Spring Plant Sale has been a Denver staple for 75 years. In 1949 it started its journey as a plant auction and antique sale by the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association (CFHA) who later merged with Denver Botanic Gardens. The fundraiser drew in plants hand selected by the CFHA and loyal patrons who would scavenge their basements for nicknacks and odds and ends to contribute to the sale. Eventually, antiques were dropped, and the focus turned solely on plants. </p> Each year on Mother’s Day Weekend, these coveted plants would be brought before an audience eager to bid on them. The auctioneer called out a starting price. Participant competed, increasing the price, until the largest bid finally won. The plants were beautiful, but the public knew bids paid for more than just the plants. The auction was primarily a fundraiser for the Gardens, allowing the facility to grow in outreach and offerings.</p> While we may not have the cries of an auctioneer echoing at the institution anymore, Spring Plant Sale</a> has grown tremendously! From vegetables to aquatics, water-smart to gardens-in-a-bag and everything between, our team has worked hard to cultivate this event into something extraordinary. Still held the Friday and Saturday of Mother’s Day weekend, guests and their families can take advantage of free access to the Gardens while strolling through the wide array of plants waiting to be taken home. </p> This sale couldn’t happen without the dedication of all our amazing volunteers and supporters who have been the backbone of the event for 75 years. Now, with over 67,000 plants available for purchase, our team and volunteers work tirelessly the week of the sale to make something beautiful.</p> While the size and impact of the sale has changed, along with the fashion, our purpose remains the same: reaching the Denver community and bringing knowledge and access to plant life in our region. </p> Join us this May to discover our 75th Spring Plant Sale! Members get 10% off purchases. Admission is free but reservations must be made in advance. Reserve your spot today.</a> </p> Take a peek at some historical photos from Spring Plant Sale. Most are undated; dates included when noted on back of photo. </p>
Spring arrives like a lovable goof — one day, merrily sending up snowdrops, the next, losing all concentration and leaving us knee-deep in snow. Yet, even on the snowiest day, there’s a current of excitement we can feel, swelling in the ground and inside of us.</p> Spring, whether you go by meteorological day of March 1 or the equinox of March 19, arrives right when we’re ready for it. After the long slog to winter’s end, I crave warmth and renewal, and long to peel away the fatigue that came on so slowly I hardly realized it was there. How long, I wonder, have I felt tense from the cold air of winter slipping down my collar? And when exactly did the brown grass and bare ground dull my mood? I’m primed for change. Every little blossom will hold sway over me now.</p> Even after 10 years of seeing the first blooms arrive at the Gardens the same time every year, they still catch me off guard: Those first snowdrops blooming unabashedly out of a drift of snow, the tumbling swaths of the ink-blue dwarf iris in bud one day and blooming the next.</p> And of course, those birds, calling out from trees and shrubs. One early March morning, the birdsong in Roads Water-Smart Garden advanced to a full-throated chorus. It was that moment, for me, that spring had arrived. It reminded me of something I had read by the English gardener Edward Flint, surely one of the finest garden writers today.</p> In an Instagram post, Flint (@rotherramblings) wrote: “Spring comes as ever not with balmy days but as if sung into being by the urgent pleading of birds, their calls nibbling away at winter, unpicking its shroud, releasing the energy still coiled in bud and shoot, bulb and root.” His words fit the way I felt that morning. I could almost hear the gardens pop and fizz.</p> And that was only March.</p> Now in April, there’s hardly a day when I don’t hear the dawn chorus in the early morning, or I don’t see progress in the garden – an intensifying green of boxwood balls or buds swelling on the columnar apple. The pace of new life has quickened, the air smells of soil, earthworms wriggle to the surface, and there is a confidence to plants. Some of the plants that emerged in March and huddled about, now cast off all restraint.</p> The Helleborus </em>that timidly bloomed a month ago now looks as energetic as a wig of curls. The Fritillaria imperialis</em> ‘Early Fantasy’ that rose like a periscope just inches out of the ground in mid-March is now two feet tall, its pendulous peach flowers conveyed around stems like seats in a carnival swing ride.</p> Then, there are the tulips, what many think of as the hallmarks of spring. All foliage a month earlier, they have begun to open their gobletlike blooms, with thousands surely to open by month’s end. The ground is bursting with energy, and spring, no longer straddling the seasons, has settled into gentle renewal. My chest is full. I spend my mornings, knees in the dirt, rootling around, with Italian composer Dario Marianelli’s piano score “Dawn” on repeat in my head.</p> Gallery photos by Jennifer Miller</em></p>
Alexandra Kehayoglou is an artist like no other, using the unconventional medium of carpet to create immersive natural landscapes. The works on view in </em>River's Voice: Textiles by Alexandra Kehayoglou</em></a> </em>depict the Paraná de las Palmas River Delta, located outside Buenos Aires, Argentina. Named for the palm trees that used to dot its riverbanks, the Paraná de las Palmas River and surrounding wetlands are home to diverse ecosystems threatened by logging, cattle grazing and climate change. Kehayoglou sees her work as a form of environmental activism, honoring endangered environments by sharing their beauty with the world through her art. Kehayoglou has an eye for details, even when working at a massive scale (the largest piece on view is an astonishing 39 feet long!). Look closely and you will find forests nestled into riverbanks, thistles, dandelions and leafy greens growing in spite of encroaching human development. Kehayoglou knows this landscape intimately—she relocated her family to the Paraná de las Palmas wetlands during the pandemic, finding both refuge and a source of inspiration.These works are rooted not only in landscapes, but in family history as well. Kehayoglou comes from a family of carpet-makers who emigrated in the 1920s from Greece to Argentina, where they established a commercial carpet factory. In keeping with her environmental ethics, Kehayoglou creates her work using leftover materials from her family's factory. We invite you to immerse yourself in Kehayoglou's unique hand-tufted landscapes. River's Voice: Textiles by Alexandra Kehayoglou</em> opens Sunday, April 14. </p>
Spring has officially arrived! This season is a time of rejuvenation and reconnection with the earth. As Margaret Atwood said, “In spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.”</p> Here are some essential tips to ensure your garden thrives this spring:</p> Prepare the Soil:</strong> Before planting anything, take the time to prepare your soil. Remove any weeds and debris and loosen the soil to allow for better water drainage and root growth. Consider adding organic matter such as compost to enrich the soil with nutrients.</li> Start Seeds Indoors:</strong> Get a head start on your spring garden by starting seeds indoors. This is especially beneficial for plants that require a longer growing season, such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants. Use seed trays or pots filled with quality potting mix, and place them in a warm, sunny location.</li> Prune and Trim:</strong> Early spring is the perfect time to prune shrubs, trees and perennial plants. Remove dead or damaged branches and shape the plants to encourage healthy growth. Questions about specific pruning needs? Get gardening help from Colorado Master Gardeners</a>. </li> Monitor Moisture Levels:</strong> As the weather warms up, plants will require more water to thrive. Monitor soil moisture levels regularly and water deeply when necessary. Avoid watering during the hottest part of the day to minimize evaporation and use mulch to retain moisture and suppress weeds. (And starting May 1, be sure to follow Denver Water’s guidelines</a>.)</li> Protect Against Frost:</strong> Early spring can bring unexpected frosts. Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared to cover tender plants with frost cloths or blankets overnight. </li> </ol> By following these gardening tips, you'll set the stage for a successful and flourishing garden this spring. </p> Want to dig deeper?</strong> Sign up for </strong>A New Gardener Boot Camp – Online</strong></a>. Sessions are designed to equip you with all the tools you need to master your garden once and for all.</p> And don’t forget: Spring Plant Sale</strong> is just around the corner! Chat with horticulture staff and shop plant divisions curated for Colorado’s semi-arid environment. The event is free, but registration is required</a>. Member reservations open April 10 and public reservations open April 15. </p>
