The lavender collection at Chatfield Farms has been growing strong since 2015. Several of the cultivars from the original installation can still be found in the collection today! But while the lavender plants persist for anywhere from five to 15 years, there are new and noteworthy additions each season. Whether replacing an old row, or trying out a new cultivar, the number of lavender varieties at Chatfield Farms continue to grow. </p> Lavandula </em>‘Ana Luisa’ is a cross between English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia</em>) and woolly lavender (Lavandula lanata</em>). This variety’s blue-grey foliage and very long flower stalks can be found among the perennial borders, blooming for the first time this summer. ‘Ana Luisa’ is a new hybrid species to the collection and increases the total species count in the collection. </p> Also, among the borders is Lavandula angustifolia</em> ‘Maillette’. This French cultivar is often used in essential oil production due to its high-quality oils and is known to be one of the sweeter smelling lavender cultivars. Make sure to spy ‘Maillette’ on your next walk through the Lavender Garden</a>. </p> Making its debut in the Lavender Garden is Lavandula multifida</em> ‘Torch Minty Ice’ (fernleaf lavender). This species originates in the much warmer climates of North Africa and is also known as Egyptian lavender. While not suitable for Colorado winters, Lavandula multifida</em> can be grown as an annual herb. The scent of this species is very different than a typical lavender smell. Find Lavandula multifida </em>in the borders this summer give it a sniff for yourself!</p> In the east lavender fields, you may find a new name. Lavandula angustifolia</em> ‘Wyckoff’ is a cultivar originating from the Pacific Northwest of the United States. While it is difficult to get started, once established, this cultivar is an excellent choice for dried arrangements and culinary purposes. </p> Looking way across to the western lavender fields is Lavandula angustifolia</em> ‘New Zealand Blue’. This sweet-smelling cultivar comes all the way from…New Zealand! While many are familiar with lavender production in France and Mediterranean areas, modern lavender production has led to over 450 varieties cultivated all around the globe. New hybrids and varieties are regularly introduced into cultivation so there is always something new to see.</p> The lavender will be in full bloom for the month of July. Be sure to stop by and visit all the old and new lavender varieties at Chatfield Farms during Lavender Festival</a>, July 19 and 20</strong>. Tickets are still available – get yours today. </p>
Did you know that Chatfield Farms</a> has two herb gardens? For years we had a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) herb garden and a Denver Botanic Gardens Guild</a> production garden. After years of working their herb garden, the CSA relinquished its prime spot in front of the Hildebrand house in 2024. The horticulture team took over management of this space and the Guild took over maintenance. </p> In the fall of 2024, I started developing some concepts for a new herb garden. This new garden needed to serve multiple purposes, including producing herbs for the Guild, creating a learning space for our Education Department, and enriching the guest experience. We wanted it to retain a kitchen garden feel, befitting its location right outside the historical homestead.</p> I met with the Guild at the end of 2024, and they generously donated funds for this new project. Earlier this year, we finalized the design and got bids for construction. By April, we were demolishing the old, tired row herbs in favor of raised beds and accessible pathways. We partnered with a company called Earth Love Gardens</a> to install our new raised beds. They specialize in permaculture and edible gardens. </p> On May 28, members of the Guild, Aaron Michael (owner of Earth Love Gardens) and some of Denver Botanic Gardens’ staff came together to install all the plant material. We planted more than 1,500 plants! With another generous donation of planter pots and a beautiful bench from one of our volunteers, we were able to create a destination garden where anyone can browse our herbs, take a rest and enjoy Hildebrand Ranch gardens. </p>
Autumn is in the air! Fall marks a transition period in our gardens when most perennials, trees and shrubs enter dormancy for the winter, with flower shows giving way to textural and skeletal plant arrangements. Among gardeners, there is often the urge to tidy up after the first frost by immediately cutting back perennials and removing plant debris, but this can be counterproductive to both the aesthetic and ecological value of your garden. Here are a few tips to maximize the ecological utility of your garden this winter while maintaining a beautiful yard.</p> Leave as much standing plant material as possible. </h4> Many species of invertebrates, including beneficial insects and pollinators, use plant stems to nest or overwinter. By removing standing plant material from our gardens in the fall, we don’t allow these species to complete their life cycles. Birds and mammals also rely on upright dried plant material for food or shelter. </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> Liatris punctata</em></p> In the spring once temperatures have warmed, cut back grasses and flower stems. Even better, cut back flower stalks at varying heights leaving some vertical stems in place as this helps native bees and other insects emerge from their winter slumber. </p> There is an aesthetic upshot as well; dormant plants in the winter are beautiful and allow you to see contrasting botanical shapes and forms in stark relief. Ornamental grasses in particular juxtapose beautifully with bold seed heads like Echinacea </em>or stiff upright forms of Liatris </em>and Silphium</em>. Of course, some plants hold up better than others in dormancy so consider cutting back unsightly soft plant material while leaving more rigid plants. You might be surprised how beautiful your garden is in the low, slanted light of autumn and winter. </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> Dormant grasses catching light.</p> Allow some leaves, stems and other organic material to remain on the ground. </h4> This additional habitat will be appreciated by a wide array of organisms. For example, nearly three quarters of Colorado’s native bee species nest underground, so a covering of plant litter can help protect their nests over the winter and in the early spring when they become active. Allowing plant material to decompose in place can also improve soil health and provide nutrients to your plants, but keep in mind that this will depend on the type of garden that you have; xeric or dryland gardens may resent too much organic matter while more traditional perennial or shade gardens will appreciate the additional detritus. Vegetable gardens are an exception where it’s best to remove as much plant debris from your crops as possible to mitigate pressure from pests and pathogens.</p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> Schizachyrium scoparium</em></p> Start a home compost pile with your yard waste rather than throwing in it the trash. </h4> Alternatively, Denver residents can obtain free paper lawn bags and drop off leaves at designated sites this fall. In the spring, pick up discounted compost made from community collections (you can find details at Denver.gov</a> ). For a fee, you can also sign up for weekly compost collection if you live in the city of Denver. </p> Any of these options help to keep organic material out of landfills. Organic matter, including food scraps and yard waste, is the single largest input to landfills in the United States and substantially contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, especially methane. Composting organic material or sending it to designated compost facilities can drastically reduce your environmental impact while providing a useful garden resource. </p> </p> This article first appeared in the November issue of Life on Capitol Hill. Photos by Michael Guidi.</em> </p>
