When we think of spring, we think of flowering trees, cool breezes, slowly emerging perennials, birds singing and – of course – bulbs! </p> The explosion of tulip bulbs at the Annuals Garden and Pavilion at York Street may be the talk of downtown, but in the southwestern foothills at Chatfield Farms</a>, daffodils are the primary spring stunner. Although some tulips dapple the various gardens across the farm, deer – and sometimes even elk – predation doesn’t allow for such grand mass plantings as the gardens at York Street. Daffodils, despite their cheerful, sunny appearance, are actually toxic, containing a substance called lycorine. With a bitter taste and causing digestive upset, deer and other garden visitors intent on munching should steer clear of daffodils. </p> You can find many different varieties of daffodils across the landscape at Chatfield Farms. Some, like ‘Ferris Wheel’, ‘Pink Charm’, and ‘Precocious’ are known for their huge flower size and flower power. Others, such as ‘Angel Eyes’, ‘Kokopelli’, or ‘Elka’ may be some of the smallest flowering daffodils you’ve ever seen. </p> Other tiny treasures that may catch your eye include dwarf reticulated Iris. Some of the earliest and smallest bloomers across the farm, Iris reticulata</em> also qualify as deer resistant. Varieties such as ‘Pauline’, ‘Rhapsody’, and ‘Eye Catcher’ can be found in some of the drier gardens at Chatfield Farms, attracting hungry bees.</p> When horticulturists at Chatfield Farms still find themselves craving tulips and decide to try their luck, success has been found in planting Tulipa linifolia </em>and Tulipa turkestanica</em>. Despite being only 4 inches tall, Tulipa linifolia</em> shines bright red in the garden. With a long bloom period and snubbed by most deer, this little tulip is tried and true. Tulipa turkestanica</em> can grow up to 8 inches tall with multiflowered clusters that bees are drawn to; it is a reliable and hardy early bloomer that has been completely untouched by deer. Both tulips have very small bulbs, which make planting in the fall a breeze, and are great choices for smaller gardens as well as rock gardens and xeric gardens.</p> Be sure to swing by Chatfield Farms to enjoy our early season color and find your favorite deer resistant bulb! </p>
Despite working from home these last two months, the exhibits team has been busy! We had a long-planned exhibition installation for the new galleries in the Freyer – Newman Center set to begin in April, but due to the threat of COVID-19 these plans had to be postponed. We did not want to leave our gallery spaces empty over the summer, however, so we had quite the task set out for us to quickly plan new exhibits!</p> Over the last several weeks, the exhibits team came together while working remotely and have successfully planned a new slate of art exhibits for all four new galleries opening this summer. Creating exhibits for a new space with team members scattered throughout the metro area was quite the challenge. There were pieces to research, departments to collaborate with, labels to write, layouts to design and art objects to prepare for exhibition. After relying on the outstanding individual talents and experience of each of our team members, the exhibits team successfully created a brand-new schedule for installing the newest gallery exhibits.</p> Two local artists, Koko Bayer and Melanie Walker, will be sharing their talents, as well as a selection of illustrators from the Gardens’ School of Botanical Art and Illustration. The fourth gallery space will be filled with an exhibit showcasing some of the weird and odd objects from the art, research and library permanent collections, as well as pieces from the educational collection at Chatfield Farms. These plans will soon be put into action as staff begins to slowly return to the Gardens, all masked up and practicing social distancing of course!</p> The team wants to show off the new gallery spaces, local Colorado artists, and be able to display some of our favorite oddities from the non-living collections at Denver Botanic Gardens, most of which have never been exhibited. We hope you are all as excited to see these shows as we are to get them installed and open!</p>
Shade is an essential resource for all life, providing refuge from the heat as the days grow longer. Denver Botanic Gardens has several shaded gardens where visitors can seek shelter from the intense Colorado sun. Under the canopy of trees that are beginning to leaf out, spring-blooming bulbs and perennials are freshly emerging from the soil and providing a glimmer of much needed joy to us all.</p> A shade garden truly shines in the spring in Colorado when blooming Crocus</em>, squill (Scilla </em>and Puschkinia</em>), Fritillaria</em> and Brunnera</em> begin to grow and bloom. They fill the garden with vibrant greens, blues, purples, yellows and reds that attract pollinators like bees and make us feel at one with nature. In a matter of just a few weeks, the shade garden goes from fully dormant to full of life!</p> Creating a shade garden requires patience, persistence and willingness to adapt, but this all pays off when the shade reduces solar heat-gain in a garden and on the surrounding property. A shade garden can lower cooling costs in the summer, retain irrigation and provide habitat for wildlife.</p> As a shade garden matures, thin areas within the tree canopy so that dappled sunlight reaches the ground below, allowing perennials and bulbs to grow their best. Late winter is an ideal time to observe the branching patterns of your shade trees and to prune them before new growth begins in spring. Soil structure is also pertinent in a shade garden as the trees and understory plants all share nutrients and moisture. It's best to avoid the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides as much as possible; these products tend to damage the soil quality over time and reduce the beneficial microbial life within it. A quality organic compost or slow-release fertilizer will best improve soil structure over time and supplement the garden with essential macro- and micro-nutrients throughout the year. It is also important to select perennials and bulbs that are suited for shade when planting underneath the tree canopy. Hosta</em>, Heuchera</em>, Ligularia</em> and ferns are shade-loving perennials that thrive in low light conditions and benefit from the protection provided by the tree canopy.</p> As we near the heat of summer in Colorado, I encourage you to begin your own shade garden at home that will provide you with joy and relaxation for many years to come.</p>
Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) has designated May 18 as Plant Conservation Day.</p> Denver Botanic Gardens participates in many plant conservation initiatives. Our botanists collect seed of native plant species to be used in future restoration projects. Our ecologists actively work to protect and restore riparian and grassland habitats at Chatfield Farms. Our geneticists study rare plant populations and assess their genetic diversity to determine appropriate conservation strategies.</p> This year, citizen scientists are joining our conservation initiatives via the Denver EcoFlora Project. The Denver EcoFlora Project</a> calls on citizens of the Denver – Boulder metro area to document the plants and fungi in their communities using iNaturalist</a>, the citizen science app. This application allows users to publish photos of plant, animal, fungal or insect observations with data on when and where it was seen.</p> Over time, this data will create an ecological flora that will show how plants fit into the web of life in the Denver – Boulder metro area. This comprehensive set of data will be shared on a publicly accessible website for use in research about urban ecosystems, environmental education and conservation planning.</p> EcoFlora participants discover and document biodiversity in new and different ways through monthly EcoQuests. Join our EcoQuest mailing list here</a> and consider participating to support plant conservation at Denver Botanic Gardens. </p>
We are all navigating a new landscape. This one feels like a desert – dry, rocky, barren, unknown. Without a doubt, deserts are difficult habitats. Plants that survive in the desert have unique and special qualities.</p>As the corporate partnerships manager, I’m privileged to interact with Denver Botanic Gardens’ corporate partners</a> – our event sponsors</a> and our corporate members</a>. Recently, I’ve been reflecting on how companies in this current COVID-19 context are like cacti that survive – even thrive – in the desert through their hardiness, adaptation and symbiotic interdependence.</p>The companies in our corporate community are as diverse as cacti in a desert. Just as cacti range from under 3 inches to over 40 feet tall, the companies connected to the Gardens range from small, locally-owned restaurants to large national companies. No matter their size, cacti respond quickly to any rainfall and use their extensive root system to store up reserves of water and use that water effectively and efficiently in times of drought.</p></p>I am struck by the tremendous generosity of hardy companies that are pouring resources into the community right now. Companies with strong foundations such as UMB Bank, Xcel Energy, Capital One and Bank of America, among many others, are increasing their giving to support their communities and COVID-19 relief efforts.</p>Cacti also teach us about adapting to extreme environments. I’m in awe of organizations (including the Gardens!) that are innovating in response to this new challenging landscape. VF Corporation, the parent company of Dickies brand, responded to the need for PPE by producing millions of medical isolation gowns and scrubs.</p>Another partner, Mythology Distillery, started making hand sanitizer. On a fun side note, we’re looking forward to the June 1 release of Foragers Gin, produced in collaboration with – and a portion of the proceeds benefitting – the Gardens. </p></p>While we celebrate the companies that are adapting and pressing on, we ache with those forced to close — temporarily or permanently — and the millions who have lost their jobs during this economic drought. We need each other now more than ever through symbiotic relationships in a harsh habitat.</p>During this desert season, may we cultivate an abundance of compassion, empathy and love. And may the Gardens be an oasis for rest, healing and restoration, whether digitally or in person. We invite your organization to join our corporate community</a> through event sponsorship</a> or corporate memberships</a>, which provide robust benefit packages that connect employees and clients to plants with therapeutic and rejuvenating resources.</p>Together, we will traverse this parched landscape. May we all learn from the cacti as well as from the generous, determined and adaptable companies in our community. May our roots grow deeper and our branches stronger. May we savor the surprising beauty of the vibrant flowers that bloom, poignantly reminding of us of joy in the midst of a prickly time.</p></a></p>
At Denver Botanic Gardens, we love all things food</a>. Whether working in our community supporting agriculture (CSA</a>) fields, urban farm projects, community garden plots or Le Potager</a> kitchen garden, our staff are committed to growing and distributing the best possible produce. While much of this bounty is destined for CSA shares or direct sales at farm stands, we also have a strong commitment to donating produce to partner organizations who provide vital hunger relief services in our community:</p> If you haven’t had the chance to eat at SAME Café</a>, located at Colfax and Race, then you may not know that some of the best local, healthy food in town is served up on a pay-what-you-can style menu. SAME is a nonprofit restaurant with a mission of creating community by equalizing the dining experience. One facet of achieving this goal is strong partnerships with local farms for food donation. Unless a farm is operating on the tightest of margins, growing in excess of demand is a pretty common practice. Partners like SAME and Metro Caring</a> (which offers a low-to-no cost grocery shopping experience for their clientele) can take that excess produce and transform it into a product that is even more meaningful to the recipient.</p> Fresh Food Connect</a> offers a unique produce donation opportunity in the Denver-metro area that is a great fit for the home gardener. Using their app, you can sign up for home pick-up of your surplus zucchini and tomatoes (speaking from my own experience, of course) and you can rest easy knowing that it will get to a food pantry or donation site near you. If you live outside of Fresh Food Connect’s current service area and you’d like to donate directly to a food pantry or other project, reach out first to make sure that they accept fresh food donation. While you’re at it, tell them about the app and maybe the next time you’re ready to donate, they’ll be ready to provide pick-up.</p> Donating fresh produce to those who need it most is one of the greatest joys I take from a career in farming. If you are an avid vegetable gardener and haven’t yet made the leap to donation, I challenge you to reach out to one of our partners or connect with someone in your own community. Now more than ever, our community could use a helping hand. </p> This blog post was originally posted on May 5, 2020. We are reposting it today since the message is still relevant. </em></p>
One of springtime’s reminders that all is new are spring-blooming bulbs. Since our visitors cannot stroll through the Annuals Garden and Pavilion during this time when tulips and hyacinths are bursting, I’d like to share this virtual tour.</p> Begin your virtual tour at the main entrance to the Annuals Garden and Pavilion just south of the Oak Grove and Lainie’s Cutting Garden. To your right and left are a mix of Darwin hybrid tulips called Big Ups®. Darwin hybrids are the largest tulips available and are known for their huge blossoms.</li> Walk forward and find yourself under the large pavilion; to your left in the raised bed, notice the deep dark tulip. This Triumph tulip is called ‘Paul Scherer’. Gaze upon this blossom in the afternoon shadows and this darkest of purple tulips appears almost black. Interplanted among the tulips are Papaver nudicaule </em>‘Wonderland White’ (Icelandic poppies). Sorbet® Lilac Ice and Sorbet® XP Blackberry violas (Viola cornuta </em>‘PAS211805’ and ‘PAS867911’ respectively) add another lower carpeted layer of light and dark hues. Hyacinthus</em> orientalis</em> ‘Fondant’ and ‘Dark Dimension’ echoed this light and dark contrast when they peaked in mid-April.</li> Turning 180 degrees, notice the ‘Champagne Bubbles Pink’ Icelandic poppies (P. nudicaule)</em> popping their cheerful blossoms above the yellow pansies. You may be surprised to learn that the Icelandic poppies, pansies and violas planted in this garden were planted in the fall at the same time as the bulbs. These cool-season annuals provide color in the fall, overwinter, and re-emerge in springtime for an early blast of color.</li> Now walk to the south where three promenade beds greet you with a bold mix of orange and purple. Merry Go Round™ is a mix of three different tulip varieties: purple lily-flowered, purple double-flowering and orange double-flowering.</li> On the south side of the promenade beds is a long stretch of pale lilac-colored Triumph tulips called ‘Silver Cloud’. Named after the Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud model, this luxurious tulip does not disappoint. The stately tulips are adorned by fragrant hyacinths called ‘Blue Jacket’. Sturdy-stemmed Triumph tulips are a cross of early blooming and late blooming tulips to make a mid-season bloomed variety. About 3,200 bulbs are planted in this stretch surrounding Amelanchier </em>× grandiflora </em>‘Robin Hill’ (Robin Hill serviceberries), Alnus incana </em>ssp. tenuifolia</em> (mountain alders), Hydrangea</em> quercifolia</em> ‘Pee Wee’ (Pee Wee oakleaf hydrangeas) and Laburnum </em>× watereri </em>‘Vossii’ (goldenchain trees).</li> Look to the north of the promenade beds and you will find a sea of large apricot-colored Darwin hybrid tulips called ‘Daydream’. This raised bed boasts butter-colored and coral-colored hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis </em>‘City of Haarlem’ and H. </em>‘Gipsy Queen’) planted in between the tulips.</li> </ul> The garden is beautiful but there is something missing—our visitors. Until we meet in the garden again remember, “Hope springs eternal.” </p>
</p>As COVID-19 and stay-at-home orders spread across our nation and state, many of us have been looking for activities that allow us to participate in social distancing while also being aware of our essential necessities such as exercise and grocery shopping. This week, members and volunteers can shop our online Spring Plant Sale for plants that check all those boxes! The sale offers a wide selection of fruits, berries, vegetables and culinary herbs that can easily be grown at home. However, if you find your living space is a little on the smaller end and don’t have access to yard space, you can still grow some of your own food. We reached out to our horticulture team to offer a few tips and tricks on growing fruits and vegetables in smaller, unconventional spaces.</p>Planting Indoors</strong></p>It might be hard to believe, but you can grow your own citrus tree inside! Just be sure to use a location that receives a lot of sun. Aside from citrus, strawberries can also grow inside from a hanging basket or container. They need a cold spot to go to in the winter when they are dormant to allow proper fruits and flowers.</li>Salad greens such as lettuce, spinach and herbs, such as basil, parsley and cilantro can also be grown in a sunny window—no balcony or patio necessary!</li></ul>Balcony Planting</strong></p>A lot of plants can easily adapt to balcony living if they receive enough sunlight and are in an adequately sized container. For example, hardy figs, blackberries and raspberries can all be grown on a balcony in a container 5 gallons or larger. Keep in mind these plants may need some extra care during the winter. Try to mulch the base of the plant generously to avoid roots freezing when the temperatures drop.</li>Be sure to consider size when planting fruiting vegetables. Determinant tomatoes and peppers are great for balconies because of their smaller size.</li>When planting herbs take into consideration the type of container you’re placing on your balcony. Containers such as plastic are great for the summer but tend to restrict air movement in the soil. Wood and clay containers allow more air movement but may need to be watered more frequently.</li>Perennial herbs, such as mint, sage, thyme, savory and chives can all grow in a pot on a balcony. Pots 5 gallons or larger will provide ample root space and protect the plant during the winter.</li></ul>Sunlight</strong></p> A key component to any successful garden will be sunlight. Be sure to take note of the amount of sun a plant will need. Full sun plants will need a minimum of 8 hours of direct sunlight.</li></ul>Watering</strong></p>When planting in a container, the general rule is to water when the top inch or two of the soil is dry, but the soil below is still damp. The container should never be completely dry.</li>Be sure to use a well-draining soil for your plant! Soils with organic compost added will provide nutrients and be beneficial for plants as it will help them grow faster.</li></ul>Starting from Seed</strong></p>Many fruits and veggies and herbs can be started from seed. Watermelon, cantaloupes, corn, beans, squash can all be planted after our last frost around May 20.</li></ul>Keep Space in Mind</strong></p>Wherever you’re planting, try to keep space in mind whether you’re indoors or outdoors. Plants such as strawberries, eggplants and peppers do well in smaller container while lettuce, arugula and spinach may need a larger, shallower container. When in doubt, look for creative ways to optimize your space either with hanging baskets or trellis.</p>Want to Grow More? Join a Community Garden!</strong></p>Community gardens are a great way for small-space dwellers to grow fruits and vegetables that require more traditional growing environments. With many of them offering shared tools and hoses for free or at low cost, community gardens provide an excellent support system for novice vegetables gardeners. Plus, other members can help care for your plants when you are unable to do so. For more information about Urban Gardening and community gardens in the Denver area, check out Denver Urban Gardens.</p>Spring Plant Sale member and volunteer online shopping is open through May 1 at 4 p.m.</strong> or as long as supplies last.</p>
April is Earth Month and a great time to start a compost bin in your own backyard! It is an easy and rewarding way of becoming more sustainable and reducing your carbon footprint. Not only will you help save the planet, but you will also be helping your garden by having fresh, nutrient-rich compost that you can add back into your garden and vegetable beds to help your plants grow. Read on to see how easy it is to start a compost bin.</p> Step 1: Select a location for your compost bin</strong></p> Selecting the best area in your garden for your new compost bin is the first and most important step. A compost bin needs good air flow and sunlight in order work its magic. Choose a site that receives at least three to four hours of full sun each day and allows at least two sides of your bin to have unrestricted air flow. If placing the bin near a fence line or in a corner of the yard, keep the bin at least 2 feet away from the fence/corner so that air can circulate properly. This will also be helpful if you ever need to access behind the bin.</p> </p> Step 2: Collect your materials and assemble your compost bin</strong></p> There are many options when it comes to choosing your compost bin. There are a variety of bins that can be purchased for composting from local retailers and online. The design you choose will depend on the area you have selected in your garden and the amount of space you have available. The most important factor is that your bin has adequate air flow, so you want to be sure that the bin has slots or openings that allow oxygen into the bin from all sides. You can also make your own compost bin with repurposed wood or pallets. A bin size of 1 cubic yard (3’x3’x3’) is adequate to allow the compost to reach the proper temperature to initiate the decomposition process by activating microbial activity. When building your own bin, remember to include easy access points on all sides so that you can open it up periodically to maintain, mix and harvest your compost.</p> Step 3: Add organic matter to your bin</strong></p> Once your bin is set up it’s time to add organic matter to start the decomposition process. As you conduct your seasonal garden maintenance, collect your debris: branches, dried leaves, lawn and leaf clippings. These materials can all be added directly to the compost bin and will break down over time. You can also add kitchen scraps like vegetables, fruits and eggshells (cleaned to remove egg white residue). Avoid adding meat and dairy products and perishable items that will spoil quickly or attract unwanted wildlife. The general rule for a healthy compost pile is to add a 2:1 ratio of brown carbon-rich material (dried and chopped branches/leaves cut or shredded finely) to green nitrogen-rich material (kitchen scraps, fresh lawn and leaf clippings). You can layer these materials to allow for proper air flow and oxygenation within your bin.</p> </p> </p> Step 4: Water your compost bin</strong></p> A compost bin requires moisture to begin and maintain a healthy microbial presence, which in turn allows for the decomposition process to take place. Your new compost bin should be watered at least once a week and monitored to ensure that it is staying moist, especially during the hottest times of the year.</p> </p> Step 5: Turn your compost once a month</strong></p> Turning or mixing your compost once a month will also help ensure proper oxygenation of your compost bin and will help speed up the decomposition process.</p> Step 6: Let nature take its course</strong></p> Creating a healthy compost bin system that produces high yields of nutritious compost throughout the year takes time to become established. Expect it to take approximately four to six months for your initial compost starter material to begin decomposing and building the natural microbial life needed. Within eight to 12 months you will be able to harvest compost to add back into your garden beds. This is another great reason to start your new compost bin NOW!</p> Step 7: Harvest your fresh, homemade compost from your bin</strong></p> You have made it this far in the backyard composting journey and you should be very proud of your achievement! You have become a more sustainable individual/household, reduced your carbon footprint drastically by not adding as much to the landfill and now have fresh, nutrient-rich and FREE compost to add back into your vegetable and garden beds. When you’re ready to add your new compost into the garden, simply open one of your access points on the bin and rake or shovel out the bottom layer of the compost bin. You will see where the organic matter has decomposed into a dark, rich soil that you can extract and then reapply to your gardens. Once you have removed this material, give your remaining compost bin a quick mix and water well. Let the compost bin do the rest.</p> </p> Step 8: Apply your fresh compost to your garden beds</strong></p> This is truly the most rewarding part of the entire composting experience. As you tend to your vegetables and gardens, apply a layer of compost around the base of each plant and gently till into the top 1-2 inches of existing soil. Add compost into your container gardens and mix in with new plantings around the roots. Within a matter of weeks, you will see how this amendment of the soil will invigorate you plants to grow and produce astoundingly.</p> </p> Denver Botanic Gardens’ Green Team is thrilled that you are considering taking our composting challenge! We hope that you find it as fun and rewarding as we do, and we would love to hear about your experiences on this incredible composting journey to becoming more sustainable.</p>
