</p> What is it? Who does it? Why? Obviously we study new species to add to your gardens. We have trial gardens, develop germination protocols, even breed new species. We also head out into Colorado and the Rocky Mountain region to study plants where they grow (in-situ</em>) and sometimes collect seed to preserve genetic material, study the plants in the lab or grow individuals for reintroductions (ex-situ</em>).</p> The species we study may very well never contain the cure for cancer, might not become the next best specimen to have in your collection and might go unnoticed as a single species loss. However, these primary producers are part of the ecosystem and affect other organisms and their environment in ways that are not always immediately apparent.</p> There are over 100 plant species in Colorado alone that are at a high risk of extinction and hundreds more that are rare or are declining in number. If hundreds of species are lost, then real and obvious changes to our environment will be felt and will inevitably negatively affect us. Researchers at Denver Botanic Gardens are working to prevent these losses through long-term study of these species, reintroductions and work to mitigate the effect of invasive, non-native species.</p> We're determined to protect these gems one plant at a time (more if we can do it) not because they all have unique traits and scientific value (which they do) or because they are intrinsically worth saving (which they are) but because we don't want to suffer the alternative.</p>
John Temple’s column in the Rocky Mountain News today, ‘Simple moments, rich rewards’ was very inspiring. Not just because I work at Denver Botanic Gardens, but also because the article hits it in the nail regarding the little things in life that really matter. Every morning I look out my kitchen window and the sight of geese in the golf course behind my house or the Daphne that still refuses to stop blooming or the water bubbling in my pond or the dried seed heads of the ornamental grasses swaying in the wind all inspire me as I start my day. It is these simple pleasures in life that are truly memorable. Denver Botanic Gardens offers many such memorable moments for visitors of all ages and walks of life throughout the year. Winter in the Gardens has its own charm. As you walk through Shady Lane notice the bright red dried-up crab apples still clinging to the branches like tree ornaments. The carefully and artistically manicured character pines, rocks and water in the Japanese Garden evoke a pristine and peaceful picture. The Rock Alpine Garden almost always has something surprising to offer visitors with its varied texture and miniature plants. The Ornamental Grasses Garden with its swaying grasses reminds us of the prairie that our Denver landscape once was. Take time to notice the barks of the different trees throughout the Gardens. The amazing diversity of tree bark is something everyone misses because not many pay close attention to that. Finally, last but not least, the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory is the ultimate tropical destination to escape the outside chill of the winter. So, come on by this winter, stroll through the Gardens and discover the little surprises that the Gardens have to offer.</p>
</p> Trail of Lights on member night . . . As we drove onto Deer Creek Canyon Road, my breath was taken away for a minute. Just imagine seeing the lights all aglow in the depths of a dark field, with the crescent moon glowing over the entire scene. Even viewing the car lights snaking down into the valley was surprising—making for another trail of lights! What an amazing sight.</p> My family had some time to catch up on what was going on in our worlds as we slowly drove into Chatfield. Even at a distance, the huge cottonwood trees shot up into the dark night. As we got closer and more details came into view of the thousand and thousands of colored lights glowing, my anticipation grew. Walking through the winding trail, we ooohed and aaahed like we were watching fireworks. Take your time and enjoy the walk. There is so much to see if you just slow down and look all around you. Tilt your head waaay</em> back and see the LEDs glowing on the huge green and red tree in front of you as you cross the lighted wooden bridge. Go right up to the candy cane trees and see the meticulous winding of lights on each branch and trunk that help create the candy cane glow.</p> </p> I took a lot of pictures and most turned out well, however not having a monopod with me (bring one if you come, or have a very steady hand), I took some amazing shots showing actual trails of light. Not sure how I did that—one of the many wonders of that magical night. Thank you all for helping to create a family night to remember.</p>
</p> It is with great pride that we share the news with you that a research paper published by our own Jenny Neale was recently selected to receive the "PSB Best Paper Award 2008" from the presitgous Plant Species Biology journal. Dr. Neale's research was on the population genetics of a rare sunflower.</p> The full citation is 'Conservation of rare species with island-like distributions: A case study of Lasthenia conjugens (Asteraceae) using population genetic structure and the distribution of rare markers.' Plant Species Biology 23: 97-110 (2008) Considering the thousands of papers from professionals across the globe, this is a real distinction. The awards ceremony will be held in Japan. </p> We are also excited to announce that Dr. Neale will be leading the charge in the establishment of a new of a new conservation genetics program at Denver Botanic Gardens. With the support of an endowment named for Gladys Cheesman Evans, Dr. Neale, Research Associate Michelle DePrenger-Levin and others will use the analysis of DNA to help protect plant species. One of their first projects will be to identify whether a rare native orchid is hiding in a population of more common species near Boulder. </p> This blog post was written by Anna Sher, Ph.D.</em>, adjunct researcher and former director of the Research & Conservation Department at Denver Botanic Gardens.</em></p>
</p> Wonder enlarges the heart. When you wonder, you are drawn out of yourself. ~ John O’Donohue ~ </em> Occasionally, someone will call Denver Botanic Gardens in autumn or winter and ask if there is anything to see at the Gardens during these seasons. My reply always includes an unequivocal yes</em>; the Gardens are full of beauty throughout the year. To experience this magical time, simply walk into the Gardens with your sense of wonder intact. It’s true, currently the Gardens are transforming in other ways; there has been an abundance of caterpillar tracks, excavators, hardhats, and dump trucks convening here. With the arrival of an underground parking lot, an updated irrigation system, a visitor center, and much more, there is a chaos that is the antithesis of a peaceful garden setting. Or is it? The creative process is, in and of itself, a chaotic affair. If you have ever watched The Mystery of Picasso</em>, a film showing the artist as he paints one of his many masterpieces, you observed how he wends his way through a thought process full of twists and turns, one idea giving way to the next. His painting takes energy, concentration, curiosity, and yes, chaos. As all the construction projects progress at DBG, I keep in mind that all that frames the Gardens, including concrete and steel, has had the same legacy; from the chaos arises an even more spectacular setting that will bring years and years of pleasure to so many people. Meanwhile, the gracefulness particular to this season takes shape through a delicate choreography, and nature continues her cyclical, imperfect journey. Recently, I saw a dragonfly clinging to leaves and branches near the Gates Montane Garden, its tattered, iridescent wings prismatic in the sunlight. Elsewhere in the Gardens, the coralberries, pink as Jordan almonds, and the hot tamale-red pomes on the crabapples, remind me of the beads of an African necklace. Sage crushed between my fingertips perfumes the day. A little wonder works wonders. Along with family and friends, may you enjoy the Gardens during these subtler seasons. May you all</em> grow in wondrous ways.</p>
</p> On this Thanksgiving Day as I ponder all the things I am thankful for, one that comes to the forefront is how fortunate I am to work at the Denver Botanic Gardens. With a mission of connecting people with plants</em>, along with my team of talented horticulturists, I have the unique opportunity to reach the lives of others through plants.</p> Humans are innately connected to other living organisms. In his famous book ‘Biophilia’, E.O. Wilson describes biophilia as "the connections that human beings subconsciously seek with the rest of life.” He proposed the possibility that the deep affiliations humans have with nature are rooted in our biology. In today’s rapidly developing urban society and in times of turmoil, the need to connect with nature has become increasingly apparent.</p> I am very fortunate to work with a team of dedicated horticulturists who are very passionate about what they do and create botanical displays that are one of the best in the country. Working alongside our horticulturists is a great group of dedicated volunteers, who are integral for the operations of the Gardens. Volunteers from the Colorado Water Garden Society dedicate countless weekend hours during spring and fall installing and de-installing our aquatic displays. Members of the Herb Guild maintain our Herb Garden. Garden Club of Denver members put in many hours maintaining the Cutting Garden and creating floral displays for our offices and events as well as creating the fabulous winter dried floral decoration in the Romantic Garden. In addition, there are many others who assist in all the other gardens, special events, library, herbarium and education to name a few.</p> So, on this Thanksgiving Day, I extend my appreciation and thanks to all Denver Botanic Gardens staff, volunteers, members, donors, and everyone else involved in making DBG a great place to work and a visitor destination like none other!</p>
During my current visit to Madagascar, I had the enviable opportunity to visit the unique spiny desert ecosystem, located in the south and southwestern part of the country. What amazing diversity! Hot though it may have been, I am sure glad I made the time to visit this unique forest, which is home to many of Madagascar’s endemic species. The landscape is dominated by plants belonging to the family Didieraceae</em>. Noteworthy are the Alluaudia</em> that stand as tall sentinels of the forest. They remind me of the Saguaro cactus of the Sonoran Desert. Of the six species of Alluaudia </em>in Madagascar, I was able to see four. Other interesting plants that I encountered were three species of Pachypodium</em>, one species of Baobab (Adansonia za</em>), two arborescent (tree-form) species of Euphorbia</em>, three species of Kalanchoe</em>, a succulent cucurbit vine and an Aloe</em>, among others. I was fortunate to have the expert local Botanist Franck Rakotonasolo accompany me on my trip, who helped with most of the plant identification. We have a few Madagascan species that are represented in Denver Botanic Gardens' Cactus & Succulent collections, though the opportunity to expand this collection is tremendous.</p>
Is it a coincidence that Walt Whitman named his revolutionary collection of poetry "Leaves of Grass"? Grass is the dominant vegetation in our region, and ornamental grasses have revolutionized horticulture across America in recent decades. If I had to pick a favorite grass, right now I would have to say that Giant Sacaton (Sporobolus wrightii</em>) jostles at the top of my list with Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans</em>) and a dozen or more other contenders. Giant Sacaton is native to the higher reaches of the Chihuahua desert--usually found on outwash mesas and slopes in the mountains where it does get the summer monsoon and about as much precipitation as Denver. Here it thrives in the lightly irrigated xeriscape as well as the utterly dry garden. This picture shows a specimen perched between the Rock Alpine Garden and Plains Garden, but you will find Giant Sacaton in the Watersmart Garden and Wildflower Treasures as well. As the name suggests, it gets quite tall, but a single plant is narrow enough to find a spot in anyone's garden. Plant four or five together and you get a behemoth like the monster in Wildflower Treasures that gleams and shines and explodes with interest and beauty right now and throughout the winter months. Not for the faint of heart! Dan Johnson, our indefatigable Curator of Native Plants (and master of exotic plants as well--don't be fooled by his title!) introduced this plant in the 1990's, about the time that Los Lunas Plant Materials Center in New Mexico released a virtually identical cultivar. Plant Select has championed this most amazing native grass, and I have waited to see some of the endless plantings of 'Karl Foerster' give way to this much more xeric, graceful and beautiful native. Come stroll through York Street or Centennial in the coming weeks and I guarantee that you will be enchanted with these underappreciated and under utilized limpid ladies of linearity (and alliteration!). Power to the grasses!</p>
</p> No, not in pole-vault (with sunflowers) or fencing (with pruning shears) or swimming (among the lilies), but as a part of an international exhibit of botanic gardens called "Homes for plants, Gardens for humans" located at the Science & Technology Park at the Olympic Village, Beijing.</p> This exhibit highlights what over 70 botanic gardens (including ours) are doing to conserve species and resources around the world. Each botanic garden is represented by a large color panel, describing their contributions. Kudos to the staff of the Research, Herbaria & Records Department at Denver Botanic Gardens for giving us so much to talk about on our panel for the exhibit! Check out the Science & Research</a> navigation link to learn more about what we are doing to protect plants of the Rocky Mountain region. </p> </p> </p> This blog post was written by Anna Sher, Ph.D.</em>, adjunct researcher and former director of the Research & Conservation Department at Denver Botanic Gardens.</em></p>
</p> </p> Early this spring around mid-March, the native Plains Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens underwent a simulated version of a vital ecological process of the shortgrass prairie -- FIRE. Fire is important in maintaining the structure and diversity of the shortgrass prairie ecosystem.</p> Since human settlement, fire suppression has lead to the alteration of vegetation composition of the shortgrass prairie and the resulting biotic interactions. The prescribed burn at the Gardens performed under the able supervision of our curator of native plants, Dan Johnson, reminded us of how important these ecological processes are in maintaining the diversity of our native ecosystems.</p> Four months later, the transformation of this garden is just amazing. Bursting in color, many native forbs intermingle with prairie grasses. Currently in bloom are the Lead Plant (Amorpha canescens</em>), Blanket Flower (Gaillardia aristata</em>), Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja integra</em>), Dwarf Sunflower (Helianthus pumilus</em>), Golden Aster (Chrysopsis villosa</em>), Prairie Coneflower (Ratibida columnifera</em>) and Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea</em>). Without any supplemental irrigation this garden replicates what once used to be the Denver and surrounding landscape.</p>
This is a question I get asked quite frequently. To me as a horticulturist and a plant lover, it is a very complex question to answer. It is like asking a mom to choose her favorite child. Each plant has its own unique individuality from its growth habit to flower color, some desirable and others not quite so. Trialing various plants to determine their adaptability to a particular region is what botanic gardens do best. At Denver Botanic Gardens we test plants from various regions of the world and it is this diversity of plant life that makes a visit to the Gardens unique and exciting. As you stroll through the Gardens in the next week or so, here are a few flowers that you can look out for: the stately flowers of the Foxtail Lily (Eremurus </em>spp.) in various pastel colors; the delicate flowers of the horned poppy (Glaucium</em> spp.) in shades of yellow to dark-orange; the diversity of flower forms and colors of Iris hybrids and cultivars; and don’t forget the show-stopping display put on by the Iceplants (Delosperma</em> spp.) With this kind of plant diversity, how is one to discriminate and choose a favorite? While you walk through the Gardens, if you can identify a favorite, please drop me a line and let me know. </p>
</p> Please join me in congratulating my University of Denver graduate student, Maggie Gaddis, on the successful defense of her masters thesis, "Environmental impact of restoration of riparian ecosystems: fitting Russian olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia) into the picture." This research was funded by a grant to Denver Botanic Gardens by the Center for Invasive Plant Management to assess the success of restoration projects across the Rocky Mountain region where invasive Russian olive has been removed. </p> In lay-speak: Maggie tromped around Montana, Wyoming and Colorado measuring plants and soil in places where folks were trying to repair riverside ecosystems. This work has important implications for management of our wild spaces. Kudos, Maggie! Here is more information on the conservation research</a> that we do at the Gardens in collaboration with institutions like Universities. </p> This blog post was written by Anna Sher, Ph.D.</em>, adjunct researcher and former director of the Research & Conservation Department at Denver Botanic Gardens.</em></p>
