Restoring Colorado’s Front Range
Restoration is an integral part of land management and conservation. As natural disasters and human activity continue to impact biodiversity and wildlife habitat, it is becoming increasingly important
Meet the Endemic Rocky Mountain Monkeyflower
Last August I spent a day scrambling up steep granite outcroppings perched high above a popular hiking trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. Colleagues and I were searching for patches of Rocky
Steppe plants, from the wilds to your gardens
The steppe is a vast, treeless plain. A seemingly endless horizon interrupted only by the faint jagged line of mountains in the distance. In summer, the grasses dance in the warm breeze. In the winter
Incorporating Penstemon Into Your Landscape
“You can never have too many penstemons in your yard!” my coworker recently exclaimed. I would agree. Species of this genus display showy spikes of brightly colored, bilateral flowers high above basal
Plant Matchmakers
Here at the Gardens, our horticulturists are always searching for new and charismatic plants to grow and display. This ambition leads our staff around the globe on exploration trips from Patagonia to
Paintbrush: Colorado’s Vampire Plants
The colorful displays of Paintbrush that enliven natural landscapes from our grassy steppe to the alpine tundra make them one of Colorado’s most recognizable wildflowers. The genus Castilleja, to
February Walking Tour – Making One Last Stand
There’s something to be said for things that survived 2020, even in the world of plants. Wandering the Gardens in February and March, we still see the skeletal remains of the 2020 flower show, and it
Colorado’s Native Orchids
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