Let’s celebrate Earth Day and our Front Range biodiversity by participating in the City Nature Challenge</a>! This is a yearly event for folks in cities all over the world to observe and document biodiversity in their own backyards. Any living organism is fair game for observation – plants, mammals, birds, insects, fish – they all contribute to the City Nature Challenge. To participate, make observations of any organism on iNaturalist during the observation phase. This is followed by an identification phase—where you can join a community of nerdy naturalists to identify the species observed. Learn more and find local bioblitzes</a> near you.</p> CITY NATURE CHALLENGE 2026</strong>Observations: </strong>April 24 – April 27Upload and Identification Phase:</strong> April 28 – May 10</p> For 2025’s global challenge, there were 3.3 million observations of almost 74,000 species made by 103,000 people from over 62 countries around the world. This brings the total number of observations made during the past 10 years to almost 13 million! </p> Meanwhile, in the Denver-Boulder metro area, more than 9,714 observations were submitted by 764 people of 1,260 species. We nearly doubled our number of observations and observers compared to 2024 and we broke our previous record in 2020 of ~7,000. This year, our most observed species was Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana</em>). Fun species observed included a silver fox</a>, Abert’s squirrel</a>, prairie violet</a>, beaver</a>, black-crowned night heron</a>, little brown bat</a>, American mink</a>, elk</a>, moose</a>, northern harrier</a> and black bear</a>. We even had 145 research-grade observations of 26 species</a> that are listed as rare, endangered or threatened by NatureServe or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (over twice as many as last year). </p> It’s easy to participate – your iNaturalist observations will automatically be added to the City Nature Challenge 2026: Colorado Front Range</a> project if they are made during the challenge event and occur in the Front Range (see above link for map of included areas). Additionally, all plant and fungal observations will automatically be added to the Denver EcoFlora Project</a>. </p>
Local legends abound surrounding the history of Cheesman Park as an unkept and crumbling cemetery that was later transformed into the recreational area it is today. Before its green fields were dotted with volleyball nets and slacklines, this park was City Cemetery, Denver’s first large cemetery, established in 1859. Originally intended to be a scenic Victorian cemetery like those seen in Boston, New York and parts of Europe, this vision was never realized. Pressure to use the area in a way that would better appease its burgeoning affluent neighbors in Capitol Hill ultimately led to its transformation into a park. </p> Easier said than done. Thousands of occupants already resided underground in City Cemetery. Undertaker E. P. McGovern was contracted to relocate remains to Riverside Cemetery several miles away in early 1893. Paid by the coffin, McGovern soon saw a way to exploit the wording of his contract and unearthed remains were split between multiple child-sized coffins which were then hauled across town. The city discovered what was going on, halted McGovern’s work entirely and required that all remains either be relocated at their survivors’ expense within 90 days or remain onsite. </p> Imperfect maps identifying locations of remains, fear of diseases that could be spread by unearthing remains, and the inability of individuals to pay relocation costs for loved ones prevented work from being completed in time for the park’s opening.</p> It is estimated that 2,000 to 3,000 human remains still reside under Cheesman Park. </p> Adjacent to City Cemetery was Mount Calvary Cemetery—where Denver Botanic Gardens now exists. Owned by the Catholic Archdiocese of Denver, this cemetery was better maintained than neighboring City Cemetery but fell into disuse after Mount Olivet Cemetery was established in Wheat Ridge and became the only consecrated Catholic cemetery in the area. The abandoned Mount Calvary was used primarily as a playground for adventurous children until it was finally deeded to the City of Denver in 1950. </p> The relocation of remains from Mount Calvary to Mount Olivet was more organized and expedient than the transition from City Cemetery to Cheesman Park had been, but not without issues. Occasionally remains would be missing from where they were marked on the cemetery’s records, while others would be found during construction and maintenance where no burial had been recorded. </p> Denver Botanic Gardens was first partially and then completely relocated from its original home in City Park to the former site of Mount Calvary in the late 1950s and early 1960s, with the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory being formally dedicated in January of 1966. </p> Although considered by some to be less haunted than our larger neighbor, the Gardens still has its share of ghost stories and reported hauntings. </p> To learn more about the hauntings and history of Denver Botanic Gardens and Cheesman Park, browse these books at Helen Fowler Library: </p> The Ghosts of Denver: Capitol Hill by Phil Goodstein </a>Written by local historian and walking tour guide Phil Goodstein, this volume covers much of the history of Capitol Hill and Cheesman Park neighborhoods, including the haunted history of the park and its surroundings. </li> Cemetery to Conservatory by Louisa Ward Arps </a>A publication of Denver Botanic Gardens, this work covers the transition from the cemetery to its current use in detail, spanning the period from 1859 to 1980. </li> The Dead Below by Richard Estep </a>Follow Colorado author Richard Estep and his ghost hunting crew as they explore Waring House at Denver Botanic Gardens in search of evidence of the supernatural. </li> </ul> This post was contributed by On Call Librarian Sean Grimes</strong>. </em></p>
Mushrooms can be poisonous. That is one of the first things we are taught as kids. Even though plants produce more detrimental toxins than mushrooms, society, rightly or wrongly, tends to teach the latter as being more dangerous. While attitudes toward mushrooms have been changing, the history around mushroom poisoning shows growth in understanding all the ways eating them can make people sick. </p> At Denver Botanic Gardens, Dr. Sam Mitchel</a> was perhaps the most central figure to expand mycology and knowledge of mushrooms of the Southern Rockies. He is not as well known for his role as a medical doctor and as a trained diagnostician. However, this dual perspective gave Dr. Mitchel the ability to merge his passion for mushrooms and medicine to produce an understanding of how they might poison people. </p> Along with other Denver-based doctors Drs. Barry Rumack and Manny Salzman, Dr. Mitchel coordinated efforts to understand and educate medical professionals about mushroom poisons in the 1970s. These efforts primarily took place in Colorado around the mid-70s when the Aspen Mushroom Conference became one of the first to train doctors from across the country. This conference gave doctors skills to ID mushrooms and diagnose mushroom poisonings, and included training on the variety of toxins that mushrooms can produce, how they affect the people who consumed them, and how doctors can treat their patients. </p> In general, there are seven poisoning “groups” that mushroom toxins can fall into: Cyclopeptide poisoning, Monomethyldrazine poisoning, Coprine poisoning, Muscarine poisoning, Ibotenic acid – Muscimol poisoning, Psiocybin-Psilocin poisoning and Gastrointestinal irritants. In 1977, Dr. Mitchel teamed up with the late celebrated mycologist Gary Lincoff to write “Toxic and Hallucinogenic Mushroom Poisoning: A Handbook for Physicians and Mushroom Hunters,” which details each of these poisonings and how to treat them.</p> Today these efforts to understand mushroom toxicology continue in Colorado. Dr. Rumack, with the assistance of Gardens volunteers Ed and Ikuko Lubow, continues to train doctors on identifying mushrooms and the poisons they produce. Nationally, the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) has an active Toxicology Committee that continues to offer aid and assistance in identifying toxic mushrooms and advising doctors and poison centers on how to diagnose poisonings.</p> Internationally, Dr. Mitchel’s work has reached across the Pacific to Borneo where medical professionals in Malaysia came together for a Mushroom Toxicology workshop in 2019. There the doctors learned about the mushroom poisonings above, as documented through the work done here in Colorado. </p>
Everyone’s life is marked with memories that stay with us forever. Some of my most cherished plant memories come from discovering the stunning world of cacti and succulent plants that are housed in the Cactus and Succulent House located in the Rock Alpine Garden. </p> I had the privilege of taking over this collection and replanting the display house during the summer of 2021. Now, after three years of care, the plants have really filled in and grown fantastically. I invite you to see what’s growing and blooming inside the Cactus and Succulent House during the height and blight of winter. One reason these plants are so popular and sought after is because the leaf forms are often so pretty that the flowers simply become a bonus or means to produce seed. In their natural habitat most of the succulents from the Southern Hemisphere do their growing and blooming during the winter months. Some of my favorites this year are: </p> Ceropegia cimiciodora </em>– A creeping, leafless stem succulent with super-cool flowers that blooms almost all year-round. You would be hard pressed to find a cooler flower.</li> Stapelia schinzii </em>var. angolensis </em>– Fuzzy maroon flowers that smell like rotting flesh! What could be better?</li> Haworthia emelyae</em> var. comptoniana</em> – A solitary species with a very small natural range in the Cape Province of South Africa. It is prized and known for its beautiful white markings on the leaf surfaces, slow growth and difficult propagation.</li> Haworthia arachnoidea</em> var. setata </em>– In its native South Africa, it is known as papierrosie</em> (paper-rose) or spinnekopnes</em> (spider’s nest). Sign me up!</li> Haworthia </em>hybrid – </em>A special blend of species created by me, formulated for your enjoyment!</li> Albuca spiralis –</em> A bulbous curly leaf plant. Give your curly leaf bulbs as much light as you can during the growing season.</li> Albuca hallii</em> – Another curly-leaf plant, the spring leaf plant has a pair of cork-screwed shaped leaves.</li> Trichodiadema </em>sp. – A beautiful plant that gets covered in purple blooms, reminiscent of summer-blooming iceplant (Delosperma</em>), during the winter months. </li> </ol> I have been collecting these plants for 21 years and I am still finding the next amazing thing I have to have. If you need some plant inspiration while your own garden is sleeping this winter, come visit our collection of unique cacti and succulents in their full glory. </p> Gallery photos by Scott Preusser </em></p>
A hidden charm sprinkled into private events at Chatfield Farms are several specific botanicals that you will find nestled within the landscaping of our venues and historical buildings. These special plants enhance the spaces through their symbolism and uses for wellbeing. </p> Near the Green Farm Barn</a>, you will find firecracker penstemon, Penstemon eatonii</em>, a native wildflower. This botanical symbolizes luck, just like the hummingbirds who frequent this venue throughout the summer. Firecracker penstemons also represent celebration and prosperity, a lovely combination to evoke for wedding celebrations and corporate events. Species of penstemon were historically used by Native Americans to treat a range of ailments, including sun burns, migraines and snake bites. </p> The Polly Steele Center</a> is a beautiful venue surrounded by a cottage garden. This is a favorite spot for birthdays, elopements, micro weddings and celebrations of life. Growing under some of the trees is lady's mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris</em>. Lady's mantle symbolizes protection and comfort, seen through the cloak-like shape of the leaves. Its Latin name translates to “little alchemist”, named after the morning dew that collects within its soft leaves, which represents transformation in alchemy. Medicinal uses of lady’s mantle for women's health have been noted, particularly within western European traditions. </p> There is an abundance of medicinal plants around the Chatfield Farms property. To view medicinal plants formally, visit our herb garden, adjacent to the historical Hildebrand Ranch house</a>. As you continue to expand your plant knowledge, we invite you to come out for a venue tour with our private events team</a> and see if you can identify additional botanicals within the space that can enhance and provide greater meaning or fun for your event. </p>
As spring arrives along the Front Range, many gardeners are eager to get their hands in the soil. It’s also the ideal moment to plan a landscape that is both beautiful and water-smart as drought and water restrictions are becoming more frequent. Plan now and set yourself up for success before the growing season begins.</p> Water-wise landscaping—often called xeriscaping</strong>—focuses on choosing plants and practices that thrive with less, without sacrificing color, texture or seasonal interest.</p> Thoughtful Prep Now = Big Impact Through the Season</h4> Select plants with low-water needs, like lavender, coneflower, Russian sage, hardy succulents and those native to Colorado.</li> Apply a layer of mulch or rock to reduce evaporation and regulate soil temperature.</li> Group plants with similar water needs together, and water deeply but infrequently to encourage stronger, more resilient root systems.</li> Time your watering for early morning or evening so more moisture reaches plant roots where it’s needed most.</li> </ul> Start with the Right Plants—and the Right Guidance</h4> If you’re ready to refresh your garden, Spring Plant Sale</a> on May 8 and 9</strong> is one of the best places to begin. Shop a thoughtfully curated selection of water-smart plants chosen specifically for Colorado’s climate—many grown locally—and get expert advice from horticulturists who can help you choose the right plants for your space and conditions.</p> Whether you’re planting a small pollinator patch or reimagining your entire landscape, starting with the right plants—and the right knowledge—makes all the difference.</p> Learn, Then Grow with Confidence</h4> Take your plans a step further with classes designed to help you garden smarter</a>. From water-wise design principles to hands-on techniques like drip irrigation, these classes offer practical skills you can apply right away—so you can create a landscape that’s both resilient and rewarding.</p> See It in Action</h4> While visiting York Street, explore gardens that showcase water conservation in practice</strong>—and see just how beautiful water-smart can be:</p> Darlene Radichel Plant Select® Garden</li> Dryland Mesa</li> Green Roof</li> Nexus Garden</li> Roads Water-Smart Garden</li> Steppe Garden </li> </ul> In a dry year, every drop counts. By making intentional choices—and taking advantage of the plants, expertise and learning opportunities available this spring—you can create a garden that thrives while supporting the resilience of our broader community.</p>
