FREE DAYS
Free days for Colorado residents are held throughout the year at both Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, thanks to funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). Free Days occur during regular Gardens hours only, and do not include ticketed events.
Free Days at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield is on Friday, Aug. 1.
2008 BONFILS-STANTON LECTURE SERIES - “GARDEN PERSONALITIES”
Stay up on current trends and innovative gardens by attending lectures by renowned speakers from around the world. Here is your chance to learn from the best.
AUGUST LECTURE:
The Maverick in the Garden
Beauty’s Only Skin Deep: James Rose’s Modern Landscape Aesthetic
with Dean Cardasis, a fellow of the American Society of Landscape Architects and Director of Landscape Architecture Graduate Programs at Rutgers University. He is also a co-founder and director of The James Rose Center for Landscape Architectural Research and Design in Ridgewood, N.J., for which he won the ASLA’s Classic Award and Centennial Medallion in 1999.
Sat., Aug. 16, 11 a.m.
Cost: Pre-registration for individual Bonfils-Stanton programs: $17 member, $22 non-member. Entire series: $109. Day of the event: $25, if space available.
Registration: Call 720-865-3580, e-mail registrar@botanicgardens.org or visit www.botanicgardens.org and click on the “Education” link.
STORY TIME IN THE GARDENS
Saturdays and Sundays, May 31-Sept. 21, 10-11 a.m.
Children of all ages will enjoy listening to stories about plants, animals and nature from storytellers. Set in the Children’s Secret Path, entrance is included with admission to the Gardens.
SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE
Farming the City: Creating Community Roots
with Kipp Nash
Join us for an inspiring evening with Kipp Nash, the mind behind the revolutionary neighborhood food project in Boulder’s Martin Acres subdivision. Kipp has been featured in the Boulder Daily Camera and the Wall Street Journal for his innovative multi-plot urban farming program, Community Roots (see www.communityrootsboulder.org for details and photos). Kipp will present an overview of the process of developing Community Roots; where Community Roots is now; and where it and neighborhood farming will go in the future. He will discuss his project’s tools, methods, and techniques, and include a discussion of how someone can start their own Neighborhood Food Project. Stay after the talk to enjoy a cup of coffee and a chance to engage in discussion with your neighbors. $12 member, $15 non-member.
Wednesday, August 13, 7:00 p.m.
SPECIAL GUEST LECTURE
Treasures of the Veld:
Wildflowers of South Africa with Ernst Van Jaarsveld of
South Africa’s Kirstenbosch Botanical Garden
We are privileged to have a leading field botanist speak to us about the enormous floristic diversity of South Africa, one of the world’s richest areas for plants. Ernst has worked at Kirstenbosch, the South African National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, for nearly 40 years. He has written hundreds of scientific and popular articles about South African flora, and published many classic books on a variety of topics. No one has traveled more extensively around that diverse country than Ernst, and no one can convey the excitement and richness of this nation that is home to one out of every 10 plants that grow on planet earth.
Co-sponsored by the North American Rock Garden Society.
Wednesday, Aug. 20, 7 p.m.
2008 FITNESS WALKS & T'AI CHI
Every Tuesday morning June 3-Aug. 26, 7-9 a.m.
Enjoy a fitness walk throughout Denver Botanic Gardens in its early morning glory. Additionally, a T'ai Chi class will be offered by the T'ai Chi Project from 7:15-8:15 a.m. All fitness levels are welcome and healthy snacks will be provided by AARP. Free admission for Denver Botanic Gardens, AARP and T’ai Chi members. There is a suggested donation of $5 for the general public/non-members.
The presenting sponsor of Fitness Walks & T’ai Chi is AARP.
*2008 SIGNATURE EXHIBITION*
URBAN NATURE
April 19 – Nov. 30
Always an urban oasis, the Gardens is embracing the city in new ways in 2008. “Urban Nature” explores the intersection of the urban environment and the natural world through art and horticultural practices, outlining strategies that all city dwellers can employ to evoke the natural world as green space diminishes amid concrete and steel. A sense of contrast, yet balance, with the natural gardens will be realized through paintings by more than 10 local, national and internationally-known street-style painters and mural artists including prominent international personalities Lady Pink, Mac, and Siloette – all of whom have contributed to the ever-evolving history of street-style art. Other local and regional talent includes artists Amanda Marie, Elisabeth Bunker, Delton Demarest, Dread, Sophie Fernandez, Javier Flores, Stevon Lucero, Jolt, Mission, Adam Moorhead, Todd Robinson, Ian Rumley, and Wiser.
Balcony displays, container gardening, and the concept of the urban homestead and other unique horticultural practices for city dwellers will be highlighted, as well. Pertinent issues facing city life will be addressed through a comprehensive program schedule, including panel discussions, music performances, and educational classes for the urban gardener. Additional indoor exhibitions will address concepts of urban nature as well, including botanical illustrations highlighting indoor plants and city weeds.
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Demonstration
Friday, August 1, 10 – 11 a.m.; Free with Gardens Admission
Gardens visitors can enjoy the sights and sounds of Denver’s city garden watching the rhythmic of Cleo Parker Robinson dancers – complete with energetic performance and intriguing storytelling. Since 1970, the group has helped bring multicultural dances and choreography to the forefront of contemporary art.
Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Workshop
Monday, August 4, 3:00 – 4:30 p.m.; Free Workshop (registration required)
Participants will learn to express themselves through movement under the guidance of professional Cleo Parker Robinson Dance instructors. No experience necessary. Maximum enrollment: 20. Visit www.botanicgardens.org to register or phone 720-865-3580.
“A House is a House for Me: Land, Science and Art Meet”
Sunday, August 10, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Chatfield; $45 members / $50 non-members
The Gardens is teaming with innovative non-profit Colorado Art Ranch (www.coloradoartranch.org) to spark conversation and science-based artworks. In this half-day workshop, explore home-making as an endeavor of animals as well as humans. The day will include presentations and conversation about animal habitats and art inspired by animal homes, as well as an artist-led building activity using natural materials. Visit www.botanicgardens.org to register or phone 720-865-3580.
Urban Sounds Percussion Circle
Sunday, August 31, 2:00 p.m.; Free with Gardens admission
Bring your drum, tambourine, or grab one of our trashcans to participate. No prior drumming knowledge necessary.
Several exhibits at the Gardens complement “Urban Nature” including:
“Synthesis” – Denver Botanic Gardens – Gates Garden Court
Denver Botanic Gardens presents the art of Denver native Robin Schaefer. Schaefer has been exhibiting in the community since 2003. She uses traditional oil painting techniques to execute work that is complex and alluring, exposing subtle yet vivid details. Schaefer’s portraits of fruits and vegetables often juxtapose severe, human-made objects. These images evoke vulnerability and the tension between nature and the built environment. “Synthesis” runs July 15 through Aug. 29.
“The Art of Nature” – Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield will host “The Art of Nature” exhibit. This presentation of art embraces natural materials. Panoramic vistas of the foothills serve as the backdrop for site-specific installations by Durango-based environmental artist Mary Ellen Long. These works illustrate how people can express themselves by harnessing nature’s own tools from the earth. “The Art of Nature” will take place from May 3 through Nov. 30.
Visit www.botanicgardens.org for more information.
The presenting sponsor of “Urban Nature” is Wells Fargo.
FREE WILDFLOWER TOURS ON MOUNT GOLIATH
Tuesdays and Thursdays, from June26-Aug. 7 and Saturdays July 5, July26 and Aug. 2
Discover the life cycles and lore of alpine tundra and the intense beauty of a natural garden that lasts only 40 frost-free days on a free guide-led tour on the M. Walter Pesman Trail of Mount Goliath. The hike is a moderately difficult 1.5-mile downhill trek from an altitude of 12,152 to 11,540 feet. Mount Goliath, a mountain peak section of the Mount Evans area, is 17 miles from Idaho Springs and located within the Arapaho National Forest. The wildflowers, ancient bristle cone pine trees and awesome vistas make for a delightful hike in one of Colorado’s most beautiful natural areas. Hikes begin at 8:30 a.m. and leave from the kiosk titled Mount Evans Scenic Byway, located adjacent to the Echo Lake Lodge parking lot off of Highway 103.
Reservations are required. Call 720-865-3539 to reserve your space on a tour.
CAMPS FOR KIDS
Denver Botanic Gardens offers fun-filled camps for kids. Be sure to sign up for one of the following sessions:
July 28- Aug. 1, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., PSI: Plant Science Investigators camp (ages 12-14)
Come join the ranks of Plant Detectives and investigate some of the secrets of plant life. This week is sure to excite the budding scientist.
FÊTE DES FLEURS
Aug. 15
The Fête des Fleurs is Denver Botanic Gardens' premier summer fundraising event, showcasing the breathtaking beauty of our late-summer Gardens. The 2008 Fête will include an elegant dinner-dance at the Gardens for more than 300 distinguished guests, as well as lively entertainment. Tables are $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000. Tickets are $300 per person.
The Presenting Sponsor of Fête des Fleurs is UMB Bank.
MEMBER-ONLY NIGHT AT THE GARDENS
Wednesday, Aug. 20 from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
Gardens’ members will receive a special preview of the “Urban Nature” exhibition. Members can also take advantage of this night when the Gardens is closed to the general public to let their children explore the Children’s Secret Path, take a leisurely stroll or enjoy a casual summer picnic.
CAFE BOTANIQUE
Café Botanique is a part of the Botanical Art and Illustration Program and is open to everybody. The 30-90 minute talks start at 6:30 p.m. and are followed by a discussion. Café Botanique These lectures create an atmosphere where botanical science, research and art provide communication topics for academia, artists and the general public at Denver Botanic Gardens’ Botanical Art and Illustration. There is no admission fee and pre-registration is not required. Sessions run through Nov. 20, 2008. Send e-mail to mervihj@botanicgardens.org for more information.
Aug 13: Betsy Neely, Senior Conservation Planner, The Nature Conservancy, Boulder: TBA (Colorado Rare Plant Initiative)
PORTRAITS OF HEIRLOOM PLANTS
Connors Exhibition Case in Gates Garden Court
July 8 – Aug. 31
The Gardens’ Botanical Illustration program exhibits careful renderings of perennial flowers and vegetables from the class of heirloom plants. These plants, many no longer used in modern large-scale agricultural or horticultural efforts, are enjoying a return to popularity. Many gardeners grow them for their historical interest, others to preserve the plant for future generations.
GARDENING HELP
We have answers to your gardening questions! Colorado Master Gardeners are available to answer questions every Tuesday, Saturday and Free Day from March-September from Noon-4 p.m. (In June and July, the program is also staffed on Thursdays). New this year, the program will run year-round. Days and hours for October-February to be determined.
Access our experts the following ways:
In-person at the Gardens' Helen Fowler Library
By phone: 720-865-3575
Via e-mail: gardeninghelp@botanicgardens.org
Gardening Help is a joint program of Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and Denver Botanic Gardens.
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