How to estimate a total population size of a rare plant and why it matters
April 11, 2022
Michelle DePrenger-Levin
Conservation of rare species involves knowing where they are found and how many individuals are in a population. If a species can only survive in certain habitats, then any changes to that habitat can
Anxiously Awaiting Spring
April 14, 2021
Michelle DePrenger-Levin
Spring is the season where I switch from working in the office on a quest to discover patterns in our data that predict the behavior of rare plant populations to venturing out to the field to view
The Thrills of Finding and Growing Cacti
January 27, 2021
Brooke Palmer
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
Rare Spring Blooms
June 6, 2019
Michelle DePrenger-Levin
On the western slope of Colorado you will find populations of a rare ball cactus with lilac flowers that bloom a few days a year when the sun is shining and pollinators are flying. Each Colorado
Tracking Cactus Populations
May 16, 2018
Research & Conservation
Sneaky Spines and Careful Measurements Sweeping western slope views, slightly menacing rain clouds and beautiful, tough plants surrounded us. I listened for my field partner to shout out cactus
Winter Planning for Summer Research Projects
February 28, 2018
Research & Conservation
Many of the beautiful places where we study plants and mushrooms are dormant and snow-covered this time of year, but the Research & Conservation department is still humming with activity! In the
Pollination Research
June 19, 2013
Rebecca Hufft, Ph.D.
Pollinators provide critical ecosystem services. Pollinator research is important to better understand the relationships between pollinators and plants and to improve conservation and management of
What threatens the Colorado hookless cactus?
May 19, 2009
Michelle DePrenger-Levin
What threatens Sclerocactus glaucus? Installation and maintenance of huge pipelines that move oil and gas from the well pads miles and miles to the collection facilities; roads; browsing and trampling
Denver Botanic Gardens spends springtime in the field
May 8, 2009
Michelle DePrenger-Levin
Each year, as spring rolls around, the Research and Conservation staff load up a 4-wheel drive vehicle with our gear, head out across Colorado and the Rocky Mountain west region in search of rare