On the western slope of Colorado you will find populations of a rare ball cactus with lilac flowers that bloom a few days a year when the sun is shining and pollinators are flying.</p> Each Colorado hookless cactus (Sclerocactus glaucus</em>) flower produces over a hundred seeds and those that germinate produce two cotyledons that look like bunny ears before sprouting a tuft of spines and filling out into mini plants.</p> At 10 sites scattered across the western slope, a group of volunteers and staff from Denver Botanic Gardens and the Bureau of Land Management brave steep rocky back roads, tiny biting gnats and hot sun, or cold temperatures and sneaky rain storms to track the lives of every individual plant in our plots.</p> The reason we brave these sometimes harsh conditions is more than the benefit of seeing the beautiful landscape and fascinating plants, although that is a huge perk of the job. It is also more than creating a community of conservationists that join us every year, although I learn something new and hear great stories on every trip. The driving motive behind our efforts is that the data we collect to track the health and persistence of this rare cactus result in conservation actions that ensure this rare species can flourish in areas also hosting oil and gas extraction, recreation and cattle grazing. </p>
As the soils warm and spring begins to transition into summer, the cacti and succulents begin to take over the show for a while. These succulent gems are found throughout the grounds of Denver Botanic Gardens and are a key part of many of our displays. Too often, their short-lived floral displays are overlooked as other plants are coming into flower, but this should not be the case!</p> As you enter the Gardens, you will come to the Roads Water-Smart Garden. Notice the prickly pears, agaves, and various other cacti with their unique forms, textures, and flowers complementing and contrasting with the rest of the plant life in the garden. After strolling through the Water-Smart Garden, go to the Steppe Garden.</p> In the Steppe Garden is a dramatic display of ice plants in as many colors as you can think. Two ice plants of note are Delosperma </em>‘PJS01S’ GRANITA® Raspberry and Delosperma </em>‘PJS02S' GRANITA® Orange, two newer introductions through the Plant Select® program. After being stunned by the neon flowers of the ice plants, head west down Shady Lane to the Nexus Berm.</p> The Nexus Berm is at the west end of the greenhouse complex and has been re-designed with loads of succulents and other water saving plants to take advantage of the inhospitably hot west-facing slope. Featured here, are the WALK IN BEAUTYTM </sup>Opuntia </em>hybrids created by local horticulture legend, Kelly Grummons. The flower colors on these plants, as well as their ability to re-bloom, set them apart from all other prickly pear cacti in the trade. This is a good area to see the variability of forms, sizes, and flowers that hardy succulents bring to the garden.</p> From the Nexus Berm, follow the walkway southwest around the Monet Pond to Dryland Mesa. Dryland Mesa is never watered beyond what falls naturally. Keep this in mind as you enjoy the large chollas, many various prickly pears, and a plethora of other hardy succulents. The Yucca faxoniana</em> on the southwest corner of Dryland Mesa is truly a sight to see.</p> After Dryland Mesa, stroll through the rest of our beautiful gardens and find cacti and succulents that appeal to you… they are tucked in all over. Keep our examples in mind as you design your own water-saving succulent themed gardens. Thanks for visiting!</p>
Mushrooms have often been called “plants’ best friends,” and in recent years our wonderfully growing knowledge of our native ecosystems emphasizes that important concept even more. Throughout our state and beyond to many countries, a community of mushroom enthusiasts, citizens and scientists alike, are spreading the word! </p> Fungi are the great recyclers of the planet, breaking down woody material, needles, leaves and twigs, garden wastes, grasses and logs in our fields and forests. Besides cleaning up the fire-hazards and debris in our forest, the bi-products of this all-powerful action enrich our soils and in so doing unlock nutrients for new developing plants. Most of our native trees and shrubs share their metabolic processes with their “best friends,” mycorrhizal fungi, who live intimately in plant roots sharing nutrients with the plants.</p> Speaking of sharing, it’s been many decades since I began my passion for collecting and understanding the importance of our beautiful native mushrooms and other fungi. Especially those I found in the hills west of Boulder. Unable to satisfy my curiosity alone, I was very fortunate to make a prophetic phone call to the Gardens one Wednesday afternoon seeking information on our native mushrooms. I was happily referred to Dr. Sam Mitchel who, as a busy medical doctor at the local hospitals, volunteered at the Gardens only on Wednesday as he worked on his collection of local dried fungi housed in the newly built Boettcher Memorial Center. Sam, too, had gotten “hooked,” as he described his fascination with wild mushroom collecting, studying and preservation.</p> Sam and I hit it off wonderfully. During those following months as I learned more and more, I knew I had found a community of mushroom lovers and curiosity seekers. They didn’t just want to eat mushrooms but wanted to know and share all they were learning about these beautiful natives. From this small beginning with perhaps a few dozen collections, Sam and a few of us eager volunteers began a decades-long study of Colorado’s native fungi at Denver Botanic Gardens.</p> The community of mushroom lovers in the Denver area was not limited to the herbarium. Sam encouraged other locals also “hooked” on fungi to join and form a small intimate community of mushroom lovers, which developed into the Colorado Mycological Society (CMS). One of the families involved in those early years were members of Dr. Manny Salzman’s extended family. Fellow medics, Sam and Manny worked together to study poisonous mushrooms, developing a Poisindex technique to help medical doctors around the United States to identify toxic fungi. Manny founded the CMS Annual Mushroom Fair during those early years, which helped spread the mushroom community farther and farther out into the Denver metropolitan area and beyond.</p> In the 1960s, a few dozen enthusiastic mushroomers came together in this area. With the inspiration of Sam Mitchel and his volunteers, his herbarium and the mycological society, that number has ‘mushroomed’ into hundreds of citizen scientists and enthusiastic naturalists ready to go on collecting trips, volunteer, share their unusual collections, explore our many glorious habitats and participate in forays and bioblitzes in the region. Our well-documented herbarium collections are now approaching 20,000 specimens and the Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi is gaining a reputation nation-wide. The collections are online via a world-wide database so that the sharing goes on! Wouldn’t Sam be amazed?</p>
For most of the 22 years of Plant Select’s</a> existence, nursery operators and staff from both Denver Botanic Gardens and Colorado State University have hosted an annual meeting to report on and celebrate achievements of this program. The initial impetus was to provide a forum for Colorado’s many demonstration gardens</a> (now over 60). Meeting attendees would come to be educated about the program, study garden design and network. The program has become so popular that some members of the public now attend the annual meeting. </p> This year Plant Select</a> is welcoming participation at “Learning Landscapes” on June 11, 2019 at Denver Botanic Gardens. Guest speakers include:</p> David Salman of High Country Gardens will discuss attracting birds and essential insects to home landscapes.</li> Scott Denning, Monfort Professor of Atmospheric Science at Colorado State University, will address climate change in the garden.</li> John Fielder, renowned photographer, will present on “Colorado Then, Now & 2040: Warming, Water & Wisdom.”</li> </ul> Most members of Denver Botanic Gardens realize that Plant Select is related to the Gardens but sometimes don’t know what that means. The nature of the collaboration between the Gardens, Colorado State University and the Green Industry operates on several levels within the program. The Board that manages Plant Select (those who hire and monitor the executive director) include two people from each of the three entities.</p> The collaboration goes far beyond that, however. A great many of the plants that have been selected and promoted by Plant Select originated in Denver Botanic Gardens’ collections. Staff from both the Gardens and Colorado State University spend years planting, observing and taking copious notes on the performance of plants proposed for the program, and a small army of workers from the Green Industry joins in the vetting of potential plants.</p> At one time a survey showed that it took an average of 19 years for a plant to be released to sales from Plant Select from the time it was first grown at the Gardens. This rigorous process is subsidized by Plant Select funds, which pays for the salaries of staff at both CSU and the Gardens to work on the program.</p>
The creation of the Helen Fowler Library was an important addition to Denver Botanic Gardens’ campus. It occupied several spaces before settling in its current location in 1971, when a library space was included in the plans for the Boettcher Memorial Center. Ruth Porter Waring donated funds to have the Waring Rare Book Room built and James J. Waring donated a large collection of important botanical texts from his personal collection. The room was originally meant to be a reading room for the library’s collections of rare early herbals and botanical texts. Since that time our rare collections have almost doubled in size due to the continued generosity of Denver Botanic Gardens donors. However, the Waring Room has not been able to expand to accommodate this growth, making it difficult to showcase these important books to our members.</p> The creation of the Freyer – Newman Center has answered our call for more space and updated facilities, but we still have a way to go before we can unveil our collections in these beautiful new spaces. There is still wrapping and packing to do before our rare books can be sent offsite to temperature-controlled storage, where they will be housed until the library reopens in the Freyer – Newman Center in 2020. The Freyer – Newman Center will allow the Gardens to celebrate the intersection of science, art and education. The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded us nearly $250,000 to enable world-class stewardship of the non-living collections—natural history, art and archives—that underpin and enable this intersection.</p> There is still a way to spend time with our rare collections during the transition! This past fall, University of Colorado (CU) Art Museum curators approached library staff with a request to display some of our books in an upcoming exhibition. The Helen Fowler Library chose to loan two important works to the museum: “Florilegium renovatum et auctum” by Johann Theodor de Bry from 1641 and “De historia stirpium” by Leonhart Fuchs from 1542 (one of the original book donations from James Waring). Both books are early botanical tomes that include woodblock illustrations and hand-colored plates, showcasing important findings in the history of botanical science and taxonomic nomenclature.</p> The exhibition at the CU Art Museum is called “Documenting Change: Our Climate (Past, Present, Future).” It focuses on the many ways in which the natural world can be documented and what we can glean from looking at these documents over time. The exhibition will be on view until July 20, 2019. </strong>Visit the exhibition to see some of the Helen Fowler Library’s most-prized rare books while we are in transition! </p> Learn more about the exhibition</a> on the CU-Boulder Art Museum’s website.</p> </p>
Are you interested in becoming a citizen scientist? We need your help this summer observing plant species along the High Line Canal (training dates are in May and June). Bioblitzes are short, focused efforts to document as many living organisms as possible in a specific area. Denver Botanic Gardens and The High Line Canal Conservancy are hosting a series of bioblitzes at parks along the canal to teach participants about plant identification, biodiversity and how to use iNaturalist as a tool to document global biodiversity.</p> Today the canal is one of the longest recreational greenways in the United States and passes through several ecological zones as it makes it way from southwest Denver in Waterton Canyon to northeast Aurora on the plains. Biodiversity is higher along the canal corridor compared the urbanized landscape beyond, making it a valuable resource to be preserved for future generations! Trail users can walk, run, bike or ride horses along a recreation trail that follows the original canal. The High Line Canal was built nearly 140 years ago to aid farmers with irrigating more than 20,000 acres of farmland. Today, the canal is owned and operated by Denver Water and the recreational trail is managed by local park and recreation authorities.</p> In the summer of 2018, Denver Botanic Gardens documented plant biodiversity along the High Line Canal by collecting specimens that will be housed in the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium for generations to come. The project identified over 400 plant species living along the canal corridor. With that knowledge of the plant communities, The High Line Canal Conservancy will be able to better protect and enhance the canal for the future.</p> Still, there is more to be done! This summer, Denver Botanic Gardens and The High Line Canal Conservancy are looking for citizen scientists (new and experienced) to learn about biodiversity, practice plant identification, and contribute to global biodiversity documentation using iNaturalist; all along our wonderful local resource-the High Line Canal. The global community that is iNaturalist.org is dedicated to documenting biodiversity in all corners of Earth and the importance of making observations of all life forms is extremely valuable. Without citizen scientists gathering data, scientists and land managers would have less information available to make informed decisions.</p> Participants will have; a training session at Denver Botanic Gardens followed with a morning in the field at a bioblitz along the High Line Canal! Newly minted citizen scientists can learn about identifying plants they might find along the canal, help document biodiversity using iNaturalist, spend time outdoors with like-minded individuals and learn about the High Line Canal.</p> Citizen scientists will be using cameras or mobile devices to take pictures of plants as they walk up and down the High Line Canal recreation trail. Participants should come prepared and be able to walk several miles in a variety of potential weather conditions on gravel or rocky terrain. Please wear closed and comfortable shoes, layered clothes for changing weather conditions, as well as a hat and sunscreen. Bring a full water bottle and food/medicine you might need. Light snacks and water for refilling bottles will be provided.</p> Spots are limited so sign up today!</strong> All volunteers will need to register and attend an introductory training meeting at Denver Botanic Gardens before participating in a bioblitz. Sign up for your spots by emailing Kent at kent.schnacke@botanicgardens.org</a></strong>.</p> </p> Dates and Locations</strong></h3> Training dates (choose one):</strong> Denver Botanic Gardens 1007 York Street, Denver, CO 80206</p> Saturday, May 25: 8:30-11 a.m.</li> Friday, May 31: 8:30-11 a.m.</li> Saturday, June 29: 8:30-11 a.m.</li> </ul> Bioblitz dates and locations (choose one):</strong></p> Saturday, June 1: deKoevand Park, 8-11 a.m.</li> Saturday, June 8: Eisenhower Park, 8-11 a.m.</li> Friday, June 28: Writer’s Vista Park, 8-11 a.m.</li> Saturday, July 6: Chatfield State Rec Center, 8-11 a.m.</li> Friday, July 12: Delaney Farm, 8-11 a.m.</li> Tuesday, July 16: Three Pond Park, 8-11 a.m.</li> Saturday, Aug. 3: Del Mar Park, 8-11 a.m.</li> </ul> </p> This blog post was written by Kent Schnacke, botany education and outreach seasonal.</em></p> </p>
</p> There is, perhaps, no group of plants more in vogue right now than succulents. These stunning arrangements of greens, dusty blues, purples and pinks are found not only in pots but on cakes</a>, cookies</a> and even in hairstyles</a>. The Gardens even has evening workshops on Botanical Jewelry: Wearable Succulents on Tuesday, May 21 and Tuesday, July 23! For many, succulents are a great first step into gardening: they are beautiful, low-maintenance and water-saving plants that will survive for many seasons if cared for properly.</p> At our annual Spring Plant Sale, the horticulturists in the Specialty Succulents division will offer a wide variety of succulents and cacti. But before you load up your cart this weekend, they also want to make sure you are set up for success to keep your plants healthy and thriving.</p> Light</strong> Succulents and cacti need sunlight; a dark house or apartment won’t do. However, a full day of direct sunlight is not necessary – a space with bright but indirect sunlight, or a sunny windowsill or porch, can sustain these plants.</p> Water </strong> These plants do not need a lot of water. For most species, watering once a month or less will suffice. Use your fingers to feel the soil moisture before watering again. If it feels moist, don’t water! The soil should be allowed to fully dry out between waterings.</p> Drainage</strong> Make sure you plant your succulents in a pot with a drainage hole. Water left sitting in the bottom of a pot can create anaerobic or fungal conditions and can “rot out” the roots of the succulents.</p> Temperature</strong> The plants sold at the Specialty Succulents division are frost tender and will be killed by freezing temperatures. They can live outside during the summer, but they must be brought inside before the first autumn frost. After the last spring frost, transition them slowly back to full outdoor sun. Start by putting them in a shaded or partly-shaded spot for a week or two, then slowly move them into their full-sun position.</p> Read Up!</strong> Read about the plants you buy. The general category of “succulents and cacti” is very broad and consists of thousands of species of plants all with different wants and needs. A quick browser search for the varieties you purchase goes a long way in helping you keep your plants healthy.</p> Whether you are looking for a single succulent for a windowsill or a pre-potted arrangement of hand-selected plants, stop by Specialty Succulents in the Orangery during Spring Plant Sale. Not only will you find high quality cacti and succulents, but you can get even more expert advice on how to care for them.</p> New this Year!</strong> Check out our Collector’s Corner, featuring rare and unique cacti and succulents. Here are just a few of the varieties we have waiting for you in the Collector’s Corner:</p> Avonia </em></strong>quinaria </em></strong>ssp. </strong>alstonii</em></strong> </em>– a succulent native to Southern Africa that features a thick caudex with silvery-green finger-like foliage</li> Albuca spiralis</em></strong> – a succulent bulb in the asparagus family from South Africa with corkscrew foliage</li> Aeonium</em></strong> arboretum </em></strong>var.</strong> atropurpureum</em></strong> Crested Form</strong> – a uniquely mutated crested form (rather than rosette) of the common Aeonium</em></li> </ul> </p> Admission to Spring Plant Sale and the Gardens is free on Friday, May 10 from 8 a.m. </em>– 6 p.m. and on Saturday, May 11 from 8 a.m. </em>– 5 p.m. Tickets are required for the Plant Sale Preview Party on Thursday, May 9. Get here early to get the best pick of the plants, and don’t forget to bring a wagon to haul them around! Here is more information about Spring Plant Sale</a>, including a catalog of individual species and cultivars available at the sale.</em></p> </p>
</p> The green roof at Denver Botanic Gardens opened in November 2007. Within a year and a half, this garden has established very well creating a green space where once was a regular cemented roof. Situated above our former gift shop (soon to become a bistro), this one-of-a-kind green roof features native and drought tolerant plants that thrive well in our semi-arid climate with limited water.</p> A variety of plants were selected in creating this roof to test which plants will perform well as green roof plants in our region. Departing from the regular norm of using Sedums as green roof plant materials, this roof is living proof of how, with experimentation, we can create a green roof utilizing a diverse plant palette. Designed and created by our resident green roof expert, Senior Horticulturist Mark Fusco, Denver Botanic Gardens is a pioneer in green roof research for our region.</p> </p> </p> </p> The green roof was initially established using about 60 different plant species. Approximately 1,000 plants were planted and after the first winter the survival rate was quite high – 90%. Now, after surviving a second winter, the garden couldn’t look any better. This past week, the garden was splashed in shades of yellow, pink, red, blue and white. Plants blooming currently include three different cultivars of Delosperma</em>, the bright red flowers of Echinocereus triglochidatus </em>cactus, the bright yellow flowers of Eriogonum umbellatum</em>, Euphorbia polychroma </em>and Physaria bellii</em>, pink and white Phlox </em>and blue Veronica liwanensis. </em>The Opuntias are in bud and should be blooming soon.</p> As this garden becomes well established in another couple of years, we will reduce and maybe even completely stop irrigating this garden. Plans are underway to establish green roof trials at our Chatfield research gardens. The new Mordecai Children’s Garden, anticipated to be completed in summer 2010, will feature an extensive green roof, which will be situated above the new parking garage.</p>
</p> Each year, as spring rolls around, the Research and Conservation staff load up a 4-wheel drive vehicle with our gear, head out across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain west region in search of rare plants.</p> Our first trip takes us west to the threatened cactus, Sclerocactus glaucus</em>. This lovely little cactus is found in Western Colorado along with several other rare plant species. This is also an area with intense oil and gas development, residential growth and spreading weeds. Our aim is to protect the western region by studying and protecting this tiny cactus.</p>
</p> February 12th marks the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin. This year also marks the 150th anniversary of Darwin’s renowned work, “The Origin of Species.” Commemorating Darwin and the Gardens upcoming signature exhibition (Jurassic Gardens: Evolution & Extinction)</em>, Denver Botanic Gardens is featuring the "Plant Evolution Garden" at the 2009 Colorado Garden & Home Show. The Show runs from February 7 - 15 at the Colorado Convention Center.</p> This display garden showcases the chronological evolution of plants starting with bryophytes (mosses), transitioning to ferns, gymnosperms (cycads) and angiosperms (flowering plants). The display also integrates garden favorites like perennials, annuals and bulbs presenting recent horticultural advancements through human-induced artificial selection. As a teaser of what is to come at the Gardens in April, a Bambiraptor</em> dinosaur nest egg is featured among the display.</p> Be sure to stop by this display garden (Garden J) at the Colorado Garden & Home Show. The accompanying interpretation will lead visitors through the plant evolutionary pathway starting about 450 million years ago.</p>
