A new school year has arrived, the light is changing, and the final days of summer are coming to an end, which means autumn is around the corner. When people think about autumn in Colorado they think of the hillsides covered in brushstrokes of gold, but there is so much more to the changing of the seasons here if you take a closer look. There is no better place to see these colors in a landscape than at Denver Botanic Gardens. </p> Luminescent Perennials</h3> Begin on the path in the O’Fallon Perennial Walk and notice the luminescent color of the Salvia azurea</em> var. grandiflora</em> (pitcher sage) which shines amidst a backdrop of our native Juniperus scopulorum</em> (Rocky Mountain juniper). Within this garden, you will see many other perennials and grasses donning their yellows and oranges of the season.</p> Follow the path to the Fragrance Garden and search for the Buddleja alternifolia</em> (fountain butterfly bush). This shrub begins stunning our visitors in the spring with fragrant, lilac-purple flowers, but the weeping, fountain-like shape and the soft green and grey leaves are just lovely. A cool fall day is the perfect setting for a mindful stroll through this garden. </p> Unexpected Color</h3> Keep walking west and you won’t have to go far to see the unexpected colors of the late-blooming dahlias in the bed on the south border of the Four Towers Pool. This garden has many blooms that may offer you a warm feeling, but nothing says “pumpkin spice latte” like Dahlia </em>‘Brown Sugar’. This garden is another perfect spot to enjoy some solitude, listen to the sound of the fountain and reflect on the goodness gardens have to offer. </p> Gorgeous Grasses</h3> Right next door you will come across the Ornamental Grasses Garden, which offers a pleasing palette year-round. During the autumn months the colors and seedheads of the grasses are works of art that shine the brightest. A few that will catch your eye first are Helictotrichon sempervirens</em> ‘Saphirsprudel’ (blue oat grass), Deschampsia flexuosa</em> (wavy hair grass) and Calamagrostis </em>× acutiflora </em>‘Avalanche’ (feather reed grass). Mixed among the grasses is another masterpiece called Sedum </em>‘Dark Magic’ (dwarf stonecrop). This stonecrop is a lovely contrast to the grasses and is easy to find with its purple-black foliage and deep pink flowers. Not only do all of these plants provide seasonal interest, but they also offer food for wildlife. </p> Living Art</h3> Make sure to look through the oversized gold frame on the corner and you can imagine this landscape as an Impressionist painting. This frame is one of several at the Gardens and is part of our Blue Grass, Green Skies: American Impressionism and Realism</a> exhibition. If you want the perfect social media photo op, this is the spot! To everything there is a season and just like the disappearing blooms and falling leaves of autumn, the exhibit ends on September 14 and the frames will be removed over the following weeks. </p> International Inspiration</h3> One garden that inspires you to slow down and enjoy autumn is June’s PlantAsia just down the sidewalk. This garden is full of trees and shrubs that offer up an endless display of colors and textures; from the beautiful evergreens like Pseudotsuga menziesii</em> (Douglas fir) and Pinus nigra</em> (Austrian pine) to the colorful maples. Wander past the ting, a Chinese pavilion, and find the Acer japonicum</em> ‘Vitifolium’ (full moon maple) as it begins to turn yellow and red throughout the coming months. </p> Maybe you need inspiration for your own home landscape, or you would like an invitation to be more mindful. Whatever it is, the Gardens has a lot to offer this autumn – cozy, colorful and comforting.</p> </p>
Documenting biodiversity is crucial for conservation and is a major aim of our research programs at the Gardens. To work toward this goal, we have been pairing up with the public through community science projects—which invite anyone, regardless of educational background, to be part of the scientific process by recording and sharing their observations of nature. </p> As an example of this, last summer we relaunched Insects Illuminated—a nighttime public event at Chatfield Farms designed to document nocturnal insect biodiversity. Using ultraviolet lights projected onto white bed sheets, we attracted moths, beetles, flies and other insects, documented them with iNaturalist</a> and collected 35 specimens to be deposited in our natural history collections</a>. Experts, staff and volunteers were able to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with those new to the joy of insect diversity. Highlights of the night include the grand elm sphinx moth and brilliant yellow geometer moth.</p> This year we doubled down, hosting the event twice, once at Chatfield Farms and once at York Street. And this year we were very excited to partner with our community engagement team to welcome Young People In Recovery</a> and Westwood Family Nature Club</a> to participate as community scientists at the events.</p> By combining the wonder of discovery with meaningful scientific contribution, events like Insects Illuminated demonstrate how community science can simultaneously advance conservation goals and foster deeper connections between people and the natural world around them. As we continue expanding these collaborations, we're not just documenting species; we're cultivating a growing community of citizen scientists who will carry this curiosity and conservation ethic far beyond our garden gates.</p> This article was contributed by Scientific Data Manager Rick Levy</strong> and Floristic and Outreach Coordinator Alissa Iverson</strong>. </span></em> </p>
Historically, Denver Botanic Gardens has hosted tours of private gardens in spring and early summer. That’s when most gardens boast the largest number of perennials in bloom, and late-flowering trees and shrubs can make a mighty impact.</p> But once the summer heat lets up, many gardens experience a “second spring” in late summer—when early autumn flowers combine with summer’s bounty to create striking sweeps of color at garden-savvy homes.This year, the Gardens has teamed up with the Garden Conservancy</a>, which hosts garden tours across the country, to showcase three outstanding—and very different—gardens close to home. The tour takes place Saturday, Sept. 13. Sign up so you don’t miss them</a>! What better way to spend a late-season weekend?</p> Bosler House</h2> This historical home has been brought to fresh life by owners Jan and Steve Davis, who have lovingly restored the striking Victorian-era house and surrounded it with lush gardens. Visitors will find lavish borders and a stunning potager.</p> Gatehouse Garden</h2> Tim Morgan and Laura Menzer have created a “secret garden”—and a pretty substantial one—in a quiet southeast Denver neighborhood. Morgan, a passionate lifelong gardener, propagates many of his plants in a greenhouse on the property.</p> A newly completed back patio frames a stunning view of the large island bed, which features multiple borders, rock gardens and arbors overflowing with treasures. The entire perimeter of the backyard is filled with plants, including a bog garden, more rock gardens and choice trees. This is truly a garden for all seasons.</p> Kelly Grummons’ Garden</h2> Kelly Grummons is one of the most highly regarded horticulturists in the Rocky Mountain region. His home garden is a showcase of a rich lifetime of gardening—including, of course, his beloved succulents (he is, after all, Mr. Cold Hardy Cactus).</p> Many stock plants can be found in and around several greenhouses on the property, but the real stars this time of year are the island beds south of his home, filled with late-summer annuals, flaming red Zauschneria and remarkable containers featuring succulents. Visitors will also discover gems like rhododendrons in the shady garden. The more you explore, the more you’ll marvel. </p> Denver Botanic Gardens and the Garden Conservancy have partnered for three years to showcase the finest gardens of the Front Range. This is the final weekend of this year’s program—but expect a dozen or more gardens on tour in 2026.</p> </p>
As a gardener in the urban Front Range, each season brings new challenges, or the same challenges just in a different order. Rabbits, salt, cold and hot temperatures, drought, foot traffic – sometimes the list seems endless! However, an almost foolproof way to ensure the success in the home garden is to look to our native plants for inspiration. </p> I spoke with some of my colleagues here at the Gardens and we came up with three of our favorites to tackle tough conditions while delivering on flower power. These plants are all native to Colorado and provide significant ecological benefits to our pollinators. They are all adaptable to our urban soils and should only require supplemental water during the first year of establishment. </p> Chocolate Flower (Berlandiera lyrata</em>).</strong> This extra cold-hardy member of the daisy family is a garden powerhouse. The bright yellow flowers float atop gray-green mounding foliage and last from early spring to frost. The golden pinwheels surround dark red centers that are full of nectar – attracting both butterflies and occasional hummingbirds. As a bonus, the foliage is said to have the aroma of chocolate! When things wind down in the fall, leave the last crop of flower stalks to enjoy the intricate cup-shaped seed heads, which are both beautiful and a functional food source for birds. </li> Ten-petal blazingstar (Mentzelia decapetala</em>).</strong> A native, night-blooming, fragrant, drought-tolerant, pollinator magnet? Say no more! Ten-petal blazingstar is a staff favorite around here – and for good reason. Although it is a biennial or short-lived perennial, once this plant is established in the garden it will persist from seed for years to come. Sow seed directly into the garden and keep moist. It also germinates readily in pots – but transplant it into the garden early as it does develop a taproot. Mentzelia will quickly become a favorite as the striking white flowers open each night, smelling sweetly of honey, only to close again before morning. </li> KANNAH CREEK® Buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum var. aureum</em>).</strong> We love this little groundcover. Best suited for well-drained sites with little to no irrigation, sulphur flower buckwheat is incredibly durable, long-lived and great for weed suppression. In early spring, the lush mat of green foliage is topped with chartreuse pom poms that mature to deep orange. Flower stalks can be sheared after flower for a tidier appearance or left through winter and sheared in March. In fall, the foliage ages to a deep burgundy and persists through the winter season. </li> </ul> Not sure how to add these to the landscape? Try pairing them with some of our native grasses like blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis</em>) and little bluestem (Schizachryum scoparium</em>). Using groundcovers and grasses reduces the need for maintenance like weeding and mulching each season.</p> This article was contributed by Horticulturist Laura Swain</strong> and first appeared in the June issue of Life on Capitol Hill.</em> </p>
Farmers do everything; they are mechanics, botanists, naturalists, athletes and some even believe themselves to be meteorologists. In the age of the regenerative agriculture movement, farmers need to become biologists, or more specifically soil ecologists. </p> Soil ecology is the study of the seemingly limitless universe beneath our feet. In just a teaspoon of healthy soil, there are over 1 billion bacterial individuals and more than six miles of fungal mycelium. It would take seven years to recite the names of all the bacterial species in a compost pile. </p> A broad understanding of the soil ecosystem can change a farmer’s mindset. The most productive soil in the world from an old-growth forest actually contains far less plant-available nutrients than are recommended for agricultural soil. So how can “nutrient-deficient” soil – teeming with soil microbes – produce the largest plants on the planet? </p> Nutrients are released when microscopic predators consume bacteria. Nematodes, protozoa and microscopic insects “poop” out nutrients. Plant roots absorb those nutrients through a web of fungi. Fungal networks expand the reach of roots and create highways inside root hairs. As satisfied plants then release exudates (carbon-rich plant chemicals), which attract more bacteria and fungi, the cycle continues. Without these characters to play their parts, soil turns into lifeless dirt. Conventional soil management has disrupted the soil ecosystem. Without microscopic predators, bacteria or fungi to assist plant roots, farmers are forced to overfeed plants with fertilizers. The excess nutrients that aren’t washed away are consumed by a monoculture of bacteria, reproducing rapidly and unchecked by predators. Without predators to consume bacteria, the soil ecosystem becomes unbalanced. The resulting population of disease-causing bacteria release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. </p> Realistically, not all farmers have the time to study microscopy. Through the eyes of a microscope, a farmer can witness the soil ecosystem in action, but studying soil ecology doesn’t require a microscope. Diversity in critters — worms, ladybugs, roly-polies, etc. — is an indication of a balanced biology. </p> Understanding what healthy soil looks, feels and smells like can inform better practices. Undisturbed soil will evolve with its plant inhabitants. Rich brown, textured soil that smells like a forest will feed a vegetable plant on its own, without nutrient additives. A calculated “less is more” soil management approach gives our soil a chance to breathe. </p> Regenerative agriculture redefines the farmers’ relationship with nature. Humans’ senses have evolved with plants; for example, the smell of healthy soil triggers serotonin production in the human brain. Alternatively, our negative reaction to the putrid smell of greenhouse gases produced by harmful bacteria warns us of toxicity. These fine-tuned deep intuitions can become a regenerative farmer's almanac. </p> By working in tandem with natural soil ecosystems, farmers can reduce the labor and expenses of disruptive soil tillage and chemical fertilizer application. Soil naturally wants to grow plants. By accepting help from nature, farmers can grow healthier plants more efficiently. This article first appeared in the May issue of Life on Capitol Hill. All photos: Rutger Myers</em></p>
The Waterlily Weigh-Off, led by Denver Botanic Gardens, challenges an impressive list of public gardens and zoos around the world to see how much weight their Victoria waterlily leaves can hold. The third annual competition took place August 18-24, 2025, on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook with over 40 participants across nine countries. We kicked off the competition on August 18, and all other public gardens and zoos entered between August 19-24. The winner was announced on our social channels on August 28. </p> Missouri Botanical Garden was the 2024 champion</a>, with their leaf holding 142 pounds before it started to sink! We mailed them a trophy, and they will pass it on to the 2025 winner.</p> The social media competition went viral in 2024 and provides a playful opportunity to educate the public about the fascinating world of aquatic plants, specifically the waterlily species V. amazonica</em>, V. cruziana</em> and Victoria </em>‘Longwood Hybrid’. The leaves (lily pads or platters) of these tropical plants can grow up to a diameter of 10 feet and hold the weight of an adult. This remarkable strength comes from more than just trapped air: the leaves have a highly engineered network of radiating ribs and cross-veins on their underside. As these veins grow and expand, they create rigid compartments that both trap pockets of air and distribute weight across the entire surface. The upturned rims help keep water off the leaf, while the large size and sharp spines underneath prevent other plants from encroaching on their space.</p> The 2025 champion is Bok Tower Gardens</strong></a> from Florida, USA </strong>weighing in at a total of 183 lb. / 83 kg.! Right behind them, in second place, is our reigning 2024 champ, Missouri Botanical Garden</strong>, with a total weight of 182 lb. / 82.6 kg.! Third place goes to Huntsville Botanical Garden </strong>with a total weight of 176 lb. / 79.8 kg.</p> Confirmed Competitors</h2> You can find their video entries on Instagram, Facebook and/or TikTok.</p> Atlanta Botanical Garden</a> (Georgia, USA), 77 lb. / 34.9 kg.Birmingham Botanical Gardens</a> (England), 75.4 lb. / 34.2 kg.Bok Tower Gardens</a> (Florida, USA), 183 lb. / 83 kg.Botanischer Garten Augsburg</a> (Germany), 0.095 lb. / 0.043 kg.Botanica, The Wichita Gardens</a> (Kansas, USA), 42.5 lb. / 19.3 kg.Botanisk hage Oslo</a> (Norway), 40.8 lb. / 18.5 kg.Bristol Botanic Garden</a> (England), 15.4 lb. / 7 kg.Brookgreen Gardens</a> (South Carolina, USA), 23 lb. / 10.4 kg.Brooklyn Botanic Garden</a> (New York, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.Cambridge University Botanic Garden</a> (England), 26 lb. / 11.8 kg.Chicago Botanic Garden</a> (Illinois, USA), 25.25 lb. / 11.45 kg.Cleveland Botanical Garden</a> (Ohio, USA), “100,000 lb.”Como Zoo Conservatory</a> (Minnesota, USA), 71.51 lb. / 32.4 kg.Conservatory of Flowers</a> (California, USA), two ceramic frogsDenver Botanic Gardens</a> (Colorado, USA), 50 lb. / 22.7 kg.Desert City </a>(Spain), 59.5 lb./ 27 kg.The Eden Project </a>(England), 15.6 lb. / 7.073 kg.Espace pour la vie</a> (Canada), 50 lb. / 22.7 kg.Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens</a> (Ohio, USA), 5.8 lb. / 2.6 kg.The Hudson Gardens</a> (Colorado, USA), 21 lb. / 9.5 kg.The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens</a> (California, USA), 12 tiny sand bagsHuntsville Botanical Garden</a> (Alabama, USA), 176 lb. / 79.8 kg.Longwood Gardens</a> (Pennsylvania, USA), 165 lb. / 74.8 kg.McKee Botanical Gardens</a> (Florida, USA), 44 lb. / 20 kg.Middleton Hall Gardens</a> (England), 0.024 lb. / 0.01 kg.Minnesota Landscape Arboretum</a> (Minnesota, USA), 0.07 lb. / 0.03 kg.Missouri Botanical Garden</a> (Missouri, USA), 182 lb. / 82.6 kg.The Morton Arboretum</a> (Illinois, USA), 12 toy frogsNaples Botanical Garden</a> (Florida, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill</a> (Massachusetts, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.New Orleans Botanical Garden</a> (Louisiana, USA), 73 lb. / 33.1 kg.New York Botanical Garden</a> (New York, USA), 100 lb. / 45.4 kg.Powell Gardens</a> (Missouri, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.Redleaf Exotics</a> (Tennessee, USA), 115 lb. / 52.16 kg.Royal Botanical Gardens Canada</a> (Ontario, Canada), 3 stones & an acornRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh</a> (Scotland), 79.6 lb. / 36.1 kg.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew</a> (England), 168.7 lb. / 76.5 kg.Royal Botanic Garden Sydney</a> (Australia), 0.02 lb. / 0.01 kg. or “ten men”San Diego Botanic Garden</a> (California, USA), 0 lb. / 0 kg.Sarah P. Duke Gardens</a> (North Carolina, USA), 90 lb. / 40.8 kg.Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden</a> (South Africa), “all of the Anthropocene”The Toledo Zoo</a> (Ohio, USA), 31 lb. / 14.1 kg.University of Bonn Botanic Garden</a> (Germany), 154 lb. / 70 kg.University of California, Davis, Botanical Conservatory</a> (California, USA), 80 lb. / 36.3 kg.University of California, Los Angeles, Mathias Botanical Garden</a> (California, USA), 0.007 lb. / 0.003 kg, a.k.a. one gummy bearU.S. Botanic Garden</a> (Washington D.C., USA), lots of fluffVizcaya Museum and Gardens</a> (Florida, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center</a> (New York, USA), 39 lb. / 17.7 kg. </p>
Plant Select® is a unique program that brings plants to the consumer market that are good for the Colorado Front Range steppe environment. Plants from the Plant Select program are integrated into many of the gardens and can be found throughout Denver Botanic Gardens.</p> As you enter the Gardens and make your way to the Crossroads Garden</strong> you will see some classics from Plant Select. In the beds leading to the main building you can see Delosperma </em>spp., commonly known as ice plants. Ice plants are a hardy groundcover from southern Africa and grow well in Colorado. Over the years Plant Select has introduced and recommended more than a dozen selections and species of Delosperma</em>. Also in the Crossroads is Epilobium canum</em> ssp. garrettii </em>‘PWWG01S’, commonly known as ORANGE CARPET® California fuchsia. This plant stands a little taller than the ice plants but is still considered a ground cover. These plants are very sought after by hummingbirds. You can often find these energetic birds fighting over these plants and all the nectar they produce. </li> Continue to the west down the main path and in the planters on the top of the ramp on each side you will see lovely specimens of Picea glauca </em>‘Pendula’. At the base is Oenothera macrocarpa </em>ssp. incana </em>SILVER BLADE®. This low water combination shows off the beauty of silver foliage and the Oenothera</em> is a very prolific blooming plant. Flowers are a soft yellow and open in the late afternoon to evening. This feature is where it gets the common name silver evening primrose. Silver foliage on plants is often a protective feature some plants develop to survive in very high light conditions as well as a way to preserve water in the plant. </li> Now continue on west through Roads Water-Smart Garden and keep going into Shady Lane</strong>. Planted along the Shady Lane in the southern beds are examples of Daphne </em>× burkwoodii</em> ‘Carol Mackie’. This variegated shrub looks great all year long and in protected locations like Shady Lane the plant will be evergreen. About this time of year, the plant will be covered with intensely fragrant white flowers. Plants that thrive in dry shade can be a challenge to find but this is one of the very best of them. </li> Once you have taken in the fragrant blooms of Daphne</em>, continue west to arrive at the Darlene Radichel Plant Select Garden</strong>. This garden is designed as a showcase for the Plant Select program. Here you will find almost every plant that Plant Select has introduced and recommended. There are plants from the very first year of introduction to plants that won’t be available to the public until the following growing season. This garden showcases the different ways you can use and display plants from this program.</li> </ul> Plant Select has brought to the market more than 175 unique plants and many of them are Colorado and regionally native plants. With long seasons of interest and the ability to thrive in Colorado’s steppe climate, these are the plants that can help you transform your landscape into a beautiful, diverse, pollinator-friendly oasis.</p> Please visit plantselect.org</a> for more information on this program and where you can find the plants to purchase.</p>
