On April 10, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) announced a proposed rule to remove Sclerocactus glaucus</em>, a small barrel cactus found in the Colorado and Gunnison River Basins in Western Colorado, from the list of federally threatened and endangered species. Through data collected and analyzed by Denver Botanic Gardens’ scientists led by Michelle DePrenger-Levin, M.S., population biology research associate, it is projected that populations are stable and resilient. The proposed rule has a 60-day public comment period and barring any valid reasons not to proceed, the delisting will go into effect June 2023.</p> In collaboration with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the Gardens has a 10-year post-delisting plan to monitor and test the resiliency of the cactus, its ability to live in current populations, or shift as climate change alters habitat conditions and report findings annually to the Service.</p>
Spring is a time of renewal, and what better way to celebrate the season than by visiting the beautiful gardens at York Street. As the tulips begin to bloom, the birds start singing and new plants sprout from their frosty beds, it’s a perfect opportunity to take a break from the daily grind and appreciate the small things in life that bring so much joy. </p> If you’re looking for a unique way to treat your employees or clients, consider hosting an event at one of our remarkable venues</a>. Our team can help you plan a company lunch, employee appreciation or even an evening event. With several options to choose from, we’ll work with you to create an unforgettable experience. Our caterers</a> can provide delicious appetizers or meals for your team to enjoy, whether they prefer to have a picnic among the gardens or dine in one of our event spaces. </p> For an extra special experience, consider visiting us during Evenings al Fresco</a>, a unique event that takes place on select summer evenings. Stroll through Denver Botanic Gardens at dusk and listen to talented local musicians perform acoustically. With music of all genres, it’s a lovely way to enjoy time with your colleagues in the beautiful weather. </p> If you’re interested in hosting an event at the Gardens, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. We’d be more than happy to work with you to plan a memorable experience for you and your guests. </p> Private Events: 720-865-3551, private.events@botanicgardens.org</a>.</p> Fill out our rental inquiry form</a> for pricing and date availability. Grow with the Gardens by becoming a Corporate Member! Check out all the benefits</a>. </p>
As the days grow longer and warmer, we start looking for the telltale signs that spring is arriving – birds chirping, trees leafing out, lilac buds, bulbs emerging out of the damp soil. As you observe nature around you, why not start taking pictures, recording your observations and contributing to large projects as a community scientist? April is the perfect month to join community science efforts across the globe. </p> At Denver Botanic Gardens, our scientists are particularly interested in studying patterns and processes of biodiversity. One way we do this is through community science (also known as citizen science</a>) initiatives such as the Denver EcoFlora project. These initiatives allow participants to connect with plants by making observations of biodiversity patterns in their environment. EcoFlora is based on the traditional flora concept, a list or inventory of plants in an area or period of time. We run the Denver EcoFlora project</a> on the iNaturalist platform</a> where we engage the community in documenting plants living in the Denver-metro area. Our goal is to document all plants living in the seven-county area (Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas, Jefferson) using the iNaturalist app. Why? Well, understanding the flora of an area is the best way to protect it.</p> As part of the EcoFlora project, we send out monthly challenges, “EcoQuests,” to engage participants in documenting a specific species, group of plants or theme. April’s EcoQuest has two-parts, the first is focused on some of the first flowers to emerge in spring, the pasque flowers (Pulsatilla nutalliana). Then starting April 28, a global competition begins with the City Nature Challenge</a> – a challenge to document the most biodiversity within cities. Using the iNaturalist app you can make observations of any wild organism: plant, bird, insect, fungi. Observations made between April 28 – May 1 count toward the competition. Last year we had nearly 400 participants observe more than 600 species. Our goal is to surpass those numbers this year. Many local partners are organizing hikes or bioblitzes during the City Nature Challenge. Check our website for details on events and how to register.</p> You can contribute to scientific studies by downloading the iNaturalist app and using it to take photos of the nature around you. We encourage you to get outside, feel the sun on your face and contribute to science while you’re out there.</p> </p> This article first appeared in the April issue of Life on Capitol Hill. </em> </p>
One of my favorite places during spring at Denver Botanic Gardens is Oak Grove. It represents everything I love about spring: the color green, rebirth and colorful flowers, just to name a few. When I was assigned this garden many years back, it was a mix of hybrid oaks and ground covers surrounding a circular concrete pad. I thought to myself about all the potential this garden had, and my head started filling with ideas. One of those ideas was how beautiful Oak Grove could be in spring. So, I brought my ideas to reality over the next decade by installing a mulched path that would lead visitors on a walk through the woods, where they would be greeted by beautiful understory perennials, shrubs and trees along their journey.</p> The blooms in Oak Grove will start looking their best starting in mid-April. In the meantime, be sure to see Chionodoxa forbesii </em>Blue Giant’ and ‘Pink Giant’ (also called glory-of-the-snow), along with a few of the primroses that are just coming up. The Chionodoxa forbesii</em> are all along the southwest edges of Oak Grove.</p> Starting in mid-April:</p> One of the first things you will notice when you enter Oak Grove during spring is sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum</em>), a lush, green groundcover that is topped with tiny white flowers. The flowers are fragrant and edible and have a sweet, nutty flavor. The leaves smell like freshly mowed hay when dried.</li> Next, you will probably see the sprays of small, intense blue flowers atop the green, velvety leaves of Siberian bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla). As you wander around the inner circle you will encounter brightly colored primroses (Primula vulgaris</em>) and the dainty, fairy-like flowers of barrenwort (Epimedium</em> × rubrum</em> and E.</em> × versicolor</em> ‘Sulphureum’) along with the pink heart-shaped flowers and golden leaves of bleeding heart (Lamprocapnos spectabilis</em> ‘Gold Heart’, formerly known as Dicentra</em>) amongst the fresh, new fronds of various ferns.</li> As you head up the mulched path passing the new leaves of emerging hostas and various wood ferns, you will immediately notice the blue and pink blooms of hundreds of Spanish bluebells (Hyacinthoides hispanica</em> ‘Excelsior’ and ‘Queen of the Pinks’). These colorful bulbs have naturalized and hybridized throughout the garden creating different shades of pink, blue and white. Continuing along the path, you are sure to see the bright yellow flowers of Oregon grape (Berberis repens</em>) and the brilliant, scarlet-purple flower buds of the Forest Pansy redbud (Cercis canadensis</em> ‘Forest Pansy’). These shrubs and trees are perfect understory plants because they grow well in shade and dappled sunlight.</li> As you head up the path and through the woods you will reach a clearing with wooden benches where you can enjoy sitting under the trees and listening to the rushing waterway behind the benches. If you look closely ahead, near the split rail fencing, you may notice an unusual dark rose-colored blossom hanging like a pendulum from a medium sized tree. You have found our pawpaw tree (Asimina triloba</em>). These unusual flowers will eventually develop into a large, delicious fruit that tastes like a cross between a banana and a mango.</li> </ul> I hope that you have enjoyed our walk through the woods. Whenever you need to relax and de-stress, come back and visit us anytime.</p>
A gorgeous garden flush with leafy greens, aromatic herbs and colorful vegetables bursting with flavor is a wonderful thing. There is nothing like picking a ripe tomato right from the vine and carrying it into your kitchen to slice up into a salad with a little drizzle of olive oil and balsamic vinegar. And veggies grown in your own garden just taste better than storebought, too. Plus, as the gardener tending your plot—whether in containers, raised beds or in a swath of land—you are in control of what goes into your food. </p> Maybe this sounds like a dream come true, but you have no idea where to start. Or maybe you’ve tried gardening in some form before only to feel like it’s harder than it looks. Just how do you get from seed or seedling to great big, glorious plants? What’s the best place for your garden? How much water do plants need? How do you fertilize them and treat pests? Help!</p> A New Gardener Boot Camp</strong> will help you with all of these questions—and more. We’ve taken our best beginner classes to equip you with all the tools you need to master your garden! Even better, this is an online class, so you can work at your own pace and then join a live Q & A session at the end via Zoom. </p> Course registration opens April 20. On April 22, all course direction and videos will be emailed to participants. From there, you have one week to watch all four courses. Join instructors on April 29 at 10 a.m. for the live Q & A session. The cost is only $46 or $42 for Gardens members. </p> Get full details and register — and get ready for your best garden yet.</p>
It’s Pollinator Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the unsung heroes of our ecosystems: pollinators! From the tiniest bee to the most magnificent butterfly, these incredible creatures are vital to the health of our planet and the bounty of our gardens.</p> Take a stroll through our diverse plant collections, and you’ll notice the flurry of activity. Bees—native solitary bees, fuzzy bumblebees and the familiar honeybees—dart from blossom to blossom, their tiny bodies laden with pollen. Butterflies flit gracefully. Even hummingbirds, with their iridescent throats and rapid wingbeats, do their part, sipping nectar and transferring pollen as they go. A particularly special place to spy pollinators at York Street is the Birds and Bees Walk</a>, which has installations</a> that help support the diverse and eclectic habitat needs of an array of creatures. At Chatfield Farms, you’ll want to visit the butterfly house</a>, where you can encounter native butterflies like swallowtails, monarchs, mourning cloaks and painted ladies in a lush and colorful garden.</p> Why are these small but mighty creatures so important? Pollinators are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. They pollinate crops like apples, almonds, coffee and chocolate, ensuring we have a diverse and delicious diet. Beyond our plates, they are crucial for the reproduction of countless wildflowers, trees and shrubs, maintaining biodiversity and healthy habitats for all wildlife.</p> But pollinators are facing significant challenges, from habitat loss and pesticide use to climate change. Even small actions can have a big impact. Consider planting native plants in your own garden – these are often the best food sources for local pollinators. Reduce or eliminate pesticide use and provide a shallow water source for thirsty bees and butterflies.</p> Visit us throughout the month and observe these amazing creatures up close. You might even spot a new favorite pollinator you hadn't noticed before. Be sure to join us for special programming on Pollinator Day, Friday, June 27</a>, to experience all things pollinators.</p> Let's celebrate our pollinators this month and work together to create a world where they can thrive. </p>
