Summers in Colorado are typically filled with extremes: extreme heat and extreme drought. This has been the year of extreme moisture; an unusual but welcome addition to the tolerant Colorado garden. Typically, once summer approaches and the heat of the high desert kicks in, the snow melt and precipitation diminish leaving a thirsty landscape with no significant moisture until the following winter.</p> Unfortunately, the unusually wet year we’ve had so far is not something to get used to, only a symptom of the continuing climate crisis. As climate change worsens and water becomes scarcer, being wise about plant choices becomes more important than ever. Choosing plants that do not need excess water to survive the extreme Colorado summers makes gardening easier on us and saves us money on watering, while helping conserve water as a precious resource. </p> There are a variety of plants that thrive in the Colorado climate, from regional natives to faraway exotics from a similar climate zone. These plants can tolerate hot, dry conditions and keep color and texture in your garden once the spring blooms have faded. The perennials listed below are great options to fill the garden with summer blooms that keep coming back year after year.</p> Some wonderful natives are wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa</em>), butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa</em>), blazing star (Liatris spicata</em>), bearded penstemon (Penstemon barbatus</em>) and tufted evening primrose (Oenothera caespitosa ssp. marginata</em>). </p> The following exotics are fantastic as well: TANAGER® gazania (Gazania krebsiana</em>), upright sedum (Hylotelephium spectibile</em>) and torch lilies (Kniphofia uvaria</em>). </p> All these plants provide an array of colors from July through September, while withstanding temps reaching the triple digits and needing little water. Not only does the summer garden bring us joy as we push through the peak heat of the year but helps keep pollinators fed as the seasons change by providing nectar and pollen. Being climate friendly doesn’t mean having to cut out color, lushness or plants. There are plenty of plants that thrive in the extreme Colorado climate, it’s just a matter of choosing wisely and being conscious as we plan our gardens.</p> For inspiration on climate friendly gardens, explore the Carol Gossard Colorado Native Plant Garden</a>, the xeric gardens by the silo and “water-smart avenue” in front of Deer Creek Schoolhouse at Chatfield Farms</a>. </p> This article was contributed by Horticulturist Ashley Strait</strong></em>.</strong></p>
As Mother Nature preps us for the fall season with immense downpours and crashing thunderstorms, volunteer services’ Teen Volunteer Program finishes strong. This year, our teen volunteers contributed a total of 1,500 hours. We couldn’t be more grateful for their time and efforts toward taking care of our guests and the Gardens. They’ve done a great job! </p> Every summer, teens participate in two types of shifts: horticulture and guest engagement. Horticulture shifts involve upkeep of the Gardens via planting, weeding, harvesting and more. Guest engagement shifts, on the other hand, include leading activities for visitors to engage in and assisting them with wayfinding and waste sorting for Evenings al Fresco and the Summer Concert Series.</p> Teens also participate in Lavender Festival, which takes place at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms during the middle of July. This year, teens worked as children’s craft table assistants and pollination table exhibitors, educating and entertaining over 12,500 guests—the most attendees Lavender Festival has had yet! In the Volunteer Services Department, we enjoy having our teens work with children because we feel that they can inspire and set great examples for little ones.</p> Although my internship at the Gardens is soon ending, I am glad that I had the opportunity to work with a great group of teens. Before this, I had barely any experience managing groups, or even individuals—to have their support and encouragement while I navigated this new role is something that I am very grateful for and is something I will take with me as I continue in my professional career. I hope that the teens can say the same about their experiences this summer.</p> This article was contributed by Katelyn Thach</strong>, who is the Volunteer Services Department intern as part of the Diversity in the Arts (DITA) Internship Program.</em> </p>
The holiday season is a time for showing appreciation and gratitude toward the people in your life. Celebrate your colleagues and accomplishments at a fabulous end-of-year party. </p> For an unforgettable holiday party experience look no further than Denver Botanic Gardens. We have multiple outstanding spaces</a> that are sure to impress your attendees. Our rental sites are always amazing, but they are extra special during this time of year with Blossoms of Light</a>, our incredible light extravaganza. And the best part is that your guests get tickets to the big show! They can walk through this top-rated light display as a bonus to your event. </p>
Ansel Adams (1902–1984) is virtually synonymous with landscape photography. His majestic photographs highlight the grandeur of the American wilderness and convey his lifelong support for conservation efforts in the United States. </p> Revealing the untouched beauty of the American West, especially California’s Yosemite Valley, his photographs aimed to promote transformative experiences of nature, just as Adams himself had enjoyed since his childhood in San Francisco. Adams’ photographs raised public awareness about environmental concerns for millions and encouraged government officials to protect lands under threat.</p> Adams was an expert in photographic technique, both in the field and in the darkroom. The exhibition on view at Denver Botanic Gardens through October 1, Ansel Adams: Early Works</a></em>, is exceptional for its focus on Adams’ early prints of some of his most famous photographs from the 1920s to 1950s. These “vintage” prints, which are more intimate than the larger ones he made later, highlight not only Adams’ enduring love for the American landscape, but also his evolving artistic style over a career of 60 years.</p> Ansel Adams: Early Works</em> is organized by art2art Circulating Exhibitions, LLC. All photographs are from the private collection of Michael Mattis and Judith Hochberg. </p>
The Chatfield Farms Community Supported Agriculture</a> (CSA) program has been growing produce for its shareholders since 2010. Our farm provides fresh vegetables, flowers and herbs. To offer our shareholders additional items—like eggs, mushrooms and fruit—we partner with local and regional producers. Until recently, we sourced these items from multiple growers and ranchers, which required a lot of administrative and logistical coordination. This year we are proud to partner with East Denver Food Hub</a> (EDFH) for eggs, fruit, microgreens and even flour grown and milled in Colorado. </p> Co-founded in 2020 by David Demerling and Roberto Meza, EDFH is a social enterprise working to develop a resilient, equitable and compassionate local food (eco)system based on inclusion, environmental stewardship, sustainable technologies and private/public partnerships. EDFH is committed to building a model for local food aggregation and distribution, as well as educating the public on the value of supporting and investing in local farms. They work to demystify food supply chains, address food insecurity, support the viability of local agriculture and develop community wealth-building initiatives to promote economic justice in our communities. EDFH currently sources items like meat, beans, flour and produce from over 35 local producers. </p>
