What Three Years of Data Say About Tree Response to Planting Conditions
Welcome to the third (and most exciting!) update on the High Line Canal tree project, a multi-year collaborative project between the Gardens and the High Line Canal Conservancy. We have been
A Tale of Two Orchids
There are 26 native orchid species (family Orchidaceae) in Colorado. Native orchids often rely on specific pollinators or fungal partners, which can limit their ranges. But while many are uncommon and
EcoQuest: Make the Grade
iNaturalist has unwrapped the Year in Review, showcasing highlights and scientific triumphs from 2025. We’d like to take a moment to celebrate our Denver-Boulder metro community by sharing local
Floristic Inventory at Daniels Park
This summer I led a floristic inventory at Daniels Park, a 1,001-acre Denver Mountain Park home to a herd of bison located south of Denver. A floristic inventory documents the species of plants in a
The Gardens at the Society for Ecological Restoration International Conference
Every other year, the Society for Ecological Restoration hosts an international conference convening restoration researchers and practitioners from around the globe. This year, the conference was held
Finding Fuzzy Fungi During the Manitou Experimental Forest Foray
Our mandate to discover, sample and document fungal diversity in the Southern Rockies has us constantly evaluating new information to direct our efforts. While we would like to think we have done a
Digital Innovation in the Garden: Tools that Simplify Plant Acquisition
In fall 2022, the Gardens was awarded an Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) Museums for America grant to create a new acquisition system for horticulture collections. Now, the project is
Season Accomplishments: Native Seed Increase
As a quick refresher, the Research and Conservation Department has launched a new Native Seed Increase project this year in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Motivated by the need
X-ray Imaging to Determine Seed Quality
Last August, the Research and Conservation Department received a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) to “advance the North American Botanic Garden Strategy for Alpine Plant
Bred for the West
You may have heard of the Plant Select® program—a collaboration between Denver Botanic Gardens, Colorado State University and green industry partners. Its mission is simple: to introduce plants that
The Science of Sowing: Designing Custom Seed Mixes for Colorado Landscapes
Scattering a few ounces of seed onto dry Colorado soil can feel more like hoping than planting. Folks who’ve tried store-bought wildflower mixes might know the frustration: despite following
Athletes, Survivalists and Opportunists in Your Garden
Understanding the plants we share our planet with is a key mission of botanic gardens worldwide. Denver Botanic Gardens delivers on this goal through collaborative research with universities and other