This past December I had a unique opportunity to travel to Puerto Guadal, Chile, and visit two farms in the area. The first farm I visited was called Huerto Cuatro Estaciones, a farm growing mixed vegetables, herbs and flowers using biointensive, low-tillage methods on a scale similar to Chatfield Farms. I attended a five-day course covering tools, techniques and team and workflow organization methods used at this farm. I also visited Raices Floridas, another farm nearby growing a variety of medicinal plants, herbs and flowers using hoop houses and no-till beds to create value-added products. </p> Farmers in this region experience similar geographic challenges to Front Range farmers such as high winds, unpredictable and extreme weather, pests and disease. They also share a similar history of agricultural practices and land management programs that have degraded soils and ecosystems. Their solutions to these challenges reflect current movements in small-scale agriculture towards more regenerative systems.</p> Both farms focus on and teach about encouraging and protecting biodiversity as a key part of maintaining a healthy agricultural system. They also focus on sustainability by minimizing external inputs by necessity as they are in rural areas, several hours of rugged driving from any city. I was inspired by their focus on good land stewardship, their dedication to the improvement of soil health through closed-loop composting systems and no-till practices, their focus on supporting pollinator and beneficial insect populations, their innovative wind and weather protection structures and commitment to community building.</p> Our goal is to demonstrate many of these same practices at Chatfield Farms, and to continue to be a great educational resource for our guests, local producers, and members of our community supported agriculture program. Through this opportunity I was able to make new connections and widen our net of information sharing helping keep Denver Botanic Gardens and our members apprised of current agricultural movements, tools and techniques used all over the world.</p>
Falling on Saturday, April 22 this year, Earth Day</a>’s theme has been announced as “Invest in our Planet.” A celebration of environmental action and protection, Earth Day serves as a call to all citizens to do their part for the planet. To invest in the planet is to invest in a healthy and sustainable future for generations to come. Earth Day is an opportunity to cherish the time spent in nature, and Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms</a> is the perfect immersive setting. </p> Nestled in the foothills south of Denver, Chatfield Farms serves as a working farm, an oasis of ornamental gardens and a refuge for multiple species of wildlife and pollinators. When visitors arrive, they may first notice the wide-open, wild spaces of the Platte River Valley, followed by acres of sustainable agriculture and ornamental horticulture over gentle grades in the shadow of the Dakota Lyons hogback. There are also walking trails, riparian areas and wildlife habitat. Throughout the gardens, plants will be awakening from their winter slumber, and spring bulbs and flowering shrubs and trees will be making their presence known with fragrant blooms. </p> This year, Chatfield Farms is hosting several Earth Day-related educational opportunities and demonstrations for all ages on April 22 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.:</strong></p> Sustainable agricultural demonstrations such as planting, composting and vermiculture will be taught by skilled farmers.</li> Irrigation audits and water quality demonstrations will cover the topic of water scarcity and conservation of resources.</li> Educational staff will be stationed across the property to teach the young and young at heart about the wonders of the planet and Chatfield Farms’ ecosystems.</li> Barrel train rides will be available for those who want to take a spin around the property.</li> </ul> April 22 is an SCFD Free Day, so admission to Chatfield Farms is free all day! Earth Day activities take place 10 a.m. – 2p.m. and are also free. Snacks and refreshments will be available for purchase. The site has numerous shaded picnic tables and sunny picnicking areas for those who choose to bring their own food. Advanced registration is required. Get tickets.</a></strong></p> Celebrate Earth Day outdoors this year with likeminded peers, learn how to invest in our planet and behold the sights and sounds of nature at Chatfield Farms. </p> Chatfield Farms is located at 8500 W Deer Creek Canyon Road in Littleton, just off of C-470 & Wadsworth Blvd. </p>
Gardens are especially exciting in the early spring. While much of the landscape remains dormant, bulbs erupt in vibrant displays of life that fill us with anticipation of the transition of seasons. Spring in Colorado is erratic, often filled with wintry weather and deceivingly warm days. Months before it is safe to plant tender annual flowers, there are bulbs that flourish in the chaos of our spring. </p> Rock gardens provide a perfect sanctuary for these determined little flowers, and there are bulbs that thrive in every habitat, from dry and exposed gritty spaces to shaded woodland environments. </p> Lenten rose, snowdrops, dwarf iris, cyclamen and crocus all begin to bloom late in winter. These are followed in the early spring by daffodils, hyacinths, anemones and pasqueflowers. Eventually we see ornamental onions, grape hyacinths and tulips. While this list is by no means exhaustive, it does include a few of my favorite varieties blooming this time of the year:</p> Helleborus angustifolius</em>. The dark, evergreen leaves are a foundation plant in the rock garden. Its pale green flowers bloom throughout the late winter and cool spring. It reseeds sporadically throughout the garden, which is a welcome gift for an ever-changing garden. Typically, 1 to 1.5 feet tall and wide, it is large for a rock garden plant, but smaller than most woody foundation plants, and offers a different color and texture than other evergreens in the rock garden. It performs best in shade to part-shade areas that hold a bit more moisture. </li> Iris reticulata</em>. Most of the dwarf cultivars come from the reticulate species of Iris</em>, but there are many similarly early flowering and dwarfed species. These bulbs perform exceptionally in well-drained, sunny locations. They’ll bloom for several weeks in February or March depending on the weather. Beloved by bees, these flowers also hold up in snowstorms. </li> Tulipa humulis</em>. The best tulips for rock gardens are called species tulips. Tulipa humulis</em> is just one of many ‘species tulips’ that are perfect in a rock garden. They are later blooming, in April and May, when the threat of snow and frost still looms. </li> </ul> Bulbs inspire the feeling that spring has come, offering a new and fresh start. Hold on to that inspirational feeling; the bulbs you see in the early spring are best planted in fall. Not much else in gardening is as satisfying as experiencing the bulbs you planted last year emerge and signal the transition of seasons. </p> </p> This article was contributed by Erik Howshar</strong></em>, </strong>horticulturist at Chatfield Farms.</em> </p>
When designing your own garden, the practical considerations are the most important decisions. The creative aspects of your design are more nuanced and may be where you need the most help. Here are some design principles to keep in mind. You certainly do not need to use all these concepts, but they’ll give you some food for thought.</p> Primary Design Principles </h4> Style, atmosphere, surroundings</strong>: What style/feeling are you aiming for? A low-stimulus and relaxing retreat, an inspiring entertaining area or a diverse habitat for pollinators? Are you in the city or the mountains? What style harmonizes with your surroundings?</p> Lines: </strong>Do you want straight lines or curves for your garden beds? A combination? If you are going to do curves, make sure they are strong, purposeful curves, not arbitrary wiggly edges. Sight lines are important in a garden—you don’t want your eye drawn straight to a utility box!</p>
Growing up in Vermont, I was immersed in a culture of environmentalism before I understood what that even meant. At age 5, I was part of a “kids against pollution” club where a group of friends and I got together on Sunday afternoons and sauntered around local parks recording strangers talking about their perspectives on the climate crisis. We were accompanied by an ambitious mom who perhaps thought folks might be more responsive to such controversial topics when approached by a group of disarming 4 to 7-year-olds. While at the time I assumed I was simply playing with friends and meeting new adults, I understand now that we were stimulating important conversations about an exponentially urgent issue. </p> Reading the news about wildfires burning the Earth’s lungs (i.e., forests), hurricanes sinking our largest cities, floods and droughts leaving our fields fallow, plastic islands and warming temperatures damaging the once flourishing ocean life can leave us feeling helpless and overwhelmed. But action can be a cure for discouragement. I view this crisis as a more manageable problem when I remember that it is caused by humans, and therefore, I can make a positive impact by taking specific daily actions to help the environment</a>. </p> Finding community can also help alleviate some of this eco-anxiety. Together we are stronger. Together we can commit to making the changes needed to preserve our communities and the flora and fauna we know and love. Start by finding something that inspires you. You can walk through the Gardens, noticing a plethora of pollinators on each flower, or the spring crocuses bursting through the hard ground from winter – there are countless wonders just outside, and the first step is noticing and appreciating them.</p> Today, I am honored to work with an organization committed to making necessary changes for the health of the planet and its inhabitants. From regenerative agriculture</a> practices at Chatfield Farms to sustainable water management</a> to installing a solar farm for renewable energy</a>, Denver Botanic Gardens demonstrates that organizational change is possible. At Chatfield Farms, low-till methods are used in the chemical-free vegetable garden, allowing healthy organisms in the soil to thrive while preserving nutrients. The Gardens then distributes this sustainably grown produce at pay-what-you-can farmers markets</a>. These initiatives demonstrate what can be accomplished when organizations work together. </p> This article was written by Facility Custodial Technician Jo Kennedy.</strong></em></p>
There’s no better way to beat the winter blues than by dreaming of this season’s garden! Before choosing your plants consider garden size, location, soil and amount of daylight it receives. If your space is cool and shady, it’s not worth the agony of trying to grow peppers and tomatoes in Denver’s short growing season. Instead, stick with hearty greens like spinach and kale or roots like radishes and potatoes. If you have a sunny spot on a porch or a patio you can grow a container variety of tomatoes where they’ll have a better chance.</p> Small gardens can produce more than you might think. Consider putting your tallest plants on the north side of the bed so they don’t shade other plants. Interplanting or companion planting is a great option for dense gardens. Try growing basil under tomatoes or transplant lettuces and then seed carrots around them. By the time the lettuce is ready to harvest the carrots will be up and ready for the extra space. Herbs and edible flowers add variety and attract beneficial pollinators to your garden.</p> If you’re planting densely, particularly with heavy feeders like broccoli, corn or melons, you’ll want to make sure the plants have enough nutrients. Cover crops keep soil covered between crops, and the leftover debris boost your organic matter and feed the microorganisms that are so important to soil health. Including legumes like peas or beans in your cover crop naturally adds nitrogen to your soil. Adding compost is another way to give your soil a natural boost. Try using a natural mulch between rows or beds to retain moisture and exclude weeds.</p> If you have heavy clay or thin, rocky soils you don’t want to try growing foot-long carrots. Use raised beds or opt for a shorter variety. Sandy soils drain water and lose nutrients quickly, but clay soils retain water and hold nutrients much longer. Consider this when adding amendments and planning your garden watering. Smaller seeds like lettuce or carrots will germinate more evenly if they have consistent overhead water but beans, squash and tomatoes don’t like their leaves being wet because they are more susceptible to disease. Once your seeds are up or plants are in the ground set up soaker hoses or drip irrigation so you’re only watering the soil and not the leaves. </p> Nutrient-dense produce comes from plants grown in healthy soils in harmony with nature. Avoid spraying herbicides or pesticides as these negatively affect the soil and water and therefore you. Instead, encourage birds and predatory insects to control any pest problems and pull weeds by hand. Additionally, heirloom varieties tend to have more flavor, ensure genetic diversity and have been bred to grow in specific climates. Search for local seed companies to find the best option for your area. Not only does this support a local farmer, but you’ll be also able to save your own seed!</p> </p> This article first appeared in the March issue of Life on Capitol Hill.</em> </p>
Now is the time to make plans for your garden before the frenzy of spring arrives. How do you begin designing your own home garden? Or updating one you inherited? All the decision-making can be overwhelming. Simplify by breaking the process down into steps, saving the best for last (the plants). </p> Start with Inspiration</strong></p> Browse magazines, books, social media and websites for gardens that you love. Go for a stroll in your neighborhood, go for a hike or meander through Denver Botanic Gardens. Even art museums or galleries offer garden inspiration. Once you find something that strikes your interest, try to pinpoint specifically what you like about it: Is it the sculptural impact of dense shrubs and cacti? Does it bring back fond memories of childhood? Is it the protective feeling of a shaded seating area? Often, it’s just the feeling that the garden evokes, not necessarily the specific plants that draw you in. Once you have a general idea of the style or feeling you want to create you can move to the next step.</p> Consider Architecture</strong></p> If you are designing for your house, it’s important that the style and layout marry with the building. Is it adobe with rounded corners and soft curves or Victorian: symmetrical and angular? Begin by looking at the footprint of your house and drawing lines out from major architectural points (either on paper or spray paint out in the yard). This can lay the foundation for the shapes of the garden beds or hardscaping. </p> Plan for Function</strong></p> Decide which shapes on your plan should become planting or hardscaping. This is where practical considerations are paramount. How will theses spaces be used? Maybe the space will be a seating area or offer an unobstructed view. Consider materials that are regionally appropriate and relate to your house. Maybe red sandstone pavers fit best—or perhaps grey, crushed gravel.</p> Think Green</strong></p> Now you can get creative with plants. There are many ways to design a planting scheme. Here’s a simple option. Research three plants indicative of your chosen garden style. Make sure they grow well in your area and look nice together. Next, choose a couple companion plants that share some commonalities with your main three, such as similar leaf shape, same fuzzy texture or same color bark. In the gallery below, Heuchera pulchella, Schizachyrium scoparium</em> and Sedum spurium </em>‘Red Carpet’ </em>all share hints of maroon coloring and prefer dry, sunny gardens. Don’t be afraid to keep the palette simple and repetitive. Remember, you can always change it!</p> I hope you feel inspired to start your garden design. Leave a comment below and let me know what your design ideas are or if you have any questions. </p> Schizachyrium scoparium</em> photo: Andy Mabbett</a> </p>
“Denver Botanic Gardens conducts cutting-edge scientific research to support plant conservation, study plant biology, and improve horticultural practices. The Gardens' research program focuses on various topics such as plant taxonomy, ecology, ethnobotany, and plant breeding. The results of this research are used to inform conservation efforts, improve horticultural practices, and enhance visitor experiences at the Gardens. The Gardens also offer opportunities for students, researchers, and volunteers to participate in ongoing research projects and contribute to the advancement of botanical knowledge.”</p> This is what the new service ChatGPT</a> generated when I gave it the prompt “Write 50 words about the scientific research at Denver Botanic Gardens.”</p> By now you may be tired of this gimmick, but it is no doubt interesting and exciting that artificial intelligence is on its way to becoming a technology that anyone can use. And, no, I am not just trying to get out of my blog writing duties. I was curious what the technology would get right or wrong about a topic near and dear to me; turns out it is pretty darn accurate and even reads well (although it wrote 80 words, not 50).</p> Artificial intelligence is poised to revolutionize technology and industry, but not likely in the sensationalized “robots are going to take our jobs and then destroy us” way. Rather, it will help us make advances in fields like medicine, engineering and yes, biodiversity conservation. Soon we may be using artificial intelligence to help make predictions and evaluate methodologies to aid in protecting ecosystems. These tools can help us determine where and when species are likely to go extinct or become invasive, which restoration methods are the most effective for a given ecosystem or even which genes afford a population the tools necessary to adapt to a changing climate.</p> But what are scientists at Denver Botanic Gardens doing right now to make these objectives possible? Data are the life blood of artificial intelligence and every day we continue to generate and make freely available the most high-quality data describing plants</a>, fungi</a> and their relationships with the environment. Through collecting specimens, conducting field experiments and sequencing genes we are contributing to a knowledge base that can be used by artificial intelligence to inform its development and outcomes. So next time you hear someone going on about how artificial intelligence is set to destroy the world, remember it might also be the thing that helps save it. </p>
