Plastic straws are OUT! As an article in the Denver Post</a> recently illustrated, Colorado restaurants are joining a national and even international trend to replace single-use plastic straws with either compostable and/or paper straws. The Gardens’ Offshoots Café and Hive Bistro</a> at the York Street location recently swapped out plastic straws in favor of biodegradable ones, expanding their list of compostables to include all cups, plates, cutlery and paper products.</p> </p> Not only do plastic straws not decompose in landfills, but they are likely to find their way into streams and rivers, eventually contributing to the growing problem of plastic contamination</a> on beaches and in oceans. In an effort to address the issue, Seattle became the first U.S. city to ban plastic straws (on July 1) and its homegrown café chain Starbucks recently announced it will eliminate all plastic straws by 2020.</p> Closer to home, the Gardens is working with concessioner Catering by Design on this and other initiatives to make “green” dining the norm – for example, in May the Gardens stopped selling bottled water</a>. </p> So where do the compostable straws end up? The Gardens has a three-bin waste system at York Street to facilitate recycling and composting. Onsite diversion of plant material, food and other biodegradable waste generates several tons of compost that can then be used as a soil amendment – in our own gardens and elsewhere.</p> </p>
</p>It’s the peak of summer here at our York Street location, and we are heading into the busiest weeks of the annual Summer Concert Series</a>. Even for seasoned Denver concert-goers, there’s no venue in town quite like the Gardens. With somewhat unique restrictions on what you can bring, what you can’t bring, and what your evening will look like, we want to share with you our best tips for ensuring your concert experience is a comfortable one.</p>BYOB</strong>Perhaps the most dramatic difference between the Gardens and other local concert venues is that we do not sell alcohol onsite. However, you are welcome to bring your own! Concert-goers can bring their own beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages (coolers are permitted, as well). Of course, we always recommend drinking in moderation, so if you are arriving by car, make sure you designate a sober driver!</p>Bring short chairs, or just rent or buy one of ours</strong>To provide a great viewing experience for all our guests, we do not permit any chairs with a total height taller than 28” inside the property. Alternately, if you don’t want to mess with dragging your own chairs along, stop by the bright green chair rental tent at the north end of the UMB Bank Amphitheater tent and rent one from us for $10. This year, we also have some chairs for sale for $70 + tax. Don’t wait too long though – we often sell out before the concert begins.</p>Know what you can bring, and what you can’t</strong>We want you to have a leisurely evening with lots of creature comforts, but we do prohibit some items from entering the Gardens on a concert date to ensure a pleasant experience for everyone. As part of our commitment to safety, every bag, cooler and wagon will be screened upon entry. Prohibited items may be confiscated, so we recommend leaving those at home to begin with. Here is a list of accepted and prohibited items</a>. </p>Want a prime seat? Get in line early. </strong>While the gates open at approximately 5:45 p.m., guests who are eager for a prime seating location often line up hours earlier. While we think there isn’t really a bad seat in the house, we suggest arriving early with a book or a knitting project if a front-and-center seat is what you have in mind.</p>Try Anna’s Overlook for spacious seating</strong>On the other hand, if you’d rather not squash into the UMB Bank Amphitheater with hundreds of strangers, the grassy slope west of the Science Pyramid offers excellent sound and plenty of space to spread out. You may not see the performers, but you’ll hear their serenades just fine.</p>Order a picnic dinner in advance</strong>Both Offshoots Café and the Hive Garden Bistro are open for dinner</a> each concert evening. You can also visit the new hot dog cart</strong> in Oak Grove. If you’d rather not wait for your food during the concert, pre-order a Summer Picnic Box</a>. </p>Dress for success</strong>Our concerts go on rain or shine, so make sure you check the weather in advance. Ponchos, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, blankets, sweaters, jackets – we usually see them all in the course of a concert season.</p>Severe weather threats</strong>The Gardens will be evacuated when lightning, hail, high winds or other severe weather threats are in the immediate vicinity, and the show will be delayed/stopped until the threat of severe weather has cleared. A banner alert will be posted on this website with updates, and staff will communicate via bullhorns to keep concert-goers informed. We thank you for your participation in keeping everyone safe! </p>Take in your surroundings</strong>Feel free to wander the Gardens as you like throughout the concert. The Summer Concert Series is not just about incredible musical talent; it’s about showcasing it in the spectacular setting of a horticultural wonderland. Many of our gardens are in peak bloom, and you may be lucky enough to catch a breathtaking sunset while you’re here!</p>Learn everything you need to know about attending a concert at the Gardens on this Plan Your Visit page</a>.</p> </p>
Kenna here, the medicinal plant intern at Denver Botanic Gardens. I’m excited to announce the newly publicized medicinal plants virtual tour on the Gardens Navigator website! In creating this virtual tour, I hope to bring more awareness to medicinal plants and help dispel the reputation of "pseudo-science" that herbalism often has.</p> Here is the Medicinal Plants Tour</a></p> I chose 30 plants, ranging from the tropics to the tundra, from cattails to Calendula</em>. I also picked plants that were in as many of the different sub-gardens within the Gardens as possible, so that those following this tour on foot would see the variety in color and scent these plants are known for.</p> On this tour you’ll find extensive research on both the stories and science behind each plant. Read about the mythology surrounding Alder trees while also learning about the chemicals that make them so medicinal. I’ve even added practical recipes to go along with each plant that you can try at home. Included in each exhibit are growth tips provided by some of our staff horticulturists for growing these plants successfully in the ever-changing Colorado climate.</p> On the introduction page of this tour, you’ll find the link to the Denver Medicinal Plant Society (DMPS), which I worked with in my research. On the DMPS website there are even more recipes and history on medicinal plants not covered in this tour, as well as more scientific evidence behind why medicinal plants "work."</p> On the introduction page you’ll find a link to my YouTube channel, where I’ve filmed short videos of how to make these recipes. Each video is no longer than three minutes and gives practical and easy ways to make old classics and new favorites, such as a comfrey salve. Join me as I show you how to infuse</em> more medicinal plants into your life. Get it?</p> Okay, joking aside, you’ll find references and acknowledgements on the front page as well. I have done extensive research to make sure this tour is as accurate and informative as possible. With more than 100 cited references, I’m happy to say that everything you learn about on this tour came from a credible source. So, what are you waiting for? Take our virtual tour today!</p>
When it comes to pest management, Denver Botanic Gardens ascribes to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to manage and control pest populations. One of the critical components of IPM is biological control – the use of specific organisms (often called natural enemies or biological control agents) to control pests. A high volume of research goes into developing biological control; this may include assessing how effective the natural enemy is, what impacts it may have outside of the desired target and ideal conditions for use. Biological controls aren’t exclusive to insects, but they are the easiest to work with. Fungi, bacteria and nematodes are all also used.</p> The Gardens predominantly uses biological control within the greenhouses. This reduces the reliance on pesticides, though some are still used when necessary. While the overall goal is to have a sustainable population, the greenhouse staff schedules regular releases of a range of natural enemies to prevent the build-up of pest insects – including aphids, whiteflies and spider mites.</p> The natural enemies arrive live. Some are in the pupal stage contained in small containers on cards or are adults in vials or drawstring bags. The cards are hung throughout the greenhouse, especially near plants that have infestations or are known to. The adults are released from their containers and fly off in search of prey. Depending on the natural enemy’s strategy, they will either eat the target insect or lay eggs on it. In both cases, the target insect is killed, protecting the plant.</p> For example, mealybug destroyers, Cryptolaemus montrouzieri,</em> will fly in search of mealybugs, and will consume the entire insect. Mealybug destroyer eggs are laid near populations of mealybugs, and the larvae will also search out the pest insect. Encarsia formosa</em>, a parasitoid wasp, will search out whitefly adults and lay eggs inside. After the eggs hatch, the wasp larvae kill the whitefly by consuming the guts, forming a whitefly mummy. The wasps then pupate and emerge as adults, ready to begin the cycle anew.</p> Biological control isn’t limited to just plant production – there are plenty of examples of biological control outside in the gardens. One of the most easily recognized are ladybugs – both the adults and the larvae will feed on aphids. Lacewing larvae are also well known for feeding on insects, including aphids and mites.</p> Biological control is challenging to release out into the gardens because we have no control over where the insects go. Instead, it is far easier to provide habitat for natural enemies. Knowing their host plants, environmental needs and providing water will bring natural enemies into your garden!</p>
</p> Ranked by CNN last year as one of the seven best places to see holiday lights</a> in the United States, Blossoms of Light</a> offers a spectacular setting for your end-of-year celebrations with colleagues, friends or family.</p> With booking options available every night of the week from Nov. 23 - Dec. 16, we can accommodate parties large and small. Choose from several of our versatile and unique indoor spaces to offer your guests a warm retreat when they aren't outside enjoying our glittering winter wonderland. Party pricing includes a limited quantity of tables and chairs, and each of your guests will have access to wander Blossoms of Light the night of your event. </p> Treat your guests to the most Instagrammable holiday party in town! Popular dates are already selling fast, so contact us for more information today at private.events@botanicgardens.org</a> or 720-865-3551.</p> Thinking of popping the question this December? Ask us about our private engagement packages with a rooftop view of the lights! </em></p>
This summer, Denver Botanic Gardens, with funding from the High Line Canal Conservancy, is conducting a survey of the plants growing along the High Line Canal. Drawing water from the South Platte River, the Canal winds 71 miles from Waterton Canyon in Littleton to the eastern edge of Green Valley Ranch in Aurora. For 66 of those 71 miles, the Canal is accompanied by a multi-use recreational trail, each mile marked by a wooden sign-post displaying the mile number.</p> Those mile markers bear a unique significance to Chrissy Alba, Gardens research associate in floristics, and myself, seasonal botanist, because they mark the beginning of our field work each day. Accompanied by a devoted volunteer or two, we set out from the research van in search of the day’s mile marker, our hand-held GPS leading the way, laden with the tools of the collector: a lightweight plant press, digital camera, field notebooks, clippers and a simple trowel with a unique name, the hori hori. From the mile marker, we slowly work our way downstream, intermittently stopping to collect plant specimens that will be brought back to the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium</a> at the Gardens.</p> While searching, we are guided by our species list, which has been compiled over the course of the summer and lists all of the plant species that we have already collected. This list will continue to grow throughout the season; we have already found nearly 200 species in the first six weeks of the project! Our goal each day is to collect plant species that are not on the list, but only if it has flowers or fruits, as these reproductive parts are often critical for identification.</p> When we find a plant in flower or in fruit that isn’t on our list, we must ask ourselves one final question before unholstering the hori hori: are there others like it nearby? If not, we typically won’t collect it, allowing the genetics within that individual to remain part of the ecosystem. Instead, we will make note of it in our field notebooks, adding it to a secondary “observational” species list. The field notebook also contains specific notes for each specimen, including habitat type and other plant species growing nearby. These qualitative data are intended to provide a “snapshot” of the immediate environment in which the plant was found.</p> There are two main categories of plants that we collect on the Canal: those with roots we can collect and those with roots we cannot collect. The roots often provide important information for identification, and for this reason, we want to collect specimens with roots intact whenever possible. Although we’d love to collect the roots of a coyote willow (Salix exigua</em>), for example, it is neither feasible nor necessary. Instead, we use our clippers to collect twigs bearing reproductive parts (flowers or fruits), leaves and any other identifying characteristics, such as thorns.</p> Roots or no roots, all specimens go straight into the field press, a lightweight nylon-and-cardboard version of the traditional heavy wooden frame. The final step is to place a small amount of green leaf tissue from the specimen into a coin envelope, to be preserved for future genetic studies. Plant tissue is needed to address a wide variety of research subjects, ranging, for example, from the drought tolerance of the eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides</em>) along the Front Range to the genetic makeup of the invasive Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica</em>).</p> All told, the process of collecting plant specimens is a pleasantly gratifying, albeit quite slow, process. There is a certain satisfaction that comes to any collector of treasures, no matter what form they might take: each specimen brings you one step closer both to completing the whole picture and to uncovering a new realm of unanswered questions.</p> This blog post was written by Audrey Dignan, seasonal botanist in the Research & Conservation Department.</em></p>
Blotchy patches, serpentine lines, and small black dots inside a clear section of leaf – these are all symptoms I look for when diagnosing leaf miner damage. Leaf miners are the larval form of a few species of flies that live within the upper and lower surfaces on the leaf and feed on the cells inside.</p> Typically, it is nothing more than an aesthetic nightmare. But on plants used for edible greens, like spinach, it develops into a problem that requires management, as leaf miners can decimate a crop, rendering it inedible.</p> The leaf miner flies lay eggs on the underside of the leaf, and once the eggs hatch, bore into the inner space of the leaf. Once inside, they munch on the inner cells, leaving a trail behind filled with small black frass (insect poop) inside the tunnels. After maturing, the flies emerge from the leaves and begin the cycle again. In the fall, the larvae pupate and fall to the soil to overwinter. These insects can have multiple cycles within one year.</p> Depending on the severity of the infestation, there are a number of management techniques available. Spraying insecticides is an option, but the timing is crucial – once the larvae are in the leaf, contact insecticides will not work. Systemic are an option, but have other negative consequences including affecting pollinators and other beneficial insects.</p> The most effective methods of control in a vegetable garden include tilling the soil to disrupt the pupae in the winter, remove the leaves as mines develop and squish the eggs on the undersides of the leaves. Doing a combination of all of these things can prevent a complete decimation of your fresh edible greens. In a perennial bed, however, most opt for either removing the leaves or just ignoring them. </p>
While on one of my scouting tours through the Gardens, Mike Bone, curator of steppe collections and one of the horticulturists that manages the Steppe Garden</a>, informed me that the red hot poker plant (Kniphofia stricta</em></a>,</em> also known as a torch lily) had some interesting fasciation going on in the flower stalks in the Steppe Garden.</p> </p> The torch lily flower stalk is twisting, and some flowers are divided into two. These are some common symptoms of fasciation. Another symptom is a flattened flower, which can be seen in the blanket flowers (Gaillardia aristata</em></a>) in the Ponderosa Border just east of the UMB Bank Amphitheater. Other symptoms of fasciation include a flattened ribbon-like stem, bushy growth or twisted stems.</p> Fasciation is typically a mutation or deformity that occurs in the meristem of a plant. Meristems are where cells begin to form – similar to stem cells in humans, these cells divide and then specialize, becoming the cells that make up the leaves, stems and flowers. Sometimes a mistake happens, resulting in an abnormal growth. These mistakes can be caused by anything from a defect in the DNA code in the plant, to a viral infection, to insect damage. It can even be something environmental that causes this. Because there are so many different causes, there is no one cure.</p> In some plants, like the cockscomb flower (Celsoia cristata</em>), this mutation is transferred by seed, allowing us to enjoy the unique, rooster comb-like flowers year after year. In others, like the torch lily or blanket flower, it is a physiological response, and typically will revert back to “normal” in later flowers or next season. If you’re not keen on how it looks, pruning it out is an option, as this mutation doesn’t generally affect the health of the plant. Otherwise, enjoy the funky flowers and stems!</p>
