Diversity in the Arts (DITA) is an internship program for college students committed to improving diversity, equity and inclusion within the art industry. As a graphic design major at the University of Northern Colorado with a passion for digital media art, this internship seemed like a great opportunity to look ahead and learn about potential careers related to my skills and interests.</p> As an Asian American, I understand the importance of inclusivity in a place that sees so many visitors from different backgrounds. Embracing diversity not only fosters a sense of belonging for all individuals but also enhances the overall experiences for everyone involved.</p> Throughout the summer I worked closely with Volunteer Coordinator Maureen Igoe to co-manage the Summer Teen Volunteer Program. With 88 teenagers enrolled, I spent a good portion of my time curating educational and impactful volunteer shifts for teens. In addition, I trained and set up volunteers for Evenings al Fresco, Summer Concert Series, Lavender Festival and everyday volunteer activities at the Gardens. Working in this small team dynamic has improved my leadership and communication skills.</p> My graphic design skills came in handy with a few projects. For example, I helped design a Rocky Mountain columbine flower label for a teen volunteer project involving seeds. I also created graphics for a science-communication game for teen volunteers to facilitate with visitors, including a perfume bottle, lotion bottle, chocolate cake and a medicine bottle that contain plants found at Denver Botanic Gardens. This experience allowed me to apply my creativity and technical skills in a practical setting. I was able to contribute to meaningful projects that engaged and educated others. </p> This internship has shown me that graphic design is much broader than I initially thought. I had the chance to meet some professionals at the Gardens who incorporate creativity and design in their daily work. They shared their design process and explained their career journey as graphic designers. </p> Additionally, I was stationed to support the visitors' experiences in the galleries. This role was important because it allowed me to see how artists with different backgrounds use different designs to interpret art. This role helped me understand why good design matters in making art accessible and engaging for the public. </p> I intend to carry the experience and skills I have strengthened this summer into my future graphic design career. I hope to emulate some of these same skills from the internship at Denver Botanic Gardens with clients and collaborators. As I continue to explore career opportunities in graphic design, I hope to showcase my diversity and apply my creative talents to projects that not only reflect but celebrate the experiences of everyone. </p> This article was contributed by Volunteer Services Intern Keown Taylor</strong>. </em></p>
August is a great month to take a walk around the water gardens to see our aquatic plant collection in its full glory. </p> Begin your stroll at the small pool in the Ellipse garden</strong> –</span> home to the Chihuly artwork Colorado</em>. A unique plant displayed in this pond is mosaic plant (Ludwigia sedioides</em>). This South American native thrives in warm water, making this pool the ideal spot for it to show off its intricate pattern of tiny floating leaves arranged in a mosaic pattern on the water’s surface. Hardy and tropical waterlilies (Nymphaea </em>hybrids) such as ‘Ultra Violet’, ‘Carla’s Sonshine’, ‘Wanvisa’, ‘Albert Greenberg, ‘Laydekeri Fulgens’ and ‘Joey Tomocik’ along with Colocasia</em> ‘Diamond Head’ and Canna</em> ‘Chiquita Punch’ round out the display in this pond.</li> Next, head west to the Romantic Gardens pool</strong>, where you will find a display of star waterlilies. These waterlilies are named for the shape of their blooms, which are stellate and held high above the water’s surface. One waterlily species, Nymphaea gracilis</em>, has been used by hybridizers to create cultivars of star waterlilies with flowers in a rainbow of colors. N. gracilis </em>is native to Mexico and has solid white blooms and green leaves. Cultivars displayed in this pond include the pink flowered ‘August Siebert’, ‘Rhapsody in White’, which boasts white blooms and mottled leaves, and ‘Rhonda Kay’, which rounds out the collection with purple flowers.</li> Continuing to the west, you will find the Four Towers Pool</strong>, which borders the south and west sides of the Science Pyramid. Showcased is a collection of hardy intersubgeneric waterlilies (crosses between hardy and tropical waterlilies that have proven to be winter hardy here in Denver) as well as hardy waterlilies, tropical waterlilies and an assortment of marginal plants (plants that typically grow in shallow water around the margins of a pond). These include Canna</em> ‘Red Wine’, Canna</em> ‘Belinda’, red-stemmed thalia (Thalia geniculata</em> f. ruminoides</em>), SUMMERIFIC® swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus moscheutos</em> ‘Berry Awesome’) and ROYAL HAWAIIAN® taro (Colocasia esculenta</em> ‘Black Coral’). Entries in the International Waterlily and Water Gardening Society (IWGS) New Waterlily Competition are displayed closest to the sidewalk on the west side of this pond, and water platters (Victoria</em> ‘Longwood Hybrid’) grown from seed in our greenhouse complete this display.</li> The next pond on our walking tour can be found at the west end of the Steppe Garden just as you enter the Annuals Garden</strong>. This pool highlights the Rocky Mountain Legacy Collection – waterlilies that have been tested for performance at Denver Botanic Gardens over the years and which have historical significance. This collection includes the hardy waterlilies ‘Colorado’, ‘Denver’, ‘Denver’s Delight’, ‘Joey Tomocik’, ‘Bea Taplin’, ‘Attorney Elrod’ and ‘Cynthia Ann’. Tropical waterlilies in the collection include ‘Stan Skinger’, ‘William McLane’ and ‘Bob Hoffman’.</li> As you walk through the Annuals Garden, you will come to the ponds situated on either side of the walkway at the north side of this garden</strong>. The east pool boasts a collection of night-blooming tropical waterlilies including Nymphaea</em> ‘Red Flare’, ‘Juno’, ‘Texas Shell Pink’ and ‘Rosa de la Noche’ while the pond on the west side is brimming with showy tropical waterlilies like ‘Doris Holt’, ‘Star of Zanzibar’, ‘Peach Twist’ and ‘Innocence’. Two Santa Cruz water platters (Victoria cruziana</em>) make the perfect aquatic companions for the show-stopping annuals bordering this pond.</li> North of Sacred Earth and the Hive Garden Bistro, Monet Pool </strong>stretches to the border of the Japanese Garden and is our largest display pond. This water garden features the always popular water platters (Victoria</em> ‘Longwood Hybrid’ and Victoria cruziana</em>) as well as hundreds of hardy and tropical waterlilies, water-loving Canna</em> hybrids, aquatic Iris and other marginal plants like pickerel plant (Pontederia cordata</em>), lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus</em>), powdery thalia (Thalia dealbata</em>) and common rush (Juncus effusus). Stands of lotus (Nelumbo</em> cultivars) can be found throughout the pond as well. These begin blooming in mid-July and continue into August before dropping their petals to reveal showy, decorative seed pods.</li> The final stop on our walking tour is the pond in Le Potager at the southwest end of Monet Pool</strong>. Here, hardy and tropical waterlilies in a rainbow of colors are paired with numerous Colocasia</em> and Nelumbo</em> cultivars to create a colorful display surrounding the bright and intricately patterned sculpture "Deer-Butterfly," part of the Spirit Guides</em> exhibition.</li> </ul> Gallery photos by Tamara Kilbane</em></p>
It’s fascinating to wonder when it happened. For millions of years of human development, consciousness was deeply integrated into daily experiences within what we now call the natural world. Of course, it is and has always been, well, the world. </p> Then, as we learned more about fungi, flora and fauna, and especially about how to cultivate them for our ease of use, many populations began to think of human and nature as two distinct groups of life. We started to think of ourselves as dominant. </p> That’s where science came to play. Trial and error, developing best practices and of course making huge mistakes along the way – all led to procedures and protocols for rudimentary agriculture and more reliable success at tracking and hunting.</p> As the relationships with other life changed, so did our ability to express the feelings we had toward all types of life, especially those who resisted our urge for control. Animals and plants became powerful characters in human cosmology. Our myths included daring tales of encounters and beautiful visions of balance. Throughout the early stages of this changing relationship, humans maintained a powerful sense of respect for the rest of the natural world. We were still a part of it.</p> Then, around 5,000 years ago, some emerging human civilizations, though still not all, began to craft a world view that there was human nature and nature nature. Two different and often opposed constructs of life. In most of our society, the distinction of nature from ourselves is deep in our psyche now and has daily consequences. On the one hand, everything that builds our actual lives comes from the rest of the natural world because we are co-created. On the other hand, much of what we contribute to the rest of earthly life has been less than beneficial.</p> Let’s take horticulture as a germane example. In the arid high steppe of Colorado, we long ago decided that an East Coast or European aesthetic was somehow a good idea. We laid out our yards, gardens and parks with inappropriate trees and shrubs, and massive bluegrass lawns. We overuse scarce water, destroy habitat (except for pariahs like Japanese Beetles), and roll up high costs for chemicals and maintenance. Yet, when we wander the foothills of our mountains, if we came across a broad meadow of bluegrass, we would be appalled. </p> The most amazing things begin to happen, though, when we remember that we are indeed part of the natural world. When we respect that fact and work to restore the land around us, life comes roaring back. Indigenous animals, insects, plants and fungi reappear, seemingly overnight. Health is refreshed.</p> These lessons, it turns out, are not that difficult. They often save time and money. The result is more than appropriate, it is truly joyful. So, let’s do it.</p> The summer issue of Inside the Gardens is out now. Read it today</a>.</p>
Conservation is the careful maintenance and upkeep of natural resources to prevent them from disappearing. A natural resource is the physical supply of something that exists in nature, such as soil, water, air, plants, animals and energy. At the Gardens, we care for all these, especially plants and their environment. </p> How does storytelling relate to conservation and why does it matter? We can harness the power of storytelling to inspire a love for wildlife and the environment. If we read a wildlife story and connect emotionally with characters and their happiness and struggles, we are more likely to empathize with real-life conservation challenges faced by nature and wildlife today. </p> Storytelling provides insights into the past, bridging generations, and empowering communities to be stewards of the land. Storytelling transcends boundaries and makes conservation accessible to everyone.</p> By showcasing the beauty and fragility of nature through narratives, we empower individuals to become guardians of the environment and inspire the next generation of nature enthusiasts. Whether it's planting native wildflowers to support pollinators or advocating for protected habitats, every action inspired by a story contributes to the collective effort of a wilder future.</p> Visit York Street and enjoy stories of all kinds from fiction to non-fiction at the Helen Fowler Library</a>. The Gardens also produces films related to conservation and stewardship, on view in the Sturm Family Auditorium</a> and included with admission. Additionally, you may encounter a Learning Cart while onsite, where you can get a closer look at elements of nature.</p> We also hope to inspire future generations to engage in environmental stewardship and conservation by connecting them to plants and the world around them. In Mordecai Children's Garden</a> at York Street, kids can explore a place just for them. At Chatfield Farms, they can</span> hear more about the lives of butterflies from experts at the Butterfly House</a> or participate in Strolling Stories</a>, which combines story time and nature hikes. And at the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora</a>, visitors of all ages can learn about life on the prairie, from the wildlife living there now to the homesteaders and Cheyenne people who lived there in the 1800s.</p> On your next visit to the Gardens, be sure to dig into some of nature’s stories. </p> This article was contributed by Laboratory Technician Theresa Melhem</strong>. </em></p> </p>
Things are a little different this summer at Chatfield Farms with construction underway for our Master Development Plan. With that comes a new, temporary entrance to our Lavender Garden, located on the east side of the garden.</p> As you approach the lavender, lift your nose and smell the sweet, herbal and even citrusy scents. Linalyl acetate, limonene and camphor </strong>are three aromatic compounds in lavender responsible for its smell. Each variety of lavender holds a different combination of these compounds. Chatfield Farms hosts 25 different varieties across the garden fields and borders, and each one has a slightly different scent.</li> Sweet smelling Lavandula angustifolia</em> (English lavender) will lead you up the pathway to your right and through rows of aromatic mounds. Walk between the rows and be sure to smell plants from neighboring rows as well. Which variety smells sweetest?</li> Approach the end of this field and take another long sniff. You may notice a subtle change of scent. The perpendicular rows of Lavandula</em> × intermedia </em>(lavandin) to your left have a stronger and more herbal smell. Look for ‘Riverina Thomas’, ‘Super’ and ‘Edelweiss’ varieties. Here the smell is reminiscent of a lavender-scented cleaning product. Lavandin is a hybrid species of lavender that has higher traces of camphor</strong>, giving it a medicinal scent rather than a sweet one.</li> Finish your stroll through the eastern fields and approach the Butterfly House. Around this seasonal covered hoop house, you will find an array of companion plants and shrubs. All the perennials in this garden complement lavender's color and growth habits. Hidden among these xeric companion plants are several Lavandula angustifolia</em> ‘Maillette’ plants. Find a Maillette lavender near the pathway and breathe in the aroma. This variety contains higher amounts of linalyl acetate</strong> and therefore smells even sweeter.</li> Continue moving toward the fields on the western side of the garden. One of the varieties here was cultivated with higher traces of limonene</strong>. Because of this, it will smell more citrus-like than any other variety in the collection. Can you find the citrus-scented lavender?</li> </ul> Be sure to catch the plants in full bloom nearing mid-July. Better yet, come back for the annual Lavender Festival on Saturday and Sunday, July 20 and 21</strong></a>.</strong></p> The lavender will be harvested during the last two weeks of July, so don’t wait too long to bring your nose for a visit this summer.</p> Gallery photos by Scott Dressel-Martin and Shealyn Elstein (Lavandula angustifolia</em> ‘Maillette’)</em></p>
During this year’s City Nature Challenge</a>, researchers and citizen scientists alike in the Denver-Boulder metro area</a> documented different lifeforms, capturing the biodiversity of the places we recreate at and call home. On April 26, several graduate students including myself, staff and volunteers from Denver Botanic Gardens visited Chatfield Farms’ Deer Creek Natural Area.</p> Underneath the eastern cottonwoods, western chokecherries and snowberries, I noticed a small, peach-colored plant emerging next to a log. Upon closer inspection, we realized this was a striped coralroot orchid (Corallorhiza striata</em>). Striped coralroot orchids can’t photosynthesize, instead gathering all their nutrients and energy by parasitizing fungi. Plants like these are called mycoheterotrophs and are recognizable as they don’t have any green parts. Striped coralroot orchids can live for several decades. </p> This orchid species hadn’t been recorded at Chatfield Farms despite thorough plant surveys and is rarely documented in Jefferson County</a>. Across different herbaria collections, there is only one striped coralroot voucher</a> that was made in Jefferson County and that was in 1905—119 years ago.</p> Why hadn’t the plant been documented at Chatfield Farms before? Perhaps it was the timing of surveys — plant surveys were completed in late spring and early summer. While the striped coralroot orchid native range spans parts of Canada, the United States and Mexico, these plants usually grow in small numbers. </p> We returned to Deer Creek Natural Area two weeks later to collect a specimen as a voucher for the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium. Having physical specimens is important as a resource for research that cannot occur through written or photographic records. </p> First, we confirmed that there were several other striped coralroot orchids in the area. Without the high contrast of the fallen log, the other dozen individuals nearby were well-camouflaged. We wrote notes about the habitat the plants were found, and carefully extracted two flowering stems and roots. </p> The specimen will be mounted on an herbarium sheet, accessioned and integrated into the Kathyrn Kalmbach Herbarium. This means the specimen will be digitized and searchable through public databases like SEINET</a>. We also made observations on iNaturalist, a database where striped coralroot orchids have been documented from four different areas in Jefferson County</a>, including at Chatfield State Park 8 years ago. As of May 18, an iNaturalist user documented a striped coralroot orchid in almost the same spot</a>. I encourage anyone to give citizen science projects a try — you never know what you may discover. </p> This article was contributed by Botany Assistant, Research, My-Lan Le.</strong></em></p>
Denver Botanic Gardens houses more than 100,000 preserved plant, fungal and insect specimens that are used for a multitude of purposes including scientific study. As part of my job as the collection's assistant, I see almost every single specimen incorporated into our collections. One of my favorite things to do is learn about who collected these specimens. I thought it would be fun to share the stories of some of the collectors whose specimens are housed here at the Gardens.</p> The oldest specimen in our collection was collected by Dr. Johann Wilhelm Helfer (1810 – 1840) in Calcutta, India in 1837. Johann was born in Prague and ended up in Calcutta after parting from an expedition down the Euphrates River. Most of the collections he made were deposited at Kew Botanical Gardens in London, UK, but we ended up with one of his specimens through a series of exchanges. Unfortunately, Johann’s career was cut short after he was hit with an arrow on an expedition to the Andaman Islands. </p>
In June of 2022, an extensive collection of Opuntia and Cylindropuntia hybrids were donated to Chatfield Farms</a>. The hybrids came from local cactus man Kelly Grummons, owner of Cold Hardy Cactus</a>. </p> A sloped, south-facing hillside was selected as the location for the cactus collection’s new home. The hillside is an extension of the Plant Select® Demonstration Garden situated across from the Lavender Garden. Due to its slope and aspect, this hillside would allow for good drainage, warmth and full sun, which are crucial for many types of cacti. It was decided that the garden would be completely unirrigated.</p> Dan Johnson, associate director & curator of native plant collections at York Street, assisted Grace Johnson, assistant manager of horticulture Chatfield Farms, with the foundation and layout of the garden. Large boulders, many of which were long and narrow, were placed to mimic the slope of the hillside and to create microclimates for some of the Opuntia varieties. A pea gravel mulch was used to top dress the garden.</p> A number of companion plants were chosen to withstand zero supplemental irrigation. Most of the plants chosen are in the Plant Select® Program, as they have been known to withstand harsh conditions and drought. Once plants were installed, only the companion plants were watered in. Opuntia and Cylindropuntia do not like root disturbance or being watered in during planting. The companion plants were watered three times a week for three weeks. Since then, the entire garden has received only the precipitation that comes from the sky.</p> In its second growing season, the cacti have begun to flower profusely, and the companion plants are filling out and thriving. The Opuntia flowers are constantly visited by numerous native bee species once they open in the morning sun. Weed pressure is nearly non-existent due to the site preparations taken while building the garden, and the lack of irrigation. It is truly a low-maintenance, beautiful display garden of what is possible to grow in Colorado without irrigation.</p> Some of the companion plants: Lavandula angustifolia</em> ‘Wee One’ (dwarf English lavender), Achillea ageratifolia</em> (Greek yarrow), Delosperma </em>‘Lavender Ice’ (ice plant), Delosperma </em>Red Mountain Flame (ice plant), Gazania krebsiana </em>TANAGER® gazania, Hesperaloe parviflora</em> (red yucca), Kniphofia caulescens</em> (regal torch lily), Osteospermum </em>‘Avalanche’ (white sun daisy), Psephellus simplicicaulis </em>‘Bellina’ pink cornflower, Agastache rupestris</em> SUNSET hyssop, Amorpha nana</em> (dwarf leadplant), Nolina greenei </em>(beargrass), Campanula incurve </em>(bellflower), Festuca glauca </em>'Elijah Blue' (blue fescue)</p> Some of the featured Opuntia: Opuntia macrorhiza</em> ‘Loveliness’, Opuntia phaeacantha</em> ‘Orang-I-Tang’, Opuntia x</em> ‘Nambe Winter Glow’, Opunta rhodanta</em> ‘Snowball’, Opuntia macrocentra x polyacantha </em>‘Peach Pie’, Opuntia x</em> ‘Prolific Rose’, Opuntia polyacantha</em> ‘Nebraska Orange’, Opuntia basilaris</em>, Opuntia polyacantha</em> ‘Idaho Falls Pink’, Opuntia polyacantha</em> ‘Gold Mine’, Opuntia fragilis x humifusa </em>‘East Meets West’</p>
