The new mine structure at the Children's Garden</p> A great proportion of the visitors to our York St. gardens have never even visited the Children's garden: perhaps they're afraid they are over the height limit there? Or there is simply too much to see West of York Street that they can't imagine what might be there for the kiddies. Well, I can assure you that the Children's garden is full of plants you will not see at York Street proper, and is WELL worth the visit! For one thing, where else in Denver will you see a brand spanking new antique mine structure? This popped up just in the last few weeks--I think it's quite authentic looking and adds some local color!</p> Alpine meadow</p> Although there's lots for tots to see and do, the appeal to gardeners here is in the extraordinary numbers of plants that have filled the various beds--plants chosen for their cultural adaptability to challenging sites...a few weeks ago I counted over 40 species of penstemon alone, but there are all manner of wildflowers and grasses that weave a very authentic looking meadows that have filled this garden in very short order. The picture above captures the tufted, wonderful way the mats and mounds have woven to make a veritable tapestry of color in this garden. You will find dozens of plants blooming here each week--a constant kaleidoscope of interest..many of them seem to require or do best in the fluffy, eco-roof mix that is employed on top of green roof structures. Whatever the secret, do check out the gems that are here and no where else.</p> Inula rhizocephala </em>and tiny Ziziphora</em></p> Here is an example of a tiny gem from Central Asia blooming in one of several exquisite new crevice gardens that have cropped up in the Children's area as well: I guarantee you that you will find things you will not have seen before!</p> Campanula incurva</em></p> We have grown Campanula incurva</em> many times over the decades, but I don't think we have ever had such wonderful specimens. Although often short lived, these bloom for such a long time that they are worth every inch of garden space they occupy! This is a rare plant in Northern Greece where it grows wild--it shouldn't be rare in our gardens, however! It's a winner!</p> Pond at bottom of Children's garden</p> There is something amazing about this garden: you get wonderful views like this of the pond--which really does look like an alpine tarn...</p> Penstemon richardsonii v. dentatus</em></p> And at the other end of the spectrum you get wonderful vignettes everywhere you look: although most penstemons are finished, some are still very much in evidence: there are not one but two subspecies of P. richarsonii</em> from the Pacific Northwest: this glorious one blooms for months on end--a first rate garden plant. Not to be found West of York at the "regular" botanic gardens!</p> Stream with kids</p> The children in their namesake gardens are almost always splashing in the stream or digging next door in the "digging place": watching them is an added bonus on a visit here: they really love the hands on activities!</p> Alpine meadow</p> But for even the most seasoned visitor here, this garden is a whole new palette of plants combined in utterly unique ways: Here you can see the luscious clusters of Buckwheat flowers on the 'Shasta' selection of Eriogonum umbellatum</em>--it's been glorious for weeks. The purple mats behind are a creeping germander from Spain (Teucrium cossonii</em>) and the diffuse pink perennial next to it the other form of Penstemon richardsonii</em>--all of these unique to this garden.</p> I know that many of us on staff this garden has been a revelation: I never thought we would have so many hundreds of kinds of plants growing so well that have been a challenge in the "adult" areas of the garden. The children's garden has become for me an essential place to visit frequently--it's a new gem that should not be a secret to so many people!</p>
Yucca rostrata in Yuccarama</p> There are certain floral spectacles through the gardening year at Denver Botanic Gardens that are not to be missed: when the foxtail lilies (Eremurus</em>) are all in bloom early in June, for instance, or the Iris beds much of May and June... Well, right now we have the time of Yucca blossoming--and they are truly amazing any time of day--although they seem to glow with a special luminosity in the late afternoon. Yucca rostrata</em> may be primarily Mexican in distribution, but there are many robust and happy specimens blooming right now throughout the Gardens. I believe this my favorite!</p> Forest of tree yuccas</p> Ann Frazier, a volunteer, recently scanned this historical photo, showing the largest tree yuccas at the gardens a year or two after they were planted in the late 1990's. I blogged about these recently</a>...but it's worth revisiting these now that the flowering season is here...</p> Same yuccas taken today, July 2, 2013!</p> Do look back at the previous picture and see how dramatically these have grown in the last decade: I never cease to be amazed that Chihuahuan desert plants growing over 1000 kilometers south of here at lower elevations have the genetic tolerance to our severe winters! These have shown less frost damage than some of our native plants over that time! These were donated to us by Mountain States Nursery for testing and display, and I recall as Dan Johnson placed these thinking they would be the most expensive annuals we ever planted! I was wrong, obviously....By the way, the largest yucca in this planting is Yucca faxoniana</em>, and the more slender ones are Yucca thompsoniana</em>--both from the Chihuahuan desert in Texas and Mexico with roughly the same range as Yucca rostrata</em>.</p> Denver Botanic Gardens has a remarkable collection of many dozens of accessions of cold hardy yuccas that are located in many of our gardens. Now is a wonderful time to look at these--I have discussed a few of them in yet another one of my blogs you can find by clicking here.</a> And another one here</a>! As you might have guessed, I like yuccas! I end my little disquisition with a tribute to our ubiquitous, overlooked and sometimes maligned Yucca glauca</em>: Last May I drove through vast forests of this species in the Oklahoma panhandle and was dazzled by their heavy blossoming. Among the mostly creamy or ivory flower stalks were many that were stained quite deep pink. It was a dream of Claude Barr's to find a truly red yucca: I think these are well along the way to that goal! Alas, I was unable to collect that trip--so perhaps you can be the one to locate and introduce that holy grail?</p> Red stained Yucca glauca in Oklahoma panhandle</p>
This week we’ve taken a few minutes from our busy schedules to consider pollinators and all they do for us and our environment. An earlier post advocated creating a pollinator-friendly habitat around your home or acreage. Here at the Gardens we’ve taken on that challenge as well.</p> The basics for pollinator survival - food, water, shelter, and nesting sites - are all easy to provide in a well planned garden. The abundance of food available in the form of nectar and protein-rich pollen on our flowers draws pollinators to the Gardens. There is always something in bloom when pollinators are active, from crocuses in early spring through the last aster of autumn. Horticulturists refer to this as succession planting – planning and planting for continuous bloom. We also often arrange plants in groups or sweeps. This allows for efficient foraging by pollinators; minimal energy is expended flying from one flower to the next. </p> Many of our gardens at York Street feature or incorporate plants native to our region. This is especially important for attracting and nurturing native pollinators. Our Chatfield and Mount Goliath locations are rich in native foraging opportunities for these important pollinators as well.</p> The second basic need, water, is accessible in our water features, and droplets from early morning irrigation are handy for a quick sip.</p> Shelter from inclement weather, from hungry predators, and from inattentive gardeners is readily available for bees and other pollinators in the Gardens as well. An unmulched area of soil can be home to ground-nesting bees that build nest tunnels under ground. Wood-nesting bees can find a home in dead limbs. Since we tend to cut out most dead limbs, we offer an alternative, nest boxes made from hollow reeds or bamboo. These nest boxes are being mounted in protected locations around the garden. </p> To help protect pollinator species we limit the use of pesticides at the garden. Integrated pest management (IPM) practices are employed to control insect pests and weeds. Cultural practices, mechanical means, and biological controls are all exhausted before we turn to a chemical solution. If chemicals are used, the smallest amount necessary is applied and only in a very targeted manner. When possible chemicals are dispersed early on a cool, calm morning when pollinators are not yet active or before flowers have formed.</p> Thanks to pollinators we have berries for our breakfast smoothie, tomatoes for our favorite marinara recipe, and pumpkin for pies. And perhaps more importantly, at least in our particular setting, pollinators help our plants set seed that can be harvested, propagated, and returned to the gardens in the form of transplants or shared with other public gardens. Simple steps result in a pollinator-friendly garden and the benefits pollinators provide. We encourage homeowners to join us in welcoming pollinators to the garden.</p>
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 both plants and pollinators. Here at the Gardens we work with roughly 70 of Colorado’s most rare and imperiled plants through surveys, monitoring, and seed collection. While we are learning more about each of these species, there is a big gap in our knowledge about the pollinators of most of these species.</p> Our pollinator research provides valuable information about the plants we monitor and enables us to better conserve and manage these species. Recent work we have done includes pollinator observations of the Colorado hookless cactus (Sclerocactus glaucus</em>). One question we are interested in is whether or not roads are impacting the pollinator communities of this species. We have found that bees are the main pollinator of this species and so far we haven’t found a difference in pollinator diversity or visitation rates. In addition to gaining valuable information for management, our research also allows us to find some pretty cool organisms, including a tarantula hawk (Pepsis mildei</em>). We found this wasp as part of our monitoring of Brandegee’s buckwheat (Eriogonum brandegeei</em>) in Fremont County. This wasp stings its prey (a spider), lays a single egg on each subdued spider, and then the larval wasp eventually eats the spider. </p> In addition to learning about the pollinator community of the plants we study, we are also interested in understanding the impacts of changes in land use and climate on the pollinator communities and how that impacts the success of the plant communities. Expanded urbanization, recreation, and oil and gas development all impact the lands where our state’s rare plants occur. All of these have the potential to impact the pollinator communities. Some of our research aims at better understanding the current health of pollinator communities in the face of these land use changes. We also know that climate change has affected plants and animals around the world, including affecting not only survival but where and when activities occur. Changes in migration patterns and timing of migration and flowering can impact plant pollinator interactions, including mismatches in timing or location between the plants and animals. Researchers across the world continue to better understand pollinators and their relationships to plants to help further our basic understanding of the biology of these species and improve conservation and management.</p> A basic component of pollinator research involves pollinator observations. Pollinator observations can be quite time consuming and require a lot of patience as they involve sitting in one spot for long periods of time observing a small patch of flowers. They can also be a fantastic way to gain a better understanding and appreciation for the plants and animals in the community you are studying. It isn’t often in research that you get to sit and spend a day (or many days) in one spot. If you would like to see what pollinator observations are all about and you will be visiting the Gardens this week, come join members of the Research Department collect pollinator observations each morning at 10:30AM through Saturday.</p>
Floral decoration in front of restaurant We shall get to the gardens in a minute--but this is a glimpse of an not unusual scene in the old town of Gothenburg: a tad early for the summer annuals, a wonderful restaurant we dined at had this cluster of trees and perennials at their front door--pretty sophisticated for city folk! It is so strange to see Helleborus niger (or its hybrids) used as ornamentation. I hope they plant it in their garden soon... Christmas roses still blooming in May in the Old Garden at Gothenburg The Botanic Garden (Botaniska Tradgarden) has such allure that we almost didn't visit what must have been the original botanic garden in the heart of the old city: that would have been a mistake! This graceful old garden is a masterpiece of horticulture: lavish beds on all sides... and the spectacular conservatory in the grand Victorian era manner. This is a must see if you come to Gothenburg! We were too early to get inside the grand conservatory which only opened at 10AM--but the collections were extensive and made us wish we didn't have to leave so soon! Seasonal planter with bulbs and pansies</p> I suspect the giant containers outside the conservatory had only been planted a few weeks (judging by their contents)--the double Ranunculus made a bold contrast to the rich tapestry of grape hyacinths and pansies--I suspect in another month or two this will be swapped for summer annuals.</p> I've heard topiary described as a lifetime commitment: anyone who has pruned knows that pleached trees such as this represent decades of care. Exquisitely pruned wisteria in front of a building on the Gardens' grounds. We were a few weeks early for the wisteria--although I suspect in an "ordinary" year it would be out by now... Long bank covered with Bergenia ciliata from the Himalayas After crossing the channel in a ferry and a certain amount of wandering, we arrived later that same day at the Botanic Garden of Copenhaven--like Gothenburg, this represents a very old institution (they celebrated their 400th anniversary a few years ago)...and likewise situated in the heart of the city. One of the first things to greet us in the entrance was this spectacular stand of one of the loveliest Bergenia.... Closeup of Bergenia ciliata v. ciliata We grow this at Denver Botanic Gardens as well--and I was rather proud of our yard wide stand--but this had gnarly, ropy stems many yards long, with hundreds of flower stems! Impressive! The Conservatory at Copenhaven botanic garden with our host, Dr. Hans Hansen. Like Gothenburg, CBG has a spectacular Victorian-era conservatory that is in excellent repair, with wonderful ancillary greenhouses with beautiful collecitons of cacti, begonias, orchids and more. Hardy opuntias planted outside the conservatory There were some vigorous masses of hardy cacti outside the conservatory. Despite a fierce winter, they came through well. Although I did notice much more rust than they would get in our own dry climate.</p> </p> There is much more to convey about both these venerable European gardens (Copenhagen in particular has an immense rock garden full of treasures--the result of their long history of research in Greece due to Arne Strid's publishing several floras of Greece in the last century). Perhaps I can share some more later...but meanwhile, we are off to Germany where there are botanic gardens in every town it seems, and some of enormous scope and activity. It will be great fun to visit some of these as well. Each mile we drive further south there are more and more trees in flower and spring is exploding everywhere--as it finally is back home we hear! Time to go out there and sniff the flowers!</p>
Succulent sculptures at entrance to cactus and succulent greenhouse, Gothenburg botanic garden. The Swedes have a great sense of humor. I have been lucky to visit many of the world's great gardens: I shall never forget an April visit to Savill Gardens: millions of daffodils in bloom and me (just like Wordsworth's poem!). Royal botanic gardens Edinburgh on a perfect spring day. And I have now visited Gothenburg botanic garden again--after nearly 20 years absence. Many of my plant addicted friends agree with me that this may have the finest collections of Temperate plants on earth, grown to perfection and displayed with great artistry. Gothenburg ROCKS! And I'm here at the perfect time for their mind boggling bulb displays...a tiny fraction of which I shall share here with you... Anemone nemorosa coming into full bloom in woods all over Sweden: floral symbol of Gothenburg botanic garden...(sublime!) Before I do that I thought I should show you the wood anemone that is blooming by the million everywhere in Sweden right now: these were taken at Gothenburg: this is the floral symbol of that garden. Not bad, eh? I think Denver Botanic Garden should have a floral symbol...the Pasqueflower, perhaps? Easter daisy? Let's hope we pick as wisely! Carl Skottsberg, first director of Gothenburg Botanic Garden: a great botanist and visionary leader Gothenburg has had more than its share of brilliant leaders, starting with the first (who is honored on this medallion in the administrative building). Per Wendelbo, who led the garden in the middle of the last Century, is credited for really elevating its collections and stature--he was Norwegian by birth, and died tragically in a traffic accident in middle age. He picked out Henrik Zetterlund as horticulturist, who has been the guiding spirit of the garden ever since--and whom I will honor in my next blog--showing him in his native habitat in Götene where he has a weekend home.... Tanacetum leontopodium, a wooly composite from alpine heights in Central Asia--one of thousands of fabulous plants blooming right now at Gothenburg An alpine daisy, challenging to grow outdoors in Sweden, grown to perfection in one of the many alpine houses. Mats Havström, curator of Herbaceous collections took Sunday off to show us around behind the scenes: one of many young talents who are maintaining the momentum of Per Wendelbo's dream. One of the many talented young staff in the Dionysia house, showing a group of us around last weekend. Iris linifolia, a rare Central Asian Juno iris grown to perfection in one of the bulb greenhouses ("behind the scenes"). I doubt you would find a FRACTION of the plants in this botanic gardens' collections anywhere in America--public or private. I am a big fan of Juno iris--and Gothenburg has one of the best collections along with Kew. We grow these outdoors, however: Gothenburg is generous and has shared many bulbs with us over the years. It is possible that some plants in your garden trace indirectly to them as well! Iris graeberiana x magnifica, at height of bloom in the public bulb display I was charmed by this hybrid juno--which I suspect would grow gangbusters in our xeriscapes. Anemone biflora in its dazxzling scarlet phase--in the public alpine house display I have admired this bulb in books for decades: what a treat to see it in "the chlorophyll" (plant equivalent of "in the flesh") Androsace (Douglasia) idahoensis--a very rare native American alpine grown to perfection in the backup alpine collections. Don't look for this anywhere in American public gardens--you will not find it. There are literally hundreds of American wildflowers growing throughout Gothenburg, a distressing number of which are NOT being grown by American botanic gardens. Sometimes we forget that botanic gardens should be about plants (ahem!) instead of distractions...but I am getting on my soap box. Sorry! Primula renifolia, the rarest primrose in the Vernales section, recently introduced from Caucasian cliffs by Gothenburg staff. They would not be thrilled that I'm showing this a big past peak of bloom--but this is a plant of great pride: the most unusual of its section and a spectacular new garden plant. They should be proud. The public is flocking to visit the bulb collections, although the day was blustery... Their garden is loved by the citizenry. And botanic garden afficianodos around the world make pilgrimage to Gothenburg: our Mecca! One of many dozens of species of Fritillary blooming now--all meticulously labeled. Some of us are proud to be Frit Freaks--although many in the genus are chequered brown and green and invisible to ordinary folk. Too bad for them! Rare Asiatic saxifrages in the porophyllum section, some still unnamed after decades in cultivation. You will not find these at your local Wallmart, incidentally... More treasures...ho hum..... Most of the dionysias were finished blooming (their flowers trimmed off to prevent rot)--but Dionysia khuzistanica still glowed in the Dionysia house. Just a tiny fraction of the treasures in a few of the many glass houses--and there are acres of rhododendrons, trees, perennial borders, and a rock garden with hundreds of vertical feet of relief--it would take an encyclopaedia to show it all: you must simply make Gothenburg a destination...but don't expect to see it all--especially not in just a single day!</p> "...And haply then That future country lost its gloom; More lovely in that world than this, Immaculate the white lily grows, And perfected we walk in bliss."</p> Hortus Paradisi</em>, William Bell Scott</p> More pictures from Gothenburg this week on this blog....</p>
Chilean blue crocus (Tecophilaea cyanocrocus) This </strong>should get your attention: after flying from Denver to Chicago, Chicago to Copenhagen, Copenhagen to Gothenburg, Sweden--we found ourselves in Eskilsby (a village not far from the airport) where we were driven to Peter Korn's amazing garden--and this was one of the first plants greeting us our first morning! Long thought extinct in the wild (it has recently been rediscovered), the dazzling blue Chilean "crocus" (which it is not) is one of the many success stories of horticulture--where rare plants have been propagated and even used to repopulate the old habitats! In Peter Korn's bulb house Here you can see the same plant in habitat--in front of Peter--in his special greenhouse for growing bulbs. Arum korolkowii This was one of my favorites in the bulb house--an aroid from central Anatolia which I am growing as well. I hope my form is half as good as this one! Bellevalia sp. in the bulb house Dozens of bulbous irises, fritillaries, narcissi and many more bulbs were blooming: I was enchanted with this Bellevalia--a genus allied to grape hyacinths. Logs designed as beneficial insect hotel Even the practical things around Peter's garden are attractive--he uses these logs to house beneficial insects that help keep the bulb collection clean. Cottage at top of Peter Korn's garden The garden is vast: these are just a few glimpses of some of it. There are actually many dozens of plants coming into bloom--but by May it is a blaze of color. We intend to revisit in a few weeks and see the progress of color in the alpines here... View of Peter Korn's rock garden from above But the sculptural forms of the landscape are beautiful in their own right. Much of this area was covered with dense forest before Peter began to clear it for the garden. It now has the rugged look of alpine tundra. It has been carefully crafted so that alpine plants can grow here much as they would in "nature" (which this closely approximates).. Another shot of alpine tarn in Peter Korn's garden If one didn't know better, one might easily think this was a picture taken on an alpine summit! View of Peter Korn's rock garden Pathways and benches are provided throughout to make it accessible to the many visitors who come to admire the views and the throngs off alpine flowers. Peter Korn's book on his garden: soon to be published in English Peter has written a book describing the philosophy behind this garden, full of beautiful pictures of plants in the wild and in his garden. He has had this translated, and it will be published in the next few weeks... I joined the director of the Botanic Garden in Tromsö, Norway (the northernmost botanic garden in the world) and Kit Strange, horticulturist at Royal Botanic Garden, Kew to speak as part of Peter's biannual conference he organizes in the nearby village. I have some more pictures from Peter's and greater discussion at another website... This is the beginning of a several week adventure I will be sharing with members: visiting Scandinavia in springtime is a great luxury and pleasure--and soon we are headed to Germany in pursuit of even more beautiful gardens, following spring in the European heartland!</p>
Planning to attend the Spring Plant Sale on May 10 and 11, 2013? Make the most of your trip by following these nine tips from a Spring Plant Sale pro.</p> </p> Bring your own wagon.</strong> It’s by far the easiest way to get around the sale quickly and efficiently. There are great lightweight, foldable carts these days. Or you can, like me, drag the huge heavy wagon you bought from Smith and Hawken back in the day. I am also searching for a good way to create layers in the cart, so I can fit more plants in it. Obviously, I have a problem.</li> Come early. </strong>Don’t be discouraged by a long line. Once the gate is open, it moves in quickly. If you absolutely can’t come early, there will probably be plenty of plants left, just not that once in a lifetime special Grown at the Gardens plant that you will see in all of the carts of the people who got there early.</li> Know what you need.</strong> Now this is a dicey question for most gardeners. After all, what is “need”…really… On my gardening continuum, “need” takes a definite second to “want,” is even further back from “that’s very cool, I wonder where I can fit it in” and straggles in a distant third from “I have to have that plant in my garden!” But things like shade or sun, or steep hillside or marshy bog (does that exist in Colorado?), even the neighborhood in which you live in town, are helpful clues for the people in the know.</li> Know where to go. </strong>Consult your map. If you are a container gardener with not much space, you might want to try the annuals and herbs section. If you are a vegetable gardener, obviously that is where you would go first. As my tastes have evolved, I tend to hit the Grown at the Gardens plants first, because I know that the horticulturists at the Gardens are on the cutting edge of what to grow in our unique climate. Then I head for the natives. The more I garden, the more I lean away from the traditional annuals and perennials and look for the plants that already have our hot, windy (at least where I live) arid climate down pat. But, go ahead, plant that delphinium. Torture yourself.</li> Know who to talk to. </strong>There are lots of volunteers at Spring Plant Sale who are gardeners, just like you. They can help direct you to where you want to go and are very knowledgeable about what is around their section. But if you want MY advice, seek out a Denver Botanic Gardens horticulturist in each division. Ask them what they are interested in, what’s new, what’s exciting. This is their profession. They know the score. I love that.</li> Talk to the other shoppers around you.</strong> They share your interests. They might know more than you do. Shocking as that may seem. (I always look in everyone’s carts to see what I might have missed.)</li> Once your plant-shopping itch has been scratched (and be sure not to stop until it fully is!), check out, put your plants in the valet area and then STOP.</strong> Look around. You are in one of the most beautiful and bewitching public spaces in Denver. Stroll down the O’Fallon Perennial Walk and into the Romantic Garden, get some ideas for your own backyard. If you are into natives, go back to the Roads Water-Smart Garden or seek out the Rock Alpine or Prairie Gardens. If you need some Zen time, hit the Japanese Garden and the new Bonsai Pavilion and Tea Garden.</li> Take a minute to give thanks. </strong>You live in Colorado. Isn’t that grand?</li> Resolve to come back to this civic treasure.</strong> Denver Botanic Gardens consistently ranks in the top ten botanic gardens in the country. You have something to learn from this place in every month of the season. Support it.</li> </ol> </p> This blog post was written by Mary Elliman, a member of this year’s Plant Preview Party committee.</em></p> </p>
Opuntia cycloides at my house last fall Since there will be no lilacs breeding out of this year's dead land (check the last paragraph of this Blog if you don't recognize the reference!) we must make lemonade out of our lemons! And succulents RULE! Several groups of plants are coming through this rather horrific winter in great form: almost all native plants, alpines and succulents--especially cacti, agaves and yuccas seem not to have been fazed at all by the catastrophic late spring frosts that have laid so many flowering trees, shrubs and bulbs low. Yuccarama (Yucca faxoniana and Y. thompsoniana) I doubt there are many visitors to Denver Botanic Gardens (and literally millions of people have walked by these) who haven't noticed the sculptural forms of Yuccas outside our maine Education building. When Dan Johnson first had these delivered over a decade ago from Mountain States Nursery--I was sure they would be the most expensive annuals we had every planted: I was wrong on both counts--they were a gift so they cost nothing. And they have been resoundingly, gloriously perennial! And this year is no exception. They are our permanent sculptural exhibit! And they laughted at this spring's shenanigans... Opuntia engelmannii in the Rock Alpine Garden The "average person" is probably oblivious to the enormity of the damage inflicted last week by the 7F low with little snow: I think this is the greatest spring damage I have seen inflicted in my 34 springs at Denver Botanic Gardens. So I am focusing more than ever on that graceful ballet--as the opuntias all over the gardens gain color and turgidity over the next month or two and build to their spectacular bloom season: Looking at these and our rock garden and native gardens, I think...you know: they look good as ever! P.S. Afterthought: Several friends of mine have been quoting T.S. Eliot's Wasteland, which I have hyperlinked for your convenience...which many of us philologists puzzled over as youngsters in school: this long poem opened the floodgates to gnomic, mostly incomprehensible modernist "poetry" that (like Marianne Moore) I too dislike...the first sentence of which I have filched for my starter. I sort of like Eliot's most famous poem--although I hate what it has inspired subsequently. Give me Keats or Auden or Browning any day! </p>
Fritillaria bucharica 2012 So as not to depress you right from the start, I post an image of Fritillaria bucharica</em>, one of my favorite bulbs I have grown for several decades in my home garden, delighting in its waxy white bells this time of year...Lovely, don't you agree? Fritillaria bucharica today This is what that same plant looked like today: like literally millions of plants across the Denver Metropolitan area, the "great frost of 2013" will have killed outright or at least set them back a year or two in their growth. Temperatures plunged to near 0F last Tuesday night--with only the lightest dusting of snow for most of us...disaster for the plants so far along. (I know many of you on the West end of town had more snow and consequently less damage: don't gloat. Your time will come). Colchicum autumnale 'Waterlily' today</p> Here is one of my favorites: you are not apt to recognize the Colchicum</em> because its foliage is mostly black. And dead. I have never seen damage on such a wide spectrum of bulbs in a spring frost in my entire career at Denver Botanic Gardens.</p> Paeonia mlokosewitchii</p> Although not quite as toasty as the Colchicum, I fear that my proud clump of Paeonia mlokosewitchii</em> may suffer a severe setback, if it does not succumb to secondary infection (commonly happens among badly damaged plants). This is a really lovely peony--trust me.</p> Paeonia cambessedessii today</p> This is one of many bright spots: my rare (and supposedly very tender) Paeonia cambessedessii from the Balearic Isles appears not to have been damaged. I moved this last autumn, and probably delayed its growth this spring consequently--something I am profoundly grateful for.</p> Paeonies at a long-time volunteer's house today</p> Here you can see a frost ravaged peony at a nearby garden: the ones behind are unscathed (they were covered with large bushel baskets: my friend didn't have enough baskets for all her peonies--and more's the pity.)</p> I have been called and emailed by many local friends, mostly distraught, wondering what to do? First off--don't do anything. Some of the plants that appear to be severely damaged may magically heal and rise up from the ashes. Just as when we have our inevitable hailstorms--the first thing to do is relax. Maybe mix a drink and kick up your heels.</p> Remember that San Francisco has earthquakes and other coastal cities can be crushed by tsunamis and hurricanes. Frost singed large swathes of Los Angeles this past winter more severely than it has in decades, and Tucson has had its second disastrous winter in a row.</p> We have just had a string of six remarkably mild springs--we have had almonds, apricots year after year, and I have watched magnolias and forsythias bloom for weeks and weeks and not be blasted.</p> This spring I doubt we will see many lilacs, fruit trees, and many plants we love may be irreparably damaged.</p> The average Joe may not have even noticed , but gardeners around town are experiencing enormous disillusionment and sadness. May I remind you that we are urban farmers--and our farmers face this sort of thing year-in, year-out: not just frost and hail, but disease and pest damage that can destroy a crop. Markets may make their bumper crops worthless, and transportation, harvesting and marketing can damage or devalue years of work. And yet farmers feed us nonetheless. And our gardens which will inevitably experience disasters (broken water mains, a neighbors dog breaks a prized specimen, severe drought stresses your plants, windstorms, who knows what all can give you grief). Yes: disaster is inevitable and part of the cycle of the garden as much as spring and fall, as much as the peaceful rituals of dusk and dawn. A garden will be subjected to untold insults and indignities. Just wait a few weeks. Gradually trim back the burned bits once you are sure they are dead. Cultivate a little, spread a little compost and food. Wait and the miracle of growth and time will heal--and your garden will be all the more beautiful. Honest. If only because you know that like precious life itself, it is vulnerable and must be nourished and cherished and loved.</p>
Dwarf forsythia in Northwest Denver on April 6, 2013 Robert Frost was undoubtedly NOT thinking about Forsythia when he wrote his classic short poem, whose proper title is "Nothing gold can stay." I suspect as a good New Englander he was thinking of the golden sheen of willows, and the chartreuse shoots emerging from the ground everywhere in spring (and turning green in a few weeks)--or the chartreuse haze in the trees before they leaf out. But for Forsythias, "the early leaf's a flower" as well, and they are starting to be glorious right now! If you do not know the poem, do linger over it. If you know it well, you will linger all the more: Nature's first green is gold, Her hardest hue to hold. Her early leafs a flower; But only so an hour. Then leaf subsides to leaf. So Eden sank to grief, So dawn goes down to day. Nothing gold can stay. Forsythia x 'Arnold Dwarf' There is an ominous undercurrent to this poem, which explicitly refers to how quickly things decline. But in the case of forsythias, Coloradoans know that many years (it used to be most years) the flowers would rarely last more than a day or two before a sudden cold snap froze them. With lows predicted to drop to 20 in a few days, that may happen yet again to those whose flowers are emerging or fully out. A cautious Coloradoan would cut branches tomorrow of any forsythias in the garden. The more branches you cut, the less likely the remaining branches you leave behind will freeze (don't ask me why--it's superstition I suspect)... For many years one find Forsytha viridissima</em> 'Bronxensis' sold locally from time to time. It has a paler flower and the plants are somehow more susceptible to frost. 'Arnold Dwarf' has a darker gold flower, and seems to do well, provided you have a spot where it can trail down gracefully. And I would put it in a cooler microclimate where it will not be coaxed into too precocious of bloom. Euphorbia cyparissius This more chartreuse shade of yellow is what I really think of in early spring. The Euphorbias have gotten a bad rap--this and the next have both been declared noxious weeds in many states. I have never seen E. cyparissius</em> behave TOO badly in Colorado, certainly not in wild areas. It can spread rambunctiously in the garden, but so can violets and lots of other plants no one complains about. If you choose to let into your garden, do put it "between a rock and a hard place"--in some spot where you can control its spread and where it will not swamp smaller plants. Euphorbia myrsinites This is the culprit--public enemy number one! The weed police may put a placard on your door (and you may be put in stocks and pilloried) if you happen to have this in your garden. There was a time when this had naturalized a few hundred feet east of Boulder where it has been largely extirpated. But it can also be found sparingly in the foothills--at least in Jefferson and Boulder counties. Nurseries no longer sell this plant, and you would be hard put to find it. But I have to say, I am rather pleased a few dozen gardeners around the Denver area have retained this plant. Kids just love it (doesn't it look menacingly reptilian?) Euphorbia myrsinites Here you can see it's made quite a colony along the street in Northwest Denver. I haven't observed that it spreads unduly in places like this, and this garden has an no-water border where this is a welcome addition. I think it would be a shame if this old passalong plant disappeared entirely from Denver--especially this time of year when it's glorious golden hypanthia (that's the technical term for a Euphorbia flower, by the way) are so alluring! If you do choose to remove your plants, be sure to wear gloves and not get any of the milky sap on your skin and especially in your eyes. The sap can produce a severe dermatitis in some people, and juice in the eyes can be very painful, and potentially dangerous to your eyesight. In other words, exercise caution! Euphorbia myrsinites Oh well, if the weed meanies do get rid of the last of these, we can just recite Frost's old poem: "Nothing Gold can Stay...".</p>
