</p> I'm the Doctor of Plant Health Horticulture Intern at Denver Botanic Gardens this summer. My internship is focused on plant health, with diagnostic projects ranging across topics including nutritional deficiencies, insect pests and diseases. I am working with horticulturalists here at the Gardens on projects like the Arboreal Arthropod Diversity Survey. This survey is designed to determine the diversity of insects present on 17 tree species throughout the Gardens, and assessing the health of the soils around 10 palm trees in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. In addition, I am giving Science Chats at the Science Pyramid and providing diagnostic support to the horticulturalists and Master Gardeners on a weekly basis.</p> My internship goes in so many different directions because I am a student in the Doctor of Plant Health Program</a> at the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. This interdisciplinary program is a practitioner doctorate degree, designed to train plant practitioners capable of examining and diagnosing problems in a wide variety of plant systems. With this degree, I aspire to work in regulation, specifically managing the introduction and spread of invasive species that will impact agriculture and horticulture on a local and global scale.</p> But, the part you’re probably more interested in is what I am doing in this space—part of my internship is public outreach. In addition to hosting Science Chats and providing diagnostic support, I will be publishing a regular plant health highlight post here on the Garden’s blog. These highlights may range from information on a disease or pest you may see in your backyard to interesting things the horticulturalists are doing to manage problems faced in the gardens. Because of my diverse training, expect there to be a number of articles over a wide range of topics.</p> Enjoy the Plant Health Highlights, and if you see me around the Gardens, say hi!</p>
When coming to the Gardens to enjoy springtime blooms, you may be surprised to learn that we also incorporate wildlife observations into some of our research projects.</p> One such research project uses a system of motion-sensing trap cameras strategically placed along Deer Creek at Chatfield Farms to monitor wildlife activity. Deer Creek cuts diagonally through the 700 acre property and serves as a hub for many types of wildlife including (but not limited to) deer, beaver, raccoons, waterfowl, coyotes, skunk and even the occasional bobcat. In collecting several years of data, we are now noticing clear patterns in seasons, time of day, creek flow, etc.</p> Under the supervision of Dr. Rebecca Hufft, associate director of applied conservation, I have been managing the trap camera program. Once a month, I make the trip down to Chatfield Farms to service these cameras. This involves swapping out eight batteries per camera (rechargeable, of course) as well as an SD card. With this fresh data in hand, I then make a visit once per week to the York Street location to audit the photos and footage from the previous month’s data. I look forward to these volunteer shifts all week and often reward myself with a walk around the Gardens after I have finished my audit for the day.</p> If you have land and are curious about which critters frequent your property, you can set up your very own trap camera. Many options are available online for under $100, and YouTube provides a number of tutorials on how to set these up and service them. You never know what you may find in your own backyard!</p> Please enjoy some of my favorite gems below.</p> This blog post was written by Christina Brandt, a volunteer in the Research & Conservation Department.</em></p> </iframe></p> Raccoon (Procyon lotor</em>) - Downstream camera - 4/15/2017, 5 a.m.</p> </iframe></p> Coyote (Canis latrans</em>) - Downstream Camera - 7/14/2017, 8 p.m.</p> </iframe></p> North American Beaver (Castor canadensis) - </em>Downstream camera - 6/3/2016, 2:23 a.m.</p>
Sneaky Spines and Careful Measurements</h3>Sweeping western slope views, slightly menacing rain clouds and beautiful, tough plants surrounded us. I listened for my field partner to shout out cactus dimensions and wrote each number into its proper cell on the data sheet while picking prickly pear spines out of my hand (more seasoned Coloradans seem to avoid this indignity). Spine-avoidance wasn’t the only thing I learned when I joined the annual Sclerocactus glaucus </em>monitoring expedition</a> last year, one of several long-term scientific research projects in which Gardens staff and volunteers check in on populations of rare plants. I’m grateful for all I learned about the species, its habitat, and the craft of field botany. Plus, now I know that young cacti are called "pups."</p>Alternately giddy with the thrills of being out in the wild with amazing scientists and naturalists, and uncomfortable from kneeling between plants over long days in all weathers, what kept me going was the fact that we were collecting important information to help manage this rare species. Now, finally, after compiling all the information over the winter, the results are in! You can see some of our findings and catch up on recent progress across the many, many research projects at the Gardens in the 2017 Science Year in Review</a>.</p>Sclerocactus glaucus</em>, endemic to western Colorado, is federally listed as threatened, under pressure from energy extraction, other human development and, occasionally, cactus poachers. By counting plants and characterizing their life history traits in the same locations annually, we can learn about the basic biology of this species and how it responds to long-term environmental variation. Each year, we locate every Sclerocactus glaucus </em>plant within the same defined plots and measure each plant’s height and diameter with calipers, recording any signs of flowering or damage from herbivores. With this information, we can answer questions like: How fast do individual cacti grow? Which bloom? How many new young plants do we see? This dataset also allows us to monitor the health of these populations, tracking local year-to-year growth and decline. Our results are critically useful to our collaborators at the Bureau of Land Management and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.</p>On the whole, the 2017 count totals show that our Sclerocactus</em> glaucus </em>populations are doing pretty well. There was a slight increase from 2016 numbers, with generally stable populations in recent years, and there are far more cacti than in 2008 when the study was initiated. In total, our team of 11 people counted and measured more than 1,000 individual cacti at 10 locations last year.</p>In the moment of performing most research tasks (like recording a cactus diameter), it’s easy to lose sight of the larger purpose. Fieldwork is great fun, but it is also deeply satisfying to look back on the results of our work in context.</p>This blog post was written by Jessie Berta-Thompson, Ph.D., adjunct researcher with the Research & Conservation Department at Denver Botanic Gardens.</em> </p>
When it comes to the Gardens’ commitment to water stewardship, thinking 'Inside the Box' can make a difference. Today we will stop selling bottled water at our two restaurants – the Hive and Offshoots. Instead, visitors will be able to purchase Just Water’s boxed water.</p> </p> This move accomplishes two goals: first, it reduces the waste generated by single-use plastic water bottles; second, it provides visitors with responsibly sourced packaged water. More than 80 percent of the packaging for Just Water comes from renewable sources – and the box’s manufacturing process produces 74 percent less carbon emissions than a similarly sized plastic bottle.</p> Bottled water has attracted a lot of negative attention in the last few years for its often irresponsible sourcing – stories of aquifers being depleted by over-pumping have been common. Just Water partners with a town in upstate New York to buy excess municipal water (at six times the local water rate). This premium helps fund infrastructure repairs for an aging system.</p> </p> In Denver, we are fortunate to have high-quality drinking water straight from the tap – a bottle refill station is located inside the Boettcher Memorial Building for those of you who BYOB (bottle!). But, together with concessionaire Catering by Design, we’re pleased to offer this alternative.</p>
</p>Whether you have a tiny apartment balcony, a weathered urban stoop, or a broad, wrap-around deck, container gardening is a great way to be creative and experiment with new plants and designs. The possibilities and combinations are endless, and each gardener has a unique style and vision.</p>At our annual Spring Plant Sale, our horticulturists in the Container Garden in a Bag division have assembled six stunning collections</a> of plants designed to create beautiful container gardens on your porch or balcony. Or, if you’d rather design one yourself, they’ve put together some guiding principles to guarantee a successful container garden.</p>Location, Location, Location</strong>The type of container you use, and the area where it will be placed, should be considered to make sure your container garden will thrive.</p>Choose a well-thought-out and hospitable location for your container.</li>Factor in the paint color and lighting on your patio or balcony.</li>Choose plants that complement or contrast with your container so the colors of both are highlighted.</li></ul>Choosing Plants: Thriller, Filler, Spiller</strong>A well-designed container usually includes three kinds of plants: thrillers, fillers and spillers.</p>Thrillers </strong>are showy, ornamental plants that act as the focal points of the container and usually have interesting flowers or foliage.</li>Fillers</strong> tend to grow bushy and fill in empty spaces in the container, typically with showy flowers or foliage, but not in a way that distracts from the thriller.</li>Spillers</strong> have hanging or trailing growth habits that can cascade out of the sides of the container, softening its appearance and making it look more natural.</li></ul>Plants That Live Together… Well, Live Together</strong>A good container showcases plants that have similar growth requirements.</p>Light, water, and fertilizer needs should match fairly closely for all the plants in your container.</li>Choose plants with heights appropriate for the container you are planting in.</li>Low maintenance plants will be your friends!</li></ul>Beyond the Plants</strong>Once you have the right spot, the right container, and the right plants, you need just a few more things for a successful container garden</p>A quality fertilizer, used regularly throughout the growing season. Organic fertilizers are ideal as they do not burn the roots of the plants as easily as chemical fertilizers.</li>Quality potting soil that allows oxygen to the roots and retains moisture well. Look for soil that contains perlite or slow-release fertilizer</li></ul>But most importantly? Be creative and express yourself! Experiment with new plant or color combinations to personalize your garden and make it unique from any other. Stop by the Container Garden in a Bag division in Oak Grove for more expert advice on creating a container garden you’ll enjoy all summer long.</p>Admission to Spring Plant Sale and the Gardens is free on Friday, May 11 from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. and on Saturday, May 12 from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. </strong>Get here early to get the best pick of the plants, and don’t forget to bring a wagon to haul them around! </em>Here is more information about Spring Plant Sale.</em></a></p>The Plant Sale Preview Party on May 10 is SOLD OUT.</em></p>
</p> Book your family or corporate summer picnic with us at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms! We are offering an early booking incentive</strong> if you book before May 31, 2018</strong>.</p> We will waive your Facility Prep Fee, include table and chair rentals based on availability, and no hourly rental minimum. This incentive offer is for picnic rentals only.</p> CHATFIELD FARMS</strong></a> 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road Littleton, CO 80128</p> Schedule a site visit today!</strong> 720-865-4339 | chatfieldrentals@botanicgardens.org</strong></a></p>
