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’s now that we see who the really tough and interesting survivors are. I’m not talking about the big players like evergreens, or conspicuous giants like sycamores with their interesting plated bark. No, I’m talking about those perennials that did their thing last season but kept on standing, with durable seed heads, twisted stems or swirling grassy leaves, their subtle winter hues warmed by the low sweep of our winter sun. These are the things that even stir-crazy gardeners are reluctant to cut back, even though now is the time to clean things up and prepare for the fast approaching growth of spring.</p> Take a slow stroll on a calm winter day and enjoy the last stand of these subtle performers who have taken the old adage “The show must go on!” very literally through our toughest, darkest days. But look quickly; now is the season of renewal, and you will see our horticulturists hard at work, bidding a final farewell to all that was 2020 in the Gardens and preparing for a glorious spring that is just around the corner.</p> Baby Blue rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa</em> ssp. Nauseosa </em>baby blue form): </em>Cottonwood Border, Water-Smart Garden, Sacred Earth</strong>) spends its last golden days of fall luring all sorts of pollinators, but when it’s over, its fluffy seed heads persist through the winter. We trim the entire shrub down to six inches by mid-March.</li> Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis: </em>Plains Garden lower path</strong>) holds sprays of sweet spherical white flowers in late summer, and the durable seed balls that follow will last well into the spring. These can be trimmed for dried arrangements. Buttonbush is a medium to large shrub that responds well to spring pruning.</li> Undaunted muhly grass (Muhlenbergia reverchonii</em> ‘PUND01S’ UNDAUNTED®): Rock Alpine Garden, El Pomar Garden, Plant Select</strong>) is a frothy rosy cloud in late summer, pairing perfectly with pink and purple Agastache. After frost the buff colored clouds continue to soften the winter landscape.</li> Hydrangea</em> arborescens</em> ‘Annabelle’ (Romantic Garden, Shady Lane</strong>) is a summer favorite with its pure white globes, shifting to soft lime by autumn. With frost they transition to golden-tan and give welcome, long-lasting structure to the winter garden. These are trimmed to just a couple inches tall in March each year.</li> See the world through rose-colored grasses! Two grasses to be specific: our native little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium: </em>Plains Garden</strong>) and the less common African red oat grass (Themeda triandra: </em>Marnie’s Plaza, Steppe Garden</strong>). Both will brighten the winter landscape in shades of rose to rusty-lavender. Little bluestem remains upright, springing back even after wet snow. The red oat grass is a bit more relaxed, laying in graceful sweeps over adjacent stems and rocks. Both are best trimmed to just a few inches tall by late March.</li> Pale purple coneflower (Echinacea pallida: </em>Cottonwood Border</strong>) is a graceful summer wildflower with long reflexed pink petals, looking like badminton birdies launching simultaneously skyward. When that fun show has passed, the sturdy seed heads remain as a food source for birds, persisting well into the late winter as a great complement to softer winter grasses. We trim these to the ground by late March before growth begins.</li> As you wander, you will see that this is by no means an exhaustive list! Many other grasses make the list, including Mexican feather grass (Nassella tenuissima)</em> and </em>hardy pampas grass (Saccharum ravennae</em>). Most of our native penstemons (Penstemon</em> spp.) have persistent spikes of rich brown seed capsules. The stacked globe-like seed balls of lion’s ear (Leonotus</em>) and Jerusalem sage (Phlomis </em>spp.) can last well into winter. Most yarrow (Achillea</em> spp.) have flattened disc-shaped seed heads on sturdy stems. Several hardy statice (Goniolimon tataricum</em> and others) have intricately branched stems with delicate dried flowers.</li> </ul> The list goes on! A late winter walk will reveal which ones are true assets to the winter garden and can help you plan for reliable all-year interest in your own gardens.</p>
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 of traveling to the backcountry to search and document the existence of incredible plants only seen by few. That is, very few experiences could not beat this thrill until I started trying to grow them. </p> This story starts back when I was merely an intern in a government office. Before becoming a horticulturist at the Gardens, I was an intern at the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Colorado State office. Although the office is stationed close to Denver, I would often find myself wandering the dry, desert hills of the Colorado Western Slope. I was drawn to the rare, threatened Sclerocactus glaucus</em>, the Colorado hookless cactus.</p> The Colorado hookless cactus is endemic to Colorado, meaning it only grows here. Being a small, cylindrical cactus found in high-elevation deserts of western Colorado, it is a cactus that can easily be overlooked. Unfortunately, it often is by ranchers and those extracting oil and gas from our public lands. I spent many hours playing thrilling games of “I Spy…a little cactus!” on my weeks in the field. The Research & Conservation Department also plays this game every year, searching and recording on plots that are not monitored by the BLM. I usually won the game of “I Spy,” finding dime- and quarter-sized cacti, but occasionally, I got lucky and was rewarded with the brilliant pink blooms of the larger ones.</p> When I started working at the Gardens full time, I was grandfathered into a special germination project, partnering with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. No, it was not for Colorado’s own hookless cactus, but of her close sister, Sclerocactus wetlandicus</em>, a.k.a. Uinta Basin hookless cactus (a rare Utah endemic). They are so similar, in fact, they used to be grouped under the same name but recently were placed into their own species due to their genetic differences. </p> Anyone who grows cacti knows it is difficult to germinate and cultivate them in greenhouse settings. This hookless cactus is no different; the seeds required precise, physical means of gently chipping some of the seed coat to help break seed dormancy and achieve germination (seed dormancy is a nifty adaptation many plants have evolved to make sure they only germinate during favorable environmental conditions). After the tedious task of chipping seed coats, a task nearly as monotonous as searching for quarter-sized cacti in the field, I was rewarded all the same: wonderful cacti seedlings appeared before my eyes; a prize that rivaled finding for them in the field. </p> All the same, growing them on to a suitable size has been a slow process, but nevertheless steady. A year into starting this project, the seedlings are still small, and yet, the thrill and amazement of growing such a special plant never ceases over all this time. It is truly an honor to be growing plants like this (and many others) in the Gardens’ greenhouses.</p>
Once considered a hobby for the elite, new propagation techniques and the mass production of orchids has made the joy of growing these amazing plants accessible to everyone. Not too long ago, the only place to find orchids to purchase was through mail order catalogs. Now, they can be found at almost any garden center, box store or even your local grocer. Unfortunately, orchids have the undeserved reputation of being difficult to cultivate in the home. While this may be true of some orchid species, thankfully there are hundreds, if not thousands, of orchid species and hybrids now available to hobbyist. If you can grow a houseplant in a windowsill, there is an orchid for you. </p> Good Plants for Beginners</h4> One of the best pieces of advice I ever received concerning growing healthy orchids was to research what conditions a plant wants and then provide those conditions. Sounds simple – right? Put another way: Don’t set yourself up for failure. Know what conditions you can provide and choose a suitable plant with those conditions in mind. Some of the best choices for the first time orchid grower are:</p> Phalaenopsis </em>– Perhaps the number one choice for the first-time orchid grower is the Phalaenopsis</em>, or moth orchid. They readily adapt to our home conditions and reward the grower with flowers that can last for months at a time. Phalaenopsis </em>plants prefer warm temperatures, low light levels and need to stay constantly moist (but never soggy). </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> </p> Paphiopedilum </em>– Another popular choice for beginning orchid growers are Paphiopedilum</em>, or slipper orchids. The flowers can be so ugly they are beautiful – it’s all in the eye of the beholder. Paphiopedilum </em>orchids generally prefer low light levels, warm temperatures and must stay moist but not soggy. Paphiopedilum </em>flowers are also long-lasting.</p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> </p> Dendrobium </em>– The genus Dendrobium </em>contains hundreds of species so there are a wide variety of cultural requirements for this group of plants. Most sold in garden centers will require bright light but can dry out slightly between waterings. Some will require a dry rest period in the fall and/or a drop in temperatures to encourage good blooming. You’ll need to research the specific Dendrobium </em>you have.</p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> </p> Now that you’ve successfully grown and bloomed your first orchid, the sky is the limit! With so many species and hybrids to grow, an orchid hobby can last a lifetime. You can expand your orchid knowledge with the hundreds of books available on the subject, by researching online or by joining a local or national orchid society. And be sure to visit our Orchid Showcase</a>. The possibilities are endless.</p> As your friends admire your beautiful orchids they will marvel at your horticultural prowess. I’ll let you decide whether or not to tell them that it really isn’t as hard as they might believe.</p> Please note: The Orchid Showcase will be closed to the public on Sunday, Jan. 29.</em></p>
