic Gardens and the Colorado Natural Areas Program in field work. You will work with botany enthusiasts and professionals and see Colorado’s most rare plants. </p>
</p> </p> For most of the group, today is our last full day in Peru. We’ve been incredibly lucky with weather and travel, but today our luck may be changing. A few years back, during a period of extended heavy rain, a stretch of train lines along the Urubamba River (the only reasonably convenient way to reach Machu Picchu) were washed out, stranding hundreds of tourist and day travelers in Aguas Calientes. The tiny mountain town was not prepared for so many people needing food and lodging for such an extended period and a certain level of chaos ensued. In an effort to prevent a repeat of that situation and reduce the number of people who could potentially be stranded, when the river reaches “a level of concern”, the rail operators stop allowing passengers on trains going to Aguas Calientes.</p> </p> The river has been steadily rising and the day we arrived was the last day tourists were allowed in until the river and weather settle a bit. With continued rains and constantly changing train schedules, we needed to stay close to the station in order to be guaranteed a seat on an outgoing train. Unfortunately for some of us, that meant canceling plans for a return trip to Machu Picchu. Luckily, there were sights to see and activities to enjoy on the hotel grounds as we waited to head to the train station. The grounds of the Inkaterra Pueblo Hotel are home to hundreds of beautiful orchids but there are many other beautiful plants and flowers to admire as well. Bromeliads and fuchsia are abundant and there is also a small tea plantation where workers grow, harvest and dry their own blend of tea leaves. There is also a wide diversity of bird and butterfly species to enjoy. The hotel staff routinely fills humming bird feeders and place fresh fruit on tree branches to attract the birds and butterflies, making observation and photography a bit easier.</p> </p> Another major conservation project for Inkaterra is the rescue of the Spectacled or Andean Bear. These bears are rarely seen and spend much of their time in trees foraging for food, especially fruits and bromeliads. In fact, 90% of the Spectacled Bear’s diet is vegetarian. The bears are not at all aggressive but their taste for local produce has put them at odds with small farmers in the area. Habitat destruction from forestry and farming, poaching and accidental pesticide poisonings are also contributing to the decline of bear populations. The Inketerra hotel has undertaken a rescue and conservation program in an effort to save this gentle species. Many in our group were able to see the rescued bears up close and in the process, provided financial support to the conservation efforts.</p> </p> </p> After spending more hours at the train station than anyone wanted to, we were able to catch a train back to our awaiting bus and a quick scenic ride back to Cusco. While the day may not have gone completely as planned, we were all thankful for our guides and drivers who made sure that our journey was as safe and carefree as possible. For most of the group, this was our final evening in Peru so we gathered for one last dinner as a group and toasted new experiences and new friendships with a few bottles of Peruvian wine. I hope everyone had a wonderful trip. For me, it was a pleasure meeting such interesting and diverse folks and I hope they all know how much I enjoyed their enthusiasm and appreciation of the wonders we were able to experience.</p> </p>
For several travelers in our group, today is the day we’ve been looking forward to since we first signed up for this trip. Today we will receive a guided tour of the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel grounds to see the hundreds of orchid plants and flowers being tended by the staff. Since 1975, Inkaterra has been using profits from sustainable tourism projects to fund rescue and preservation of Peru’s cultural and natural resources. The Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel opened in the early 1990’s and was envisioned as a village in a botanical setting. Located adjacent to the Machu Picchu Historical Sanctuary, the hotel grounds are home to some 370 plus species of orchids. The sanctuary covers over 80,000 acres and spans a number of different biological life zones – the largest zone being the cloud forest. The area we visited can receive over 90 inches of rain per year and when it is not raining, there is still relatively high humidity. This, combined with the cool night temperatures, makes for a perfect environment for many orchid species. We began our orchid experience with an orientation lecture from Carmen Soto, a biologist working on Inkaterra’s conservation efforts. After an overview of the areas orchids, and a brief discussion of the birds and butterflies of the region, we donned our rain jackets, grabbed a magnifying glass and set out to enjoy the orchid blooms. Standing in the rain to look at tiny orchid flowers might seem a little extreme, but after flying several thousand miles to look at orchids, we weren’t going to let a few raindrops get in our way. When most people think of orchids, they probably think of Phalaenopsis flowers which can be found in any good garden center and even in the local grocery store. Or they may think of large Cattleya flowers – a staple in the corsage world. Most of the flowers we were looking for were quite small – many less than one centimeter wide – but there were still many large and showy flowers to enjoy as well. One of the orchid flowers the Machu Picchu area is most known for is Masdevallia veitchiana, an orange-red beauty known locally as Waqanki. According to Inca legend (and the orchid field guide published by the Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel), “In the kingdom of the Andes there was a beautiful young princess. She fell in love with a brave and handsome warrior of the Inca. Once her father, the Inca, knew of the love affair, he prohibited any relationship between them because the princess was destined for the Sun God. When the princess learned of his decision, she ran over the Andes, crying for her forbidden love and was turned into the beautiful “Waqanki” flower. So, each time the warrior found this flower in the Andes, he also would cry remembering his lost love.” We were fortunate to see this plant in bloom at Machu Picchu as well as in several locations at the hotel, but as far as I know, no one was brought to tears. By my count, in the three hours we stood in the rain to look at orchid flowers, we saw nearly 50 different species. There are few (if any) other places on earth where you can so conveniently witness this diversity of orchid flowers growing in a natural environment. Despite the rain, we felt lucky to have had this opportunity. We also felt lucky that we had warm dry rooms and a wonderful meal in the hotel restaurant to look forward to. </p>
</p> Denver owes a great debt to Saco DeBoer, a Dutchman who designed many of our parks and boulevards and planted the very heart of old Denver: he describes in his classic book "Around the Seasons in Denver" the many flower rituals that everyone in the charming town that Denver was once practiced like seeking the first flowers and picnicking en masse beneath the flowering crabapples. One ritual I follow religiously is to seek out the harbingers of Spring: the first flowers that grace our prairies and foothills: Queen among these is the pasqueflower!</p> </p> Last week I hosted Fritz Kummert, one of Austria's foremost horticulturists who was here to do a presentation. Fritz wanted to see pasqueflowers, and I was shocked to find most had finished blooming at one of my favorite haunts near Boulder: usually peak bloom is mid April! We fortunately found a few fresh blossoms, which I am sharing with you. My slide files are filled with pictures of pasqueflowers: we are so desperate for flower color this time of year!</p> </p> Growing nearby were incredibly small flowered specimens of Nuttall's violet, one of my favorites: last summer I found huge clumps of these in full bloom in the middle of July on top of the Flattops! What a contrast this year! Violets tend to be either weedy in gardens or rather hard to grow...our early spring beauty, alas, is in the latter category!</p> </p> I have a trough at my house filled with dozens of easter daisies that I have grown for decades: for me it isn't spring until these tuffets of impossibly white beauty come to bloom (sometimes precociously in February). Although I have grown them from time to time in my rock garden, they seem to much prefer growing in a large container. Everyone should have a trough with easter daisies! They too are quickly going over in our early summer heat of this past weekend! But like the pasqueflowers and violets, you can stalk them all the way to timberline if you know where to look over the next four months!</p> </dt> Fritz Kummert photographing a snowball cactus with Lakewood sneaking into the picture</dd> </dl> That's Fritz photographing a snowball cactus, an incredibly beautiful variation on the mountain ball cactus once common in Jefferson county. Alas! much of its range now has been replaced by subdivisions, and some of the last colonies were eliminated by collectors. But a few colonies still linger. I finish with a closeup of this very choice local gem, the snowball cactus: the very sweet flowers are intensely fragrant, by the way (like so many early flowers they must use every ruse to flag down the sparse early insects)...</p> Exotic flowers from the Eastern hemisphere, like crocuses, adonis, hellebores, forsythias and magnolias have been blooming for weeks and months. Our natives are patient and somewhat dilatory: they know about late cold snaps and our heavy spring snows, so the peak in our native bloom is much later in spring and summer. But these bright harbingers set a high standard of beauty for the coming growing season: bring them on!</p>
While the hardy waterlilies in our outdoor display ponds are just waking up from their long winter's nap, the atmosphere behind the scenes in our Aquatics greenhouse is decidedly more summer-like. </p> </p> Here, tropical waterlilies are getting an early jump on the season in tubs of water heated to simulate their native habitats. </p> </p> One of the more popular tropical waterlilies grown here at the gardens is Victoria </em>'Longwood Hybrid', which is known by the common name of water platter. This particular hybrid was developed at Longwood Gardens in the early 1960's by crossing the two existing South American Victoria </em>species, V. amazonica </em>and V. cruziana</em>. The resulting hybrid proved to be easier to grow then either species, while boasting the bronzy-red outer leaf rims of V. amazonica </em>and the taller leaf rims and increased hardiness of V. cruziana.</em></p> The seeds were germinated in ziploc bags floated in warm water (86 degrees F) in early March. These were planted in sand with a small amount of peat at the bottom of each container once they had developed their first two underwater leaves and a few roots. As the seedlings grow, each new leaf will become larger and more rounded than the previous leaves. Leaf rims will also begin to develop, and the trademark thorns that cover the stems and undersides of each leaf in order to protect the plant from predators can be seen as early as the first week of growth. By mid-June, the young plants will be moved to the outdoor display pools, where each leaf has the potential to reach a mature size of 5 feet or more in diameter. Blooms should begin to appear in August and will open in the evenings. The first night's bloom will be pure white with a heady pineapple fragrance and will transition to a deep pink color by the second evening.</p>
With the beautiful, warm weather recently I have spent a lot more time outside and have enjoyed watching the first signs of spring every where I look. My chives are coming up in the garden and my lilacs are leafing out. Here at the Gardens there are so many plants starting to bloom, from the daffodils to the magnolias. Observations like these make up the science of phenology. Phenology is the study of relationships between climate and the seasonal events, like flowering dates. Phenology is one of the most sensitive and easily observed indicators of biotic response to climate change and is affected by factors such as temperature, water and nutrient availability, and timing and duration of pest infestations and disease outbreaks. We use phenology to manage timing of seasonal work, like crop harvest and pest management. Organizations like the USA National Phenology Network gather phenological data from all types of contributors (including researchers, educators and citizen scientists) to understand the impacts of climate change on phenology. Efforts such as these provide valuable data to scientists that they otherwise would not be able to gather on their own. This year, the Gardens is getting involved in plant phenology by participating in the Project BudBurst Cherry Blossom Blitz March 20-April 30, 2012. Project BudBurst is a network of people across the United States who monitor plants as the seasons change, collecting important ecological data on the timing of leafing, flowering, and fruiting of plants (plant phenophases). The data are being collected to allow scientists to learn more about the responsiveness of individual plant species to changes in climate locally, regionally, and nationally. We encourage you to explore the cherries here at the Gardens. For each plant, you can participate by observing the phenophase of one or more cherries and share your observations on the Project BudBurst website or the Android Mobile BudBurst app. Whether you are observing cherries here at the Gardens or in your own yard, I encourage you to think about the significance of that observation and how valuable your data can be when combined with those of other citizen scientists across the country…every observation counts.</p>
I have wanted to visit Machu Picchu since I first glimpsed a photo of it in my 4th grade geography text book. Today, along with the rest of our tireless group, I would get that opportunity. Construction of Machu Picchu is believed to have started around 1440 although the surrounding river valley had been inhabited and farmed for hundreds of years before that. American historian Hiram Bingham is credited with “discovering” Machu Picchu in 1911 but there is evidence that many other outsiders new of its existence and locals were certainly aware. In fact, a young boy of 11 actually led Bingham to Machu Picchu where he found several Quechua families living in some of the original structures. Bingham began archeological studies and the site has been a center of research and fascination ever since. There are many theories of how Machu Picchu was used by the Inca Empire but several are more accepted than others. Some believe it was an estate of the Inca emperor Pachacuti (who may have overseen most of the construction of the site). Many of the human bones recovered from the site are female leading some to believe Machu Picchu was some sort of monastery for chosen women. Based on the number of trails leading to and from Machu Picchu, some now believe it could have been a center of commerce as well as a political, religious and social center. Whatever its function, it is an impressive site and an incredible example of the blending of architecture into natural surroundings. There are over 140 individual structures at Machu Picchu including temples, parks and individual residences with thatched roofs. There are hundreds of stairs; some flights carved from single blocks of stone and of course the agricultural terraces. The city sits in a seismic zone and many architectural details indicate the Inca had a strong understanding of engineering which resulted in minimal building damage due to earthquakes. Water was supplied from a natural spring that fed into an intricate system of channels and fountains that flowed throughout the city. Carlos, our guide, told us how construction of the terraces began simultaneously from the top and bottom of the mountain and then met in the middle resulting in each terrace being a different width. There is evidence that a wide range of crops were cultivated on these terraces including at least four different types of potato as well as corn, squash, peanuts, quinoa and avocados. More than 60% of Machu Picchu faces east and the terraces are positioned to maximize exposure to sunlight. I especially enjoyed visiting a small garden near the center of the complex where we were able to see several species of orchids growing on the stone and in the leaf litter of the garden. As grand as Machu Picchu is, it was only inhabited for about 100 years. As the Spanish approached, the Inca evacuated in the mid 1500’s allowing the lush vegetation to quickly reclaim the city. Sacred stones that were destroyed in other cities the conquistadors plundered were left untouched, leaving Machu Picchu a largely intact archeological site. Today, Machu Picchu sits in a 325 square km Historical Sanctuary which not only protects the city, but also helps protect the areas rich flora and fauna. In 1983, UNESCO designated Machu Picchu a World Heritage Site and in 2007, a worldwide internet poll voted Machu Picchu as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. During our visit, we saw many workers performing maintenance and restoration work, including removing plant growth from between stone work, repairing mortar, and (along with several llama) trimming grass. Machu Picchu is the largest tourist attraction in Peru and concerns have risen over the impact of so many visitors to this ancient site. The government has set restrictions on development in the area and just last year started restricting the number of daily visitors. There have been attempts to construct a helipad in the area but the Peruvian government has yet to approve such a plan. In fact, there is a no-fly-zone over the site. While we visited the site, clouds were continually moving in and out - we were occasionally misted with light rain and just as quickly, we would be treated to sunshine. While we probably could have lived without the rain, the weather made for an ever-changing view of the city and surrounding mountains and an appreciation for the engineering of the cities drainage systems. It is hard to describe the awe inspired by visiting this site. All I can say is it lived up to dreams inspired by my 4th grade geography text. It is a magical site – get there if you can. </p>
After a quick breakfast at our hotel, our adventurous group of travelers loaded a bus and began a day of exploration of the Urubamba Sacred Valley. After following the Urubamba River out of Cusco, we began climbing along a new highway to Cuyuni Pass, a mountain peak at an elevation of nearly 14,000 feet. After being greeted by our guide, we spent the next several hours hiking along an Andean mountain ridge where we caught a glimpse into the daily lives and cultural traditions of the Cuyuni Native Community. To begin our hike, a Cuyuni shaman and his son prepared an offering to Pachamama or the Earth Mother who presides over planting and harvesting of crops. The shaman prepared a small satchel containing coca leaves, cuy meat, llama fat and other valued items that was then burned so the smoke could reach the farthest reaches of the mountain peaks above and fields and valleys below. As we continued our hike, we came upon a group of women spinning wool harvested from the sheep and llama that the community tends. Further along the ridge, another group of women were weaving the fibers into colorful fabrics. The clothing of these Andean people is iconic and the natural fibers are dyed using natural pigments created from roots, flowers and fruits of the surrounding alpine flora. We began a slight descent and participated in the blessing and celebration of the beginning of the harvest of one of the most beautiful potato patches I have ever seen. The plants were lush and sturdy, the blossoms were large and brightly colored and as we would find out a little later, the potatoes were delicious. Over 400 varieties of potatoes are crown throughout the region, a lesson in bio-diversity of our food crops that many food producers could learn from. The celebration of the harvest concluded with a joyful dance that we were all welcome to participate in. I hope our hosts were not disappointed in our enthusiasm for the dance. It’s just hard to dance too wildly when you are at an elevation approaching 14,000 feet! We were next treated to a delicious lunch at a nearby café where we enjoyed freshly boiled potatoes served with a wonderful salty cheese. Both were delicious by themselves, but together they were out of this world. We also dined on the freshest and most local French fries possible, quinoa crusted chicken, colorful vegetable trays, a delicious (if oddly colored) olive infused rice and a wonderful potato soup. For dessert – hot doughnuts with a sweet dipping sauce. So much for losing weight on this trip. After lunch, we were able to view the “baptizing” of a llama to ensure a productive breeding season. The baptism concluded with another celebratory dance – a good opportunity to work off a bit of the amazing lunch. After shopping for hand-made scarves, hats, gloves and other items made by our hosts, we said our good-byes and headed for slightly lower ground. The Cuyuni people were so genuine and open, I felt like we had made many new friends. Apparently during the potato harvest dance, I made a favorable impression on one of the young women in the group and with a little arm-twisting, I could have stayed and begun a new life as a potato farmer. I can think of worse jobs and much worse places to start a new life but I decided I would decline and continue with the group. It was an honor and pleasure to have the opportunity to learn more about Cuyuni customs and to be invited to participate in their daily lives. It was an experience that I won’t soon forget. </p>
Our second day of discovery began with a flight to Cusco, the historical capital of the Inca Empire. We had time to rest and adjust to the high altitude (over 11,000 feet) before meeting our guide Carlos Seminario (a Cusco native) and beginning a tour of the city. Our first stop was the Qorikancha temple. In Quechua, Qorikancha means ‘courtyard of gold’ and that is a good description for what this historic site once was. Dedicated to worship of the sun, the temple once had many gold statues and altars as well as walls covered with gold. After the arrival of the Spanish, the gold was removed and much of the stone was repurposed to build the Dominican Convent of Santo Domingo. The convent is an amazing example of the juxtaposition of architectural styles. Remnants of the Inca temple reveal extraordinary stone work and an advanced understanding of engineering to mitigate earthquake damage. The reconstruction also takes advantage of Inca terraces to create beautiful gardens filled with enormous fuchsia plants and a lovely rose garden. An especially well-done exhibit is a painting by Miguel Araoz Cartagena depicting the Milky Way as seen in the southern hemisphere and interpreted by the Inca. To the Inca, the Milky Way is known as Maya or "Celestial River." While most people look at groupings of stars and define constellations, the Inca often looked at the gaps or dark spaces between the stars. Just as we assign names to constellations, the Inca recognized and named spaces between the stars. With the aid of some well-done exhibit interpretation, it is easy to pick out the shapes of the many animal figures that have come to drink from the Celestial River. Starting at the right, you can see a serpent. Just below and to the left is a toad and directly above that a partridge. Perhaps the easiest to pick out is the large llama in the center and directly behind the llama is a fox (look for the two red eyes). When asked about resentment of the Spanish conquest of Cusco, our guide indicated that there are still those with hard feelings, but the Spanish conquest is so far in the past that these feelings have largely disappeared. He also pointed out that the Inca conquered the people who populated the Cusco area when they arrived on the scene. It is a theme common in human history and around the world. After leaving the convent, we made our way to the Cathedral of Santo Domingo, also known as Cusco Cathedral. Construction of the cathedral began in 1559 and again, the stone was taken from existing Inca structures. The cathedral is built in a Gothic-Renaissance style and reflects the architecture that would have been seen in Spain at the time of the conquest of South America. The somewhat plain appearance of the outside of this cathedral does no justice to the beauty to be found inside. Unfortunately, photography was not permitted so you have to take my word for it. The many chapels are filled with enormous paintings, carvings and other artifacts, many gilded with gold or silver. There are two large altars – the original made of alder wood and a second made of cedar that has been completely covered with silver. Our guide told us that over 1250 kg of silver adorn this altar that is used for daily masses to this day. While it may be unfair to place a dollar value on history or art, a little math will tell you that 1250 kg equals approximately 44,000 ounces and with current silver prices ($33.42/oz), the value of the silver on this one altar would be close to $1.5 million. That’s a lot of silver polish! Having visited the Barbosa-Stern art collection in Lima the day before, we were able to admire much of the artwork from a more educated perspective. The presence of Inca symbolisms are prevalent when you know what to look for and seeing the Zapata painting of the Last Supper with guinea pig as the main course makes much more sense now. Following our visit to the cathedral, Carlos treated us to a short lecture on some of the more prevalent flora we could expect to see as we continued our visit to the Peruvian highlands. Carlos made the interesting observation that while many tourists come to Peru to admire exotic birds and butterflies of the region, a good guide must also know the plants. The birds and butterflies are more easily found near their favorite plants since they often depend on these plants for their survival. It is a good reminder that we humans depend on plants for our survival as well!</p>
“World Water Day” conjures up images of far-away problems (e.g. a billion people around the world do not have access to clean and safe water – with more than a third of these people living in Sub-Saharan Africa). If such alarming stats summed up World Water Day, however, the most anyone living in Denver could do would be to send money to an international water charity. Water issues, really, are not global. They are local. As universal as the need for water is, its cleanliness in one region does not solve the problems of its pollution in another. Nor does its abundance in one place alleviate the stresses of its shortages elsewhere. In order for March 22 to really effect change on a global level, every community must re-evaluate its relationship with water. The relationships developing-world communities have with water are typically framed by poverty, lacking infrastructure and political instability – factors that can constrain water supply and quality. But higher standards of living, better infrastructure and political stability do not ensure a problem-free relationship with water. The United States has our fair share of water crises. Across Texas, an eccentric billionaire has been quietly buying up water rights for the last few years, confident that water will soon be the new oil. Meanwhile, a third “straw” is being added to Lake Mead – to the tune of more than $700 million – to ensure Las Vegas will still have the water it needs if (when?) the lake’s water level falls below the existing two outtake pipes. And another Las Vegas – in New Mexico – virtually ran out of water last summer. Denver and Colorado have a unique relationship with water. Colorado is the source of a river supplying seven thirsty Southwestern states with water. As such, it’s one of the only states that essentially bans rainwater harvesting to comply with water laws in which “downstream” rights trump all. So Denver - officially semi-arid with an average of 15.8 inches of rain each year – has to make every drop count.</p> With outdoor water use accounting for more than half of Denver’s water consumption, water-efficient gardening can really help conserve this precious resource. Denver Botanic Gardens identified sustainability as a core value with this in mind – educating our community on how to design and maintain a beautiful garden with plants that are appropriate for our semi-arid climate. From the way we irrigate to the plants we feature in our gardens, we try to set an example of good water management. In this new blog series dedicated to water issues, we’ll share more on what we do here at the Gardens and offer tips on what you can do in your own gardening lives to help safeguard our water resources. We’ll also keep you apprised of events at the Gardens on this topic – like the March 17 lecture on waterwise plants and, on March 22, a lecture on sustainable water features. So, this March 22, don’t let us stop you from sending money to an aid organization half way around the world. But know that how you plan your garden this year can also be an important part of solving our water problems.</p>
