April is Earth Month and a great time to start a compost bin in your own backyard! It is an easy and rewarding way of becoming more sustainable and reducing your carbon footprint. Not only will you help save the planet, but you will also be helping your garden by having fresh, nutrient-rich compost that you can add back into your garden and vegetable beds to help your plants grow. Read on to see how easy it is to start a compost bin.</p> Step 1: Select a location for your compost bin</strong></p> Selecting the best area in your garden for your new compost bin is the first and most important step. A compost bin needs good air flow and sunlight in order work its magic. Choose a site that receives at least three to four hours of full sun each day and allows at least two sides of your bin to have unrestricted air flow. If placing the bin near a fence line or in a corner of the yard, keep the bin at least 2 feet away from the fence/corner so that air can circulate properly. This will also be helpful if you ever need to access behind the bin.</p> </p> Step 2: Collect your materials and assemble your compost bin</strong></p> There are many options when it comes to choosing your compost bin. There are a variety of bins that can be purchased for composting from local retailers and online. The design you choose will depend on the area you have selected in your garden and the amount of space you have available. The most important factor is that your bin has adequate air flow, so you want to be sure that the bin has slots or openings that allow oxygen into the bin from all sides. You can also make your own compost bin with repurposed wood or pallets. A bin size of 1 cubic yard (3’x3’x3’) is adequate to allow the compost to reach the proper temperature to initiate the decomposition process by activating microbial activity. When building your own bin, remember to include easy access points on all sides so that you can open it up periodically to maintain, mix and harvest your compost.</p> Step 3: Add organic matter to your bin</strong></p> Once your bin is set up it’s time to add organic matter to start the decomposition process. As you conduct your seasonal garden maintenance, collect your debris: branches, dried leaves, lawn and leaf clippings. These materials can all be added directly to the compost bin and will break down over time. You can also add kitchen scraps like vegetables, fruits and eggshells (cleaned to remove egg white residue). Avoid adding meat and dairy products and perishable items that will spoil quickly or attract unwanted wildlife. The general rule for a healthy compost pile is to add a 2:1 ratio of brown carbon-rich material (dried and chopped branches/leaves cut or shredded finely) to green nitrogen-rich material (kitchen scraps, fresh lawn and leaf clippings). You can layer these materials to allow for proper air flow and oxygenation within your bin.</p> </p> </p> Step 4: Water your compost bin</strong></p> A compost bin requires moisture to begin and maintain a healthy microbial presence, which in turn allows for the decomposition process to take place. Your new compost bin should be watered at least once a week and monitored to ensure that it is staying moist, especially during the hottest times of the year.</p> </p> Step 5: Turn your compost once a month</strong></p> Turning or mixing your compost once a month will also help ensure proper oxygenation of your compost bin and will help speed up the decomposition process.</p> Step 6: Let nature take its course</strong></p> Creating a healthy compost bin system that produces high yields of nutritious compost throughout the year takes time to become established. Expect it to take approximately four to six months for your initial compost starter material to begin decomposing and building the natural microbial life needed. Within eight to 12 months you will be able to harvest compost to add back into your garden beds. This is another great reason to start your new compost bin NOW!</p> Step 7: Harvest your fresh, homemade compost from your bin</strong></p> You have made it this far in the backyard composting journey and you should be very proud of your achievement! You have become a more sustainable individual/household, reduced your carbon footprint drastically by not adding as much to the landfill and now have fresh, nutrient-rich and FREE compost to add back into your vegetable and garden beds. When you’re ready to add your new compost into the garden, simply open one of your access points on the bin and rake or shovel out the bottom layer of the compost bin. You will see where the organic matter has decomposed into a dark, rich soil that you can extract and then reapply to your gardens. Once you have removed this material, give your remaining compost bin a quick mix and water well. Let the compost bin do the rest.</p> </p> Step 8: Apply your fresh compost to your garden beds</strong></p> This is truly the most rewarding part of the entire composting experience. As you tend to your vegetables and gardens, apply a layer of compost around the base of each plant and gently till into the top 1-2 inches of existing soil. Add compost into your container gardens and mix in with new plantings around the roots. Within a matter of weeks, you will see how this amendment of the soil will invigorate you plants to grow and produce astoundingly.</p> </p> Denver Botanic Gardens’ Green Team is thrilled that you are considering taking our composting challenge! We hope that you find it as fun and rewarding as we do, and we would love to hear about your experiences on this incredible composting journey to becoming more sustainable.</p>
</p> </p> Although the coronavirus is on the forefront of everyone’s mind, now is not the time to forget about climate change--especially since we're seeing improvements with our carbon footprint due to the limited number of vehicles on the road. We can remain vigilant in our sustainability efforts and still practice environmentally conscious behaviors.</p> If you’re working from home, now is a good time to “green-proof” it. Not only will this contribute to a healthier environment, it will also put money back into your pocket. The following are some easy guidelines to help you make your home more environmentally friendly.</p> 1). Unplug your electronics when not using. Many appliances consume energy even when we are not using them. So, unplug that coffee pot as soon as you’re finished drinking your morning cup o’joe.</p> 2). Green clean your clothes simply by using cold water for each load and drying on a rack. If you must use a dryer, consider looking at an Energy Star certified dryer that has sensor drying and options for low heat settings.</p> 3). Clean the coils on your refrigerator. Many people do not even think of doing this, and it is especially important if you have dogs that shed. Dirty coils force a fridge to work harder, resulting in higher energy costs.</p> 4). Invest in a low flow shower head to cut down on water consumption. Showers are typically the third largest water use after toilets and the average household could save more than 2,300 gallons per year by installing a low flow shower head.</p> 5). One of the easiest and quickest ways to save energy and money is to caulk, seal and weather-strip all drafts coming into your home. When the seals to your windows/doors wear down over time, this makes your HVAC system run harder to heat and cool your home.</p> 6). Switch to LED lighting in your home. A 10-watt LED bulb does the same work as a 60-watt incandescent bulb. LEDs emit very little heat. In comparison, incandescent bulbs release 90% of their energy as heat and compact fluorescent lamps release about 80% of their energy as heat.</p> 7). Plant trees around your home strategically to save on energy--especially around your AC unit for shade. This will help keep money in your pocket!</p> 8). Reduce/Reuse/Recycle. Did you know that the average American throws away 4.4 pounds of trash in a single day? Buy items with less packaging and make every effort to not purchase single use plastics. Have a garage sale. (Your trash is someone else’s treasure!) Use less and recycle more to save our planet. Recycling is one of the easiest ways you can make your home green. The key is to remember to recycle while you are throwing things away. A good tip is to place recycling stations in a couple areas of your home for ease.</p> Sustainability can be easy and inexpensive. Granted, at times it does require a bigger investment, but in the end, you will have more money in your pocket. Know that ANY effort you make helps keep our planet healthy.</p> </p>
</p> It’s safe to say that spring this year has been a bit of a shakeup in terms of our normal routines and day-to-day activities, and Spring Plant Sale is no different. This year, the sale will be operated online with a drive-thru pick-up. While this new technique brings a lot of “new” with it, there will be things that are still familiar, and one of those is our Grown at the Gardens division.</p> </p> What is “Grown at the Gardens” and what makes it so unique to Spring Plant Sale?</strong></p> Grown at the Gardens is just that! They’re plants our greenhouse production team has grown for public sales. The production team grows plants to be planted in the gardens at York Street and Chatfield Farms as well as sold during plant sales. A lot of the plants you’ll find in the Grown at the Gardens division often can’t be found at your local garden center.</p> </p> How are Grown at the Gardens plants selected?</strong></p> There are a few factors that go into choosing plants for the Grown at the Gardens Division. Our horticulture team will often pick staff favorites throughout the Gardens they want to share with the public. What makes the Grown at the Gardens division special is that a plant a visitor may see blooming in the Gardens may also be available for sale at Spring Plant Sale. The greenhouse production team also looks for “oddballs” you may not be able to find anywhere else. They also focus on providing a good selection of plants native to Colorado and plants that are water-smart.</p> </p> What is some advice you’d share with someone shopping Grown at the Gardens for the first time?</strong></p> There are many plants that will thrive almost anywhere in a garden. However, keep in mind some have specific needs such as location and type of water. Each plant listing in the online store includes planting notes to help them grow to their fullest potential. Don’t be afraid to try something new, though. One of the benefits of Grown of the Gardens is the learning experience. It’s a fun way to learn something new and expand your garden.</p> We want to thank our greenhouse production team and those dedicated to creating a grand selection of plants for our Grown at the Gardens division during Spring Plant Sale. We hope you’ll enjoy expanding your garden too with our new selections from Grown at the Gardens and the many other divisions available during this year’s Spring Plant Sale.</p> Online orders will be available for purchase April 28 - May 1. Find out more about Spring Plant Sale</a>.</p>
While most humans have slowed down and are staying at home, the plants in our invaluable living collections at Denver Botanic Gardens are continuing life as normal, including the cactus and succulent collection. In the greenhouse, many of the tropical cactus are forming buds and blooming, the aloes are waking up and blooming, and just about every plant is plumping up in anticipation of longer, warmer days. </p> To stay on the same page with my prickly friends, I have been repotting specimen plants, just started the fertilizing cycle for the active growing season and am snapping lots of photos of these beauties. In the coming weeks, I will also be giving a face-lift to the Cactus and Succulent House, located in the Rock Alpine Garden, including adding many more of the popular and beautiful Echinopsis </em>hybrids that are typically blooming away behind the scenes. So, things are staying busy with the cactus and succulent collection, and that’s a great thing. </p> Luckily, for our reimagined online Spring Plant Sale this year, we will have a nice variety of tender succulents, many of which I grow in the collection. These plants were all grown by Crump Greenhouse in Buena Vista, CO. Be on the lookout for our virtual Spring Plant Sale and do some succulent retail therapy—there’s some awesome plants to choose from! </p> Like all my horticulture colleagues, I am absolutely chomping at the bit waiting for our visitors to return to enjoy our hard work and the calming sense of beauty Denver Botanic Gardens provides. We hope to see you soon, and hopefully in time for the mid-May to Mid-June hardy cactus flower explosion! </p>
Earth Day is a day to celebrate the environment. This year is particularly special as it marks the 50th anniversary of the first Earth Day. Today, just as in 1970, Earth Day participants promote awareness of environmental issues such as climate change, air and water pollution, and the preservation of biodiversity. However, Earth Day 2020 is unique because of the global pandemic that we are currently living through. The novel coronavirus COVID-19 has rapidly spread and we are called to distance from our friend, families and places of work. So, how do you celebrate Earth Day and the environment while also staying home?</p> Luckily, there are several ways to engage with Earth Day from the safety of your own home!</p> Tune in to Earth Day Network</strong> activities. </strong>Earth Day Network is organizing 24 hours of global digital mobilization called EARTHRISE. To participate, share environmental issues that are important to you on social media using the hashtags #EarthDay2020 and #EARTHRISE. Earth Day Network will also be providing a new, powerful way for you to drive change in your own community at the top of each hour for the entire 24 hours of Earth Day. Lastly, Earth Day Network is also organizing 22 daily challenges for the month of April that you can take on to fight climate change from your home. Each challenge is engaging, fun and worthwhile to implement in your home even after the month of April is over!</p> Discover citizen science.</strong> Through citizen science, anyone can participate in research by collecting and sharing environmental data. Research initiatives across the globe aim to answer several environmental questions and citizen scientists are needed to accelerate data collection for these studies. Use the apps Earth Challenge 2020 and iNaturalist</a> </a>to participate in citizen science initiatives.</p> Earth Challenge 2020</strong> empowers people around the world to monitor and mitigate threats to environmental and human health in their communities. The challenge’s mission is to collect billions of observations on air quality, plastic pollution and insect populations. These observations will provide invaluable insight into the environmental conditions in your own community!</li> iNaturalist</strong> is used by billions of citizen scientists around the globe to document biodiversity observations. In addition, iNaturalist helps you identify your observation so that you can learn about local biodiversity while you are observing it. Your iNaturalist observations can be of any organism – plant, animal, bird, mushroom, insect, fish and more! Each observation is an invaluable point of data that can be used to empower research and inform policies to drive meaningful change.</li> </ul> Participate in the City Nature Challenge. </strong>Denver Botanic Gardens is co-organizing the City Nature Challenge, a three-day-long bioblitz focused on the healing power of nature. Become a citizen scientist and document local biodiversity through the iNaturalist app between April 24-27. Observations will be identified and verified between April 28 – May 3.</p> You don’t have to travel to participate; you can document the biodiversity you see on your neighborhood walk, in your local park or in your own backyard.</li> Adding observations is easy. As long as your observations are taken within the Denver-Boulder metro boundary between April 24-27 and uploaded to iNaturalist by May 3, they will automatically be added to the City Nature Challenge. You can check research-grade identifications given to your observations later by visiting the City Nature Challenge page on iNaturalist</a>.</li> If you participate, please do only what feels safe for you and your family. Make sure you are in accordance with local regulations. Your observations will contribute to science all while you are embracing the healing power of nature in these unprecedented times.</li> To continue serving as a citizen scientists after the City Nature Challenge ends, consider joining the Denver EcoFlora Project</a>. As an EcoFlora participant, you can sign up to receive monthly EcoQuests</a>, which challenge you to observe and document biodiversity in new and different ways. </li> </ul> This Earth Day, remember that the world outside is still there and still in need of our attention. Engage with Earth Day 2020 by documenting local biodiversity and promoting environmental awareness to ultimately provide a platform for policy change. Here’s to celebrating Earth Day 2020, social-distancing style!</p>
Although it feels like the whole world has changed in the last month—and in a lot of ways it has—nature remains the same. The progression of nature carries on, plants keep growing and seasons are still changing. Spring is here and nature is beginning to wake up to show off its beautiful new growth. While everything else is unpredictable, this is one constant we can count on. When we begin to slow down and take the time to observe the beauty of the coming spring, we can begin to feel grounded in the chaos. As you prepare to go on your daily (socially distanced) walks try some of these techniques to practice walking mindfully and taking in the beauty of change.</p> As you walk, your body should reflect your inner sense of dignity. Elongate your back and allow your shoulders to relax, your arms by your side and swinging naturally. Keep your head comfortably held high to encourage deep breathing from the diaphragm. Gaze forward rather than looking at the ground. Go at a comfortable pace and simply bring awareness to your feet. Pay attention to the rocking motion of each foot and how each foot keeps us balanced, grounded, rooted to the earth.</p> While you walk, stop occasionally to take in the new growth all around you. Breathe in the newly formed green leaves, the blue sky and the birds chirping. Breathe out and give gratitude to all the beauty that nature sends us.</p> On your route pick a plant you would like to observe. Each day spend a few minutes with that plant and notice how it is slowly changing and waking up with the warmer weather. The buds on the trees start to swell and explode into fresh new leaves and the spring bulbs begin to unfurl their brilliantly colored flowers. Consider journaling or taking pictures of your daily observations of change.</p> When we stop to witness and appreciate the cycles of nature, we can begin to see change in a new light, as the start of something new and possibly beautiful.</p> Enjoy your walk.</p>
While the world outside has changed in so many ways, life in the Gardens’ greenhouses have followed a more predictable pattern. Spring remains a busy time indoors here, with many plants getting their start to the season as cuttings, seeds or divisions. Others, such as our carnivorous plant collection, enjoy life under the glass year-round. Here are a few highlights of the plants that are being cared for behind the scenes in our aquatic collections' greenhouse this spring:</p> Butterworts </strong>- Pinguicula</em> species - These colorful beauties are often called the African violets of the carnivorous plant world. The genus has a distribution throughout the northern hemisphere and down into Central and South America, with Mexico being home to the highest number of species. The Latin name Pinguicula </em>means "little greasy one" and is descriptive of the feel of the leaves, which are covered in tiny, sticky hairs that capture small insects such as gnats and fruit flies.</p> Victoria</em></strong> 'Longwood Hybrid' </strong>- Our popular Victoria</em> waterlilies (also known as water platters) are sent to us as seeds the size of peas from Longwood Gardens each fall. In the spring, they are placed in heated tubs of water (88-90 degrees F) to germinate. This year, our seeds got a quick start, taking less than a week to germinate. They will remain in the aquatic’s greenhouse until mid to late June, when they will be planted outdoors in the display ponds. Tiny thorns are already visible on each seedling.</p> Mosaic Plant </strong>- Ludwigia sedioides</em> - This floating-leaved aquatic plant is native to warm, still waters in South America. It is happiest in a water bowl or small water feature in full sun. Cuttings will be taken from our plants in the greenhouse and planted in containers of heavy clay loam in mid to late June. These will then be submerged in water 6-12 inches over the top of each container in our Ellipse garden pool for the summer months.</p> Gorgon Plant </strong>- Euryale ferox</em> - Also known as prickly waterlily, this floating-leaved plant is covered in thorns which line the top and bottom of each leaf as well as the stems and even the flower sepals. Native to Eastern Asia, it can grow almost as large as a Victoria</em> waterlily, but the flowers are much smaller and often open under water. The seeds, known as fox nuts or makhana, have been used as a food source for centuries as well as for religious offerings and medicinal purposes.</p> Spring Plant Sale</strong></a> – A selection of more than 60 types of aquatic plants were ordered as bareroot starts in early March. These were potted up and are now growing happily in the greenhouse. Take a look at the list of available varieties</a>.</p> While you’re staying home, you can learn more about our water gardens</a> and see them in full bloom with this short video.</p>
</p> The family Bromeliaceae offers some fascinating plants, a variety of which can be found in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. Though the Gardens is currently closed due to COVID-19, you can learn about some of these plants now—and go on a mini scavenger hunt to find them when we re-open to the public. </p> Tillandsia tectorum</em></p> Picture a 100-legged silver tarantula, as sparkly as a Christmas ornament—except cuter than that sounds. This is Tillandsia tectorum</em>, one of the crown jewels of the Tillandsia</em> world (or as I call it, the “Tilly” world). This species is native to Ecuador and Peru, where it grows on cliff faces and rock outcroppings between 3,000 and 8,200 feet in elevation. It evolved its silvery splendor out of necessity due to high exposure to light, UV rays and an arid climate. The intensely dense trichomes serve as its sunscreen and its way of catching moisture and nutrients from the air. This spectacular species is on display at the top level of the treehouse of the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. When you can return to the Gardens, take a look: You can’t miss it!</p> Tillandsia usneoides</em></p> More commonly known as Spanish moss, Tillandsia usneoides </em>is a classic case of a common name creating misinformation and confusion. It is neither from Spain nor a moss. Rather, it is native to Mexico, Bermuda, Bahamas, Central America and the southern U.S.</p> This plant is the smallest member of the family Bromeliaceae but has long been characterized as a plant that grows so thickly that it strangles and kills trees—which is entirely untrue. It can, however, grow densely enough to shade out portions of the tree, thereby slowing its growth rate.</p> More than 100 years ago it was used for all sorts of interesting things: building insulation, mulch, mattress stuffing and padding for car seats. None of these uses apply today. Tillandsia usneoides</em> grows in the Tropical Conservatory and in the display windows of our greenhouses.</p> Quesnelia</em></p> Quesnelia</em> is a small, lesser-known genus in the family Bromeliaceae. All 22 species are endemic (native) to the eastern swamps of Brazil, with most growing terrestrially. The genus is named after French businessman and patron of botany Edouard Prosper Quesnel.</p> When grown in cultivation these plants prefer cooler growing conditions than most of the other genera. Plants produce flower spikes of incredible colors but are very short-lived for a bromeliad, with each one only lasting about a week. The most sought-after species of this group is Q. marmorata</em> ‘Tim Plowman’, which has beautifully curled leaf tips. </p> </p>
Denver Botanic Gardens plays a critical role in the research and conservation of plants and their ecosystems. While many of our research and conservation efforts focus on stream sites throughout Jefferson County, rare plant populations on the Western Slope and seeds of native species throughout all of Colorado, our efforts also play out at the University of Colorado Denver (UCD).</p> Our partnership with UCD has brought to life a graduate program, through which four research staff members are affiliate faulty. As faculty, our staff members advise graduate students in a wide variety of biodiversity sciences – including plant conservation and fungal systematics. We currently have six early-career scientists in our graduate program:</p> Ph.D. student Katherine Fu is planning a career in plant ecology and conservation. She has led common garden experiments</a> at Chatfield Farms to investigate how seed source affects the success of plants in prairie restoration.</p> Ph.D. student Gary Olds is studying fungal diversity in the Colorado Rockies. Specifically, he is looking at the systematics and diversity of the genus Lactarius</em></a>.</em></p> Master’s student Emily Orr studies how genetic analyses of plant populations</a> inform conservation management strategies – from habitat conservation to collecting seeds for future restoration.</p> Master’s student Mandi Miller is pursuing conservation and restoration ecology. She is researching restoration of rangelands on plots installed at Chatfield Farms.</p> Having just defended his thesis in February, master’s student Liam Cullinane has spent the last two years studying pollinator health and sustainability within urban environments. His research focuses on urban ecology, as well as pollinator diversity and health in Denver</a>.</p> Set to defend her thesis this April, master’s student Margo Yousse (Paces) has spent the last two years studying stream restoration along Deer Creek</a> at Chatfield Farms. Her research quantifies plant communities along the riparian corridor to gauge the effectiveness of restoration efforts.</p> We are proud to take part in training the next generation of scientists and look forward to expanding our partnerships with UCD and other local universities. Learn more about our graduate program and student research</a> and look out for posts from students on our blog!</p>
You may be surprised to learn that many species of plants produce flowers in March, from bulbs to the lesser-known variety of perennials, shrubs and ornamental trees that offer fragrance and color in the garden. Let us explore the Gardens to learn about what’s in bloom despite the cool temperatures this time of year!</p> Cercocarpus intricatus</a></em></h3> Native to Colorado and the Intermountain West, the little leaf mountain mahogany is a drought tolerant, native evergreen that blooms late March through most of April. This shrubby, slow grower is in the family Rosaceae and is not a true mahogany (family Meliaceae). In a natural setting, wildlife will forage this plant, which can encourage new growth and a fuller habit. Look for it on the north side of the Roads Water-Smart Garden</strong>.</p> Tulipa humilis </em>‘Lilliput’</a></h3> When it comes to spring bulbs, tulip species (versus Dutch-bred hybrids) aren’t one of the "usual suspects" in the garden. Native to Turkey and the Caucasus, blooming at the end of March and into early April, this cultivar is hardy to zone 3. As you walk west along the Roads Water-Smart Garden</strong>, look for red blooms and foliage low to the ground on the south bed adjacent to the pathway planted among lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina</em>).</p> Galanthus nivalis</em> ‘Flore Pleno’</a></h3> (Double) snowdrop is one of the earliest bulbs to flower. Expect flowers to emerge as early as February and into March. The cultivar 'Flore Pleno' is called double snowdrops as it produces dainty, nodding double flowers. Snowdrops provide an important source of food for honeybees when few other plants are flowering. Galanthus</em> does well under trees and naturalize by producing offsets. It is a great drought and shade tolerant early bloomer that is cold hardy to zone 3. As you near the end of Shady Lane</strong> look south to see this bulb in bloom.</p> Arctostaphylos</em> × coloradensis </em>‘Panchito’</a></h3> Stop by the Darlene Radichel Plant Select® Garden</strong> and you will find a broadleaf evergreen commonly called manzanita. It produces lovely pink small heather-like flowers which hang in small clusters from the branches. Flowers last for up to six weeks and may produce tiny apple-like berries in the summer that songbirds and small mammals enjoy eating. This plant provides shelter and cover for wildlife while leaf litter provides habitat for insects and pollinators. ;</p> Chaenomeles japonica</em></a></h3> Flowering Japanese quince is a traditional garden plant which has long been enjoyed for its open, arching habit and spring flowering bright red, pink, orange or white blooms, depending on cultivar. Flowers emerge in late March and early April and are typically 1- 2 inches with bright yellow stamens. See if you can spot all seven specimens as you walk through the Japanese Garden</strong>.</p> Prunus tomentosa</a></em></h3> The cherry blossoms in Washington, D.C. and throughout Japan are a worldwide known phenomenon. Did you know we have the same experience at Denver Botanic Gardens? A classic flowering ornamental, Nanking cherry has profuse fragrant pale pink blooms that you cannot miss. Note the habit and the form of the plant, which can be pruned to highlight arching habit. Enjoy several other Prunus</em> species in bloom as you stroll through the Japanese Garden</strong>. </p> Pulsatilla vulgaris</em></a></h3> Hairy flower stems emerge from the ground in spring and simultaneously purple flowers bloom as foliage begins to emerge and form. This plant, also known as Pasque flower, spreads by seed and will naturalize throughout the garden. There are many specimens to see as you stroll through the Rock Alpine Garden</strong>.</p>
