At Chatfield Farms, we have just finished our installation of winter containers. Whether they are glittery or natural, DIY winter containers don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg to make. Here are a few tips to help you create your own festive home displays, which are hearty enough to last throughout the holiday season.</p> Start with a foundation of greenery.</strong> We suggest using a variety of plant material types to help create layers and contrasting textures. While there are some great fresh garlands for purchase, with a little effort you can score fragrant varieties of evergreens for free. One of our favorite sources of greenery is Christmas tree lots. Most places that cut the bottoms and bag the trees have scraps for free. Also, local tree sellers usually have a bucket of scraps that gets cleaned out before and after the weekend. Help these businesses get rid of waste, reuse and repurpose what would otherwise be thrown away, and spruce up your place in one stroke.</li> Hydrate your greenery.</strong> Once you bring your greenery home, cut off a half inch of the stems and put them in water for 24 hours. Many florists anchor their displays in floral foam, which is soaked in water. If you have fresh garland or place your branches directly into your potting soil, misting your pots with water daily can extend their life throughout the winter season. We use an anti-desiccant, such as Holiday Magic or Wilt Stop, which when sprayed onto the foliage seals the stomata to preserve the moisture.</li> Use the Thriller, Filler and Spiller Rule: </strong>Arrange your greenery around the “thriller” you have chosen for your pots. This can be anything from trellises filled with ornaments to interesting sticks found in your yard. Add more interest by using dried perennials as fillers such as sedums, yarrow and echinacea seed heads. Tired of raking up pinecones? Throw them in your pots and use a flocking spray to give them that snowy effect. Want bird activity? Create some seed wreaths or pinecone feeders with the kids to bring all the birds to the yard. (Learn more about the thrillers, fillers and spillers in this blog post</a>.)</li> </ul> Don’t just leave those gorgeous planter pots barren this winter! While the garden may be sleeping, you can bring a little bit of joy to your doorstep that can last until spring. </p>
The team at Chatfield Farms is always trying to bring new things to our Trail of Lights display to keep our wonderful visitors coming back every year. In 2022 we debuted our magnificent amphitheater light show. This display showcases a 17-foot-tall snowflake, 16-foot beautiful trees with more snowflakes, and globes and arches of varying sizes, decked out with over 76,000 lights that dance to music. It is the perfect show-stopping entrance to the trail. </p> We wanted to build onto this idea for 2023, so we made a second display in the Green Farm Barn area with 74 ornaments, trees and arches twinkling along the fence line. This display also features two 9-foot-tall ornament arches that are the perfect spot to stop and take a photo with the quintessential barn scene in the background. </p> These displays are the culmination of countless hours put in by our amazing IT team who envision how each prop will look set to music and then design the light show. Hundreds of hours are also put in by the Chatfield Farms’ team and amazing volunteers who help place the lights into the props, build and install props to last through the holiday season. </p> Another addition to the magic of the season at Chatfield Farms is the Holiday Market, hosted in Deer Creek Stables during the first four weekends of Trail of Lights. The Holiday Market features 10 carefully selected craft vendors selling candles, jewelry, specialty food items and dog treats, warm alpaca wool sweaters and so much more! It is the perfect place to pick up last-minute gifts for a loved one, a pet who is a part of the family or find something to gift yourself. </p> We hope you will see the love and care that goes into creating this fantastic event by our staff, volunteers and partners year after year. </p> Trail of Lights</a> opens Friday. Tickets are on sale now—get yours before they sell out. </p>
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our digital guide on Bloomberg Connects, the free arts and culture app. Use the app to dig deeper into our gardens, exhibitions, collections and more! Our guide on Bloomberg Connects allows you to plan your visit ahead of time or revisit favorite artworks or gardens anytime, anywhere. </p> </p>
I was born in Mexico City; my family and I arrived at the U.S. when I was just 8 years old. Eighteen years had passed since I’d been in my native country, but last May, I finally returned to Mexico to attend a conference in Oaxaca.</p> As soon as I landed, I felt an instant connection. The people are warm and welcoming, the food is phenomenal, and the city is one of a kind. Not to mention I never thought I’d be a witness to Oaxaca’s magical botanical diversity. </p> First, I got a taste of the city. As I walked through tight mercado </em>halls, the delicious smell of mole </em>danced around me. Elote</em>, tlayudas</em>, fresh fruit. I simply could not resist any of it. I had to try it all, yes, even chapulines </em>(grasshoppers)! I made my way across the street to find artisanal pieces to bring back home. It was difficult to choose and I’m not embarrassed to admit that I walked out of the mercado absolutely swagged out. I explored the city, enjoyed the incredible murals and indulged in mezcal tastings. </p> Then, it was onto learning. Students, faculty, indigenous peoples and other community members gathered to celebrate the 22nd inauguration of Semana de la Cultura Mixteca</em></a>, a conference hosted by Technological University of the Mixteca (UTM). UTM</a> is part of a larger network of universities in Oaxaca, SUNEO</a>, that host Semanas de Las Culturas</em> to disseminate the culture, dance, music and art of each of the regions of the state of Oaxaca. Art exhibitions featured wood carvings, ceramics, watercolor and oil paintings. Presentations included pre-Hispanic Mexico, paleontological findings and storytelling of ancient gods of la Mixteca. A spectacular performance wrapped up each of the long conference days, from Jarabe Mixtecos</em> to vocal ensembles and rock bands.</p> I found parallels between the work we do at the Gardens and what I experienced at the conference. One of the Gardens’ core values is sustainability and SUNEO hosts Semana de la Cultura</em> to raise awareness of methods to create a sustainable and conscious world. Those attending learn about the history of a region that has influenced art, literature, food, medicine and more. The Gardens often creates the kind of spaces that uplift diverse communities and celebrates their culture and traditions. With this experience, I hope I can contribute to our goal of reaching a broader audience while offering more inclusive and responsible programming. </p> Oaxaca was the perfect place to begin my journey as I reconnected with my roots. Next stop, Mexico City. </p> As a little girl, I yearned for the day I returned to my homeland, hugging loved ones, the room filling with laughs and stories, and replenishing my belly with the homemade tortillas I was convinced were waiting for me. To no surprise, I was overwhelmed with hugs and kisses from my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends when I finally arrived. We explored the city, mercados and even the pyramids in Teotihuacan. Although it was difficult to say goodbye, I treasure this beautiful reunion in my heart. </p> What started as a professional development opportunity evolved into an inspirational and important part of my story. I feel extremely privileged to have had the support of Denver Botanic Gardens as I made one of my biggest dreams come true. </p> This article was contributed by Karen Rojas Meza</strong>, research coordinator. </em></p>
