Now that it’s July and seedlings have had time to root in, container displays around the Gardens are taking off — bulking up in size, spilling over edges and launching flower stalks. Come with me as we wander among some of this season’s most colorful and dynamic displays. </p> First stop, the large containers outside the Bonfils-Stanton Visitor Center</strong>. Each pot is filled with citrus-colored flowers that echo the theme of neighboring beds – “So glad to see you,” a joyful hello to all who pass by. Although I chose the theme over a year ago, it has proven unexpectedly apt, reflecting the gratitude we feel welcoming visitors back. The highlight of this design is the tropical legume Senna didymobotrya</em> planted on either side of two cannas. Each plant has long stems that arch inward and, at distance, remind me of a person’s arms raised up in excitement before hugging a friend. Yellow, round flowers and leaves that smell like toasted corn give this beauty its common name, popcorn cassia. </li> Next stop, outside Marnie’s Pavilion</strong> where colleague Nick Daniels has transformed the low walls into a wondrous collection of cacti and succulents. This display encapsulates the principle that contrast is completion. It is diverse, unifying and satisfies our love of visual drama. Note how the variegated Agave attenuata</em> ‘AGAVWS’ Ray of Light pops in front of the brilliant red Aloe dorotheae.</em></li> From here we walk south to the Science Pyramid,</strong> where colleague Mike Holloway shows his talent for plant mixology -- combining cool and hot colors, spiny geometric forms and soft cascading ones. You’ll see more of his talents in the Victorian Secret Garden to the northwest, where kitsch is elevated to high art. Humorous touches — including a head planted with a bromeliad wig — are mixed with elegant combinations of foliage plants.</li> But first pass through the Steppe Garden</strong> to see an eclectic mixture of high-altitude gems displayed in front of the waterway. Colleague Sonya Anderson has assembled plants from four steppe regions, including a large pelargonium that looks like a tree and a king protea.</li> More must-see containers await in the Annuals Garden and Pavilion</strong>, where colleague Bridget Blomquist has lined beams of the pergola with baskets of silver dichondra, magenta geraniums and an Alternanthera </em>the color of red wine. The plants match those in planters below with equal lushness, making you feel as if you’ve escaped into a flower tunnel.</li> Next stop, South African Plaza</strong> where colleague Mike Kintgen transports us to the tip of Africa and nearby Madagascar and Sub-Saharan Africa. Here you’ll find flora that’s both familiar and unusual. Pelargoniums join lesser known specimens, such as Senecio </em>and Kalanchoe</em>, in pots on the terrace and in an adjacent bed of flowering torches, known as Kniphofia</em>.</li> Finally, walk through Le Potager,</strong> past a sea of larkspur to the gazebo and you'll find a container of Abutilon </em>‘Souvenir de Bonn’. Encircling it are wands of Campanula glomerata</em>, mingling so naturally with the flowering maple that you’d think they grew in the pot too. In fact, the campanula grows in the bed and the potted Abutilon </em>was placed there by colleague Ebi Kondo to create a seamless effect.</li> </ul>
When it’s hard to imagine the future, it’s powerful to contemplate history. We gain perspective, insight and maybe a few important lessons. We can find role models, people who persevered in tough times. We can see crucial moments, pivot points, when new visions were born.</p> The Gardens’ past is replete with tales of wonder, risk-taking, challenges and triumphs. Today, we have seen our lives turned upside down and share with everyone a need to adapt to a shocking reality that is anything but normal. Our heroes are now those working in medicine, scientific research and food production. Truck drivers and grocery store staff are front of mind. People who call for justice and a better social order have already moved the world. In fact, there seem to be heroes everywhere as something noble is born when needs are great.</p> At the Gardens, there are plenty of heroes. Even when the gates were locked, dedicated team members tended our living collections and every department focused on keeping our institution viable and ready to do our part as the public returns to heal. Creativity abounds. For example, it would have been logical to cancel Spring Plant Sale in its 70th year; but an undaunted staff, in a short span of time, created an online, curbside pick-up event that gave us a much-needed boost. </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> When tragedy strikes, most of us become reacquainted with a sense of humility which can serve as a powerful force for positive change. Humility refreshes respect, openness, engagement. It triggers a sense of wonder and gratitude for small gestures and our connections to the natural world that we may have overlooked.</p> Perhaps we should imagine how our actions during this time will dictate the future. Maybe that is the greatest gift of history, prompting the intention to shoulder responsibility for what comes next. </p> We forge a new path, resolute, with gratitude for all of you and the community we share.</p> Read the summer issue of Inside the Gardens</a>. </p>
It is on the brisk days of winter such as these that I long for the summer days I used to spend out in the field collecting data on Colorado rare plants. In my opinion, very few things beat the thrill of traveling to the backcountry to search and document the existence of incredible plants only seen by few. That is, very few experiences could not beat this thrill until I started trying to grow them. </p> This story starts back when I was merely an intern in a government office. Before becoming a horticulturist at the Gardens, I was an intern at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State office. Although the office is stationed close to Denver, I would often find myself wandering the dry, desert hills of the Colorado Western Slope. I was drawn to the rare, threatened Sclerocactus glaucus</em>, the Colorado hookless cactus.</p> The Colorado hookless cactus is endemic to Colorado, meaning it only grows here. Being a small, cylindrical cactus found in high-elevation deserts of western Colorado, it is a cactus that can easily be overlooked. Unfortunately, it often is by ranchers and those extracting oil and gas from our public lands. I spent many hours playing thrilling games of “I Spy…a little cactus!” on my weeks in the field. The Research & Conservation Department also plays this game every year, searching and recording on plots that are not monitored by the BLM. I usually won the game of “I Spy,” finding dime- and quarter-sized cacti, but occasionally, I got lucky and was rewarded with the brilliant pink blooms of the larger ones.</p> When I started working at the Gardens full time, I was grandfathered into a special germination project, partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. No, it was not for Colorado’s own hookless cactus, but of her close sister, Sclerocactus wetlandicus</em>, a.k.a. Uinta Basin hookless cactus (a rare Utah endemic). They are so similar, in fact, they used to be grouped under the same name but recently were placed into their own species due to their genetic differences. </p> Anyone who grows cacti knows it is difficult to germinate and cultivate them in greenhouse settings. This hookless cactus is no different; the seeds required precise, physical means of gently chipping some of the seed coat to help break seed dormancy and achieve germination (seed dormancy is a nifty adaptation many plants have evolved to make sure they only germinate during favorable environmental conditions). After the tedious task of chipping seed coats, a task nearly as monotonous as searching for quarter-sized cacti in the field, I was rewarded all the same: wonderful cacti seedlings appeared before my eyes; a prize that rivaled finding for them in the field. </p> All the same, growing them on to a suitable size has been a slow process, but nevertheless steady. A year into starting this project, the seedlings are still small, and yet, the thrill and amazement of growing such a special plant never ceases over all this time. It is truly an honor to be growing plants like this (and many others) in the Gardens’ greenhouses.</p>
It won’t be January for long, and my thoughts are already on warmer weather and the arrival of spring! Typically, the arrival of spring is heralded by a number of traditions: the vernal equinox, the Hindu celebration of Holi, the Persian New Year, or the Japanese tradition of Hanami under the cherry blossoms. In the United States, our own National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington D.C. commemorates a gift of Japanese cherry trees while also celebrating their springtime blooms. Prior to that gift of cherry trees in 1912, however, a different kind of tradition indicated the arrival of spring for those in our nation’s capital. </p> After the end of slavery in the United States, there were few (if any) avenues for recently freed Black people to establish themselves. The early days of Reconstruction saw the enforcement of “Black codes” – laws in southern states restricting the self-determination of African Americans by limiting their ability to be employed or paid fairly for their work. Out of, or despite, this oppression arose – as Abra Lee</a> calls them – the “legendary flower sellers,” or Black women who came to the cities in spring to sell their flowers to the city-folk.</p> </picture> </div> </article> “Flower-sellers in the market at Washington, D.C.” Harper’s Weekly, 1870. Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division. Source</a></p> Black women outside Washington D.C. took charge of their unjust situation by becoming some of our nation’s earliest flower vendors. They would grow their flowers in rural areas, then bring their beautiful blooms into the cities to sell. The arrival of these women with their trays of flowers meant spring had arrived, too. </p> The Black women flower-sellers were not restricted to Washington D.C., or even to history. In the 19th century Black women selling flowers could be found in places like Richmond, Virginia, and Memphis, Tennessee, as well. The practice continues in Charleston, South Carolina, today. </p> </picture> </div> </article> “Symphony of Flowers” by Elizabeth Verner, circa 1949. The Johnson Collection, South Carolina. Source</a></p> Flower farming is now a major industry for the U.S., but, ironically, lacks color. Until Abra Lee’s talk (see below), I had believed floriculture to be a thoroughly European practice: starting in the Netherlands and following the paths of European settlers in America. History seems to have forgotten the significant role Black women played as both farmers and businesswomen, much like Black women today remain underrepresented in fields like botany and horticulture. </p> This year I look forward to spring in honor of these legendary flower sellers.</p> Explore more!</h4> Abra Lee, founder of Conquer the Soil and 2019/2020 Longwood Fellow, recently gave a talk about “The Invincible Garden Ladies,” focusing on Black women in the history of horticulture. Beginning with the flower sellers story shared here, Lee explores the role that Black women have played as florists, horticultural teachers, nature writers and community members. Watch the recording</a>, part of the Cummer Museum’s Culture & Conversation series. </p>
Volunteers have always been integral to Denver Botanic Gardens’ success. In fact, our natural history collections</a> are the result of hard work by devoted volunteers. Kathryn Kalmbach and several other volunteers from the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association started collecting pressings of both native and cultivated plants for their herbarium in 1943. The collection was moved to the Gardens and formally dedicated as the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium</a> in November 1960. The Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi</a> is named for Dr. Duane “Sam” Mitchel, a medical internist in Denver who had a collection of mushrooms from Colorado. His fungal herbarium came to the Gardens in the 1960s.</p> </picture> </div> </article> Dr. Duane “Sam” Mitchel working on his microscope in the old herbarium space.</span></span></span></em></p> In the early days, Kathryn, Sam and other volunteers were the main contributors of specimens to the collections. They identified, processed and accessioned all their incoming plants and fungi. Over time, the Research & Conservation Department was established to oversee the herbaria as the Gardens was able to hire on some of the herbarium volunteers as staff. Now, the Research & Conservation Department is even more expanded, but volunteers still make up a huge portion of the processing effort for the collection of nearly 100,000 specimens.</p> </picture> </div> </article> Long-time volunteer Eleanor Von Bargen preparing orchid specimens for inclusion in the herbarium when it was located in the Boettcher Memorial Center.</span></span></span></em></p> In fall 2019 we stopped large-scale herbarium processing in preparation for the collections move into the new Freyer – Newman Center for Science, Art and Education. It was the first time that the herbaria were effectively closed to volunteers for any extended period. Volunteers were going to be invited back right after the move, however, while the collections move went smoothly</a>, the return of herbarium volunteers was dealt another blow – a global pandemic. Following safety guidelines, we had to curtail all volunteer activities in the herbarium.</p> </picture> </div> </article> Long-time volunteer and adjunct researcher Loraine Yeatts on a botanical survey collecting plant specimens for the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium.</span></span></span></em></p> The past year and a half have given the Research & Conservation Department staff a chance to reflect on the importance of our devoted volunteers. We wouldn’t be where we are today without them and we can’t keep up with processing without their continued assistance. Volunteers support research happening across the globe by helping us make our specimen data publishable online</a>. They transcribe data, identify plants and fungi, prepare specimens for long-term storage and image specimens so they may be freely accessed by anyone with internet. We miss our wonderful volunteers and can’t wait to invite them back when the world is a little safer. If you’d like to volunteer in the herbarium in the future, please visit our website</a>. </p>
Mention the name “orchid” and most people imagine brightly colored exotic flowers growing in hot, humid rainforests of the tropics. Many Coloradans are surprised to learn that a number of these striking rarities grow within our state’s own borders. In fact, depending on taxonomic classification, at least 25 different orchid species can be found growing in Colorado. </p> Most of our native orchids are more diminutive than their tropical relatives and can be hard to find, but they possess a unique beauty all their own. The reward in spotting these elusive flowers is in their intricacies and the joy of the hunt. Since our native orchids are dormant most of the year, you must know their growth cycles and preferred habitats to spot them in the wild. Most occur in moist, shaded ravines between 8,000 and 11,000 feet in elevation and peak bloom can be from late May through early September depending on the species. </p> Orchids require a very specific environment for healthy growth and will not be happy in most home gardens. Not only is it irresponsible to remove plants from the wild, it is often illegal. If you stumble upon any of Colorado’s native orchids on one of your hiking adventures – step lightly and do not pick any plants or flowers. Do take plenty of photos to share with friends as proof of your botanical expertise. </p>
Once considered a hobby for the elite, new propagation techniques and the mass production of orchids has made the joy of growing these amazing plants accessible to everyone. Not too long ago, the only place to find orchids to purchase was through mail order catalogs. Now, they can be found at almost any garden center, box store or even your local grocer. Unfortunately, orchids have the undeserved reputation of being difficult to cultivate in the home. While this may be true of some orchid species, thankfully there are hundreds, if not thousands, of orchid species and hybrids now available to hobbyist. If you can grow a houseplant in a windowsill, there is an orchid for you. </p> Good Plants for Beginners</h4> One of the best pieces of advice I ever received concerning growing healthy orchids was to research what conditions a plant wants and then provide those conditions. Sounds simple – right? Put another way: Don’t set yourself up for failure. Know what conditions you can provide and choose a suitable plant with those conditions in mind. Some of the best choices for the first time orchid grower are:</p> Phalaenopsis </em>– Perhaps the number one choice for the first-time orchid grower is the Phalaenopsis</em>, or moth orchid. They readily adapt to our home conditions and reward the grower with flowers that can last for months at a time. Phalaenopsis </em>plants prefer warm temperatures, low light levels and need to stay constantly moist (but never soggy). </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> </p> Paphiopedilum </em>– Another popular choice for beginning orchid growers are Paphiopedilum</em>, or slipper orchids. The flowers can be so ugly they are beautiful – it’s all in the eye of the beholder. Paphiopedilum </em>orchids generally prefer low light levels, warm temperatures and must stay moist but not soggy. Paphiopedilum </em>flowers are also long-lasting.</p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> </p> Dendrobium </em>– The genus Dendrobium </em>contains hundreds of species so there are a wide variety of cultural requirements for this group of plants. Most sold in garden centers will require bright light but can dry out slightly between waterings. Some will require a dry rest period in the fall and/or a drop in temperatures to encourage good blooming. You’ll need to research the specific Dendrobium </em>you have.</p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> </p> Now that you’ve successfully grown and bloomed your first orchid, the sky is the limit! With so many species and hybrids to grow, an orchid hobby can last a lifetime. You can expand your orchid knowledge with the hundreds of books available on the subject, by researching online or by joining a local or national orchid society. And be sure to visit our Orchid Showcase</a>. The possibilities are endless.</p> As your friends admire your beautiful orchids they will marvel at your horticultural prowess. I’ll let you decide whether or not to tell them that it really isn’t as hard as they might believe.</p> Please note: The Orchid Showcase will be closed to the public on Sunday, Jan. 29.</em></p>
