Ahoy there, me hearties! Gather 'round as we set sail on a swashbucklin' adventure like no other at Denver Botanic Gardens. On the 19th of September, we be celebratin' Talk Like a Pirate Day in style. But this ain't just any ordinary celebration – it's a treasure hunt of the botanic kind.</p> Arr, ye can start yer quest by layin' eyes on a map at the information desk in Boettcher Memorial Center or the Science Pyramid—or ye can download one</a>. If ye fancy usin' a virtual map, ye'll find a QR code on the physical map and on signs scattered 'round the Gardens. When ye scan it with yer trusty device, it'll whisk ye away to a virtual StoryMap, unveilin' secrets and tales 'bout the very treasures ye be seekin'. </p>
I am incredibly grateful to have been selected for the Rock Alpine Garden curation and mapping internship position at Denver Botanic Gardens. I looked forward to coming to work every day and getting to work and learn in such a beautiful place, surrounded by such amazing scientific scholars.</p> During my internship I assisted with the general upkeep and maintenance of the Rock Alpine Garden</a>. I learned what weeds to look out for and spent many hours weeding among the flowers. I find weeding to be relaxing and meditative, making this one of my favorite parts of the job. I also watered plants growing in the nursery and watered the 33 troughs scattered throughout the garden beds.</p> I also replaced plant labels, which identify the scientific name of the plant, the common name, the plant family it is a part of and what part of the world the plant is found in. There were an enormous number of labels that were waiting to be placed. I first organized the labels into piles based on the garden beds they were located in, then my mentor Mike Kintgen and I went out and placed the labels. Sometimes we could not locate the plant or found it had died, which is also very valuable information that we recorded on a log sheet to be updated to the Gardens’ database.</p> The final part of my internship was plant mapping. Mike and I located plants from a list of unmapped plants in the Rock Alpine Garden. We then drew their locations on a paper printout of the garden bed in colored pencil and later entered them into BG base so that we had an online record of these plants.</p> I have learned so much about alpine ecosystems and gained appreciation for them. Alpine ecosystems are greatly threatened by climate change and working with endangered alpine plants is of deep interest to me. I also learned that the Gardens has multiple locations and many collaborations, and discovered the impressive amount of research, educational programming and outreach that is done at the Gardens. Visiting the other locations (such as Chatfield Farms and Mount Goliath) as well as other botanical gardens on weekly field trips was extremely valuable and showed me how many different paths horticulture offers. I am so impressed and amazed by all this and feel incredibly lucky to have had this opportunity.</p> This article was contributed by Rock Alpine Garden curation and mapping intern Laurel Trout</strong>. </em></p>
When I was in art school, Spiderwoman Theater, an Indigenous women’s performance troupe, performed at the school. During the Q&A, one of my classmates asked the artists what their tribe thought of them doing modern performance art. Their answer: Many Indigenous people view art as a part of life – just as music, food and nature are a part of life. Everything is connected. This reply has always stuck with me, and this interconnection is always apparent here at Denver Botanic Gardens. Art, music, food and nature are intertwined. Follow this walking tour to explore some of these connections. </p> The gardens that surround the UMB Bank Amphitheater</strong> represent our Colorado landscapes. Although the Summer Concert Series has passed us by, the musical sounds of the plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides</em> ssp. monilifera</em>) leaves fluttering in the wind can be heard in the Grant Family Cottonwood Border.</strong> Don’t forget about the zipping of the hummingbirds moving from Roads Water-Smart Garden</strong> to the Ponderosa Border</strong> in search of a snack and a place to rest. Once Blossoms of Light®</strong> opens for the holiday season, you will get to hear new music that accompanies the synchronized light show in the amphitheater. </li> Meander over toward the Science Pyramid</strong>, and you will find the artwork “Feature Fountain” by Wright McLaughlin. This four-tower fountain is a popular spot to sit and have a bite to eat, listen to the rushing waters and look out onto many of our aquatic gems of waterlilies and cannas (Nymphaea</em> and Canna</em>). Don’t leave until you walk through the annual display of gorgeous blooms of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta</em>), dahlias (Dahlia</em>) and more in the Fountain Bed Garden.</strong></li> Now, head down the path past the Ornamental Grasses Garden</strong>, making sure to take in the beauty of the sculpture “So Proud of My Children” by Nicholas Kadzungura, which is surrounded by the soft colors of Kudos Mandarin Hyssop (Agastache</em> ‘Kudos Mandarin’), and make your way through June’s PlantAsia</strong>. </li> You will notice some exciting renovations on the southside of June’s PlantAsia</strong>, as well as within the Birds and Bees Walk</strong>. Here you will find many places to sit and enjoy mature trees like lacebark pines (Pinus bungeana</em>) or walk along the boardwalk to see our brand-new “habitat hotel district” (artistic walls for insects to nest and overwinter). We couldn’t be more excited to share this habitat paradise with our visitors!</li> Getting tired? Head over to the Hive Garden Bistro</strong> for a bite to eat and a cool drink (I recommend an agua fresca). There’s never a bad time of year to sit on the deck and enjoy the views of Monet Pool</strong>. As we move closer to fall and winter, the view from the deck will transition from a sea of blooms in the pool and the creative, artistic kitchen garden, Le Potager Garden</strong>, to pumpkin displays for Glow at the Gardens™</strong> and then Blossoms of Light</strong>. </li> </ul> The coming months still offer musical soundscapes for our fall and holiday events, delicious food and drinks from our restaurants, and artwork throughout the grounds (explore the galleries in the Freyer – Newman Center </strong>during your visit) and nature. So. much. nature. Enjoy what life has to offer: art, music, food, nature. Everything is connected. </p>
There are many ways to increase soil health in your garden. One of those is using deep mulch to cover beds.</p> Often used in combination with other sustainable farming practices</a> like crop rotation and intercropping, deep-mulch farming uses a thick layer of organic material, such as straw or wood chips, to cover soil. One of the main benefits of deep-mulch farming is that it can reduce the amount of time and energy needed for weeding and watering, as the mulch helps to retain moisture and suppress weed growth. Additionally, as the mulch decomposes, it feeds the soil ecosystem and improves the structure and fertility of the soil. </p> The initial cost of purchasing or gathering enough mulch material can be a significant upfront expense, particularly for larger farms or gardens. However, you can often find landscape companies that will drop off truckloads of wood chips for little or no charge.</p> Certain types of mulch, such as straw, can harbor pests like slugs and pill bugs. This can be a problem if the pests become a nuisance or cause damage to crops. However, mulch also provides habitat for beneficial insects, like spiders, that help control pests. </p> Overall, the pros and cons of using deep mulch will depend on the specific circumstances of your garden, such as the size and type of crops being grown, the local climate, soil conditions and the availability of mulch material. </p> Ready to deep-mulch? Here is some additional reading to help you prepare:</p> Types of Mulching, Advantages of Mulching in Farming</a></li> Deep Mulch Gardening – The Good AND The Bad</a> </li> </ul>
