Denver Botanic Gardens

✨ BLOOM ALERT ✨ Some of the first outdoor flowers of the year are starting to bloom at our York Street location! 𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴, or snowdrop, is a small bulbous perennial and as the common names suggests, it blooms during the late-winter and early-spring. While this might be a pinch early due to the mild fall, they usually pop up in January and February.

We only spotted a few clumps in the Rock Alpine Garden, but in the coming weeks, there will be many more sightings in Woodland Mosaic, Shady Lane and other spots throughout the Gardens.

𝘎𝘢𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘶𝘴 readily self-seeds and produces bulb offsets, so plant it in an area where it has room to spread. If interested in adding these little beauties to your landscape, we sell bulbs at our Fall Plant & Bulb Sale in late September.

And that's a wrap on Blossoms of Light®️ 2023! 🎬❄️ Thank you for celebrating the holiday season with us!

James' word for 2024 is Meow-velous ✨😹 What's yours?

Mr. James is our resident working cat at Chatfield Farms. When not busy with pest management, you can find him cuddling up with his plants. 💕

📍 Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms

We're biased, but winter creative play doesn't get much better than this!

Come in from the cold and draw with us!
Sketching in the Conservatory is Saturday, January 20, 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m., with talented local artist and instructor Anna Kaye. Find inspiration in the Tropical Paintings of Manabu Saito exhibition then go experience a little slice of the tropics here in Denver!

Register here: https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/sketching-conservatory

Image Credit: Scott Dressel-Martin

Wow! 🤯🎉 Take in the stats from this years Denver EcoFlora Project on iNaturalist.org.⬇️ Thank you to all who contributed botanical and wildlife spottings while out and about!

🔎 We had 80,000 total observations—10,000 more observations than last year!
🔎 We spotted 1,250 plant species and 255 fungi and lichen species!
🔎 We had 5,500+ observers and nearly 1,500 identifiers who made this possible!

But OH NO! 😱 Despite these achievements, over 52,000 observations are eagerly awaiting their research-grade gold star!

Learn how to easily make your observations research-grade here: https://bit.ly/47nrNjy

🌱ID: 1. 𝘚𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 2. 𝘏𝘺𝘥𝘯𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘶𝘮 𝘱𝘦𝘤𝘬𝘪𝘪 3. 𝘗𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘢 𝘥𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘢𝘵𝘦

Woop! Woop! 🎉 AARP ranked us as one of four top outdoor gardens to tour in the winter! Read here ➡️ https://bit.ly/41KZ72N

Pssst... we also have a humid conservatory with tropical plants and three indoor art exhibitions you can explore while escaping the cold!

Take in the views of Tajikistan from the eyes of a horticulturist. 👀⛰️🌊

Kevin Williams, assistant curator of horticulture, and Mike Bone, associate director of horticulture & curator of steppe collection, went on a seed-collecting expedition this year.

Their goal was to expand the steppe and alpine collections of gardens in the Plant Collecting Collaborative. This is an alliance between North American gardens supporting important domestic and international collecting trips. They were accompanied by Jess Goehler and Lindsey Muscavitch from Chicago Botanic Garden.

The group explored Tajikistan's diverse ecosystems and made 110 seed collections, representing 97 unique species. Learn more about their research and travels on our blog: https://bit.ly/3TFNl85

Photos and words by Kevin Williams.

Plant-themed New Year's resolutions!✨ Share the one that resonates most with you and tag someone who might benefit from these. 😉😍

Take advantage of the City and County of Denver Government's free Treecycle Collection program to keep your holiday tree from going to the landfill! Drop-off locations are open January 2-31. (Don't live in Denver? Check to see if your city provides this service.)

Donated trees will then be turned into mulch that will be available at no cost at Denver's Mulch Giveaway & Compost Sale in May 2024.

More details, drop-off locations and times: https://bit.ly/4apE7Tn

Our Community Supported Agriculture crew at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms harvested 59,380 total pounds of produce this year! 😱🥦

We delivered a full season of veggies to our CSA members and donated lots of nutritious and fresh food to underserved individuals and families in the Denver metro area.

Here are some organizations we donated to this year: GraceFull Community Cafe, Metro Caring, Mo Betta Greens, SAME Cafe Denver, Spirit of the Sun, Sun Valley Kitchen + Community Center, UpRoot Colorado and We Don't Waste.

We are so proud of the work our crew, program participants and volunteers put in.
Learn more about our food programs: https://bit.ly/2XcwnQV

SCIENCE YEAR IN REVIEW PART 2: Here some of Dr. Jennifer Ackerfield's -- head curator of natural history collections and associate director of biodiversity -- top finds from the field this year! 🌱🔬

🔎 While hunting for acorns of the rare oak, 𝘘𝘶𝘦𝘳𝘤𝘶𝘴 𝘸𝘦𝘭𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘪, Brooke Palmer, Cindy Newlander, and myself randomly ran into the largest population at a well-known tourist spot, Horseshoe Bend in Arizona! Hundreds of people were there and didn’t even know they were walking next to the plant we had been seeking! [Images one and two]

🔎 On a trip to Colorado's southeastern plains in Comanche National Grassland, we found a population of 𝘗𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘶𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘢 𝘱𝘪𝘭𝘰𝘴𝘢. This was a new record for the area and only the second collection from the state. This species will now be included in the next edition of the flora of Colorado. [image two]

🔎 We randomly ran across a superbloom of 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘦𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘮𝘢 𝘧𝘪𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘶𝘮 on Colorado's northeastern plains! It was fields of gold for miles. [Image four]

A beautiful winter morning at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms. Photos taken by Grace Johnson, assistant manager of horticulture.

It is the last full moon of 2023! The cold moon happens closest to the winter solstice and it takes the highest path along the top of the sky so it's visible longer than other full moons.

SCIENCE YEAR IN REVIEW PART 1: Alissa Iverson, our new floristic and outreach coordinator, joined our other scientists in the field from the prairies of the Eastern Plains to the canyonlands of the Western Slope to collect data and better understand the breadth of the work the research and conservation team does. 🌍🔬

From uncovering species new to science to understanding Denver's urban ecology, our Research and Conservation Department's endeavors have local and global scientific significance.

🔗 Learn more on our blog "Notes from the Field:" https://bit.ly/3vgU7GR

James is showing some real ✨paw-liday spirit✨ over at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms ❄️☃️

Emily McAuley, horticulturist of green house production at Chatfield Farms, did a little holiday photo shoot with James and it couldn't be cuter! 😊

🌱ID: 𝘏𝘢𝘳𝘱𝘰𝘤𝘩𝘭𝘰𝘢 𝘧𝘢𝘭𝘹 FREEDA® Caterpillar Grass

Take a look back in time at the Waring House, at our York Street location, getting ready for the holidays ca. 1960s.

These photos are from the Gardens' Helen Fowler Library archives.

🚨 Holiday Hours Reminder 🚨

✨ Blossoms of Light is sold out until early January.
✨ Trail of Lights is sold out until December 27.

YORK STREET
❄️ Sunday, Dec. 24, closes at noon for Blossoms of Light
❄️ Monday, Dec. 25, closed
❄️ Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Monday, Dec. 30, closes at 2:30 p.m. for Blossoms of Light
❄️ Sunday, Dec. 31, closes at noon for Blossoms of Light

CHATFIELD FARMS
❄️ Sunday, Dec. 24, closes at noon for Trail of Lights
❄️ Monday, Dec. 25 closed
❄️ Tuesday, Dec. 26 – Saturday, Dec. 30, closes at 3 p.m. for Trail of Lights
❄️ Sunday, Dec. 31, closes at noon for Trail of Lights

https://www.botanicgardens.org/

Can you guess what's under the microscope? 🔬🌱
This specimen is part of our natural history collection in the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium of Vascular Plants.

We'll give you a ⭐ gold star ⭐ if you guess correctly in the comments (bonus points for the scientific name)!

Hint: This is an evergreen shrub that is quite popular around this time of year.

It's officially winter (despite the warm weather in the Denver area) and we want to learn what your favorite evergreen is! 🌲❓❄️ Share in the comments.

The winter solstice is celebrated by cultures across the world as a promise of longer, warmer days to come. Evergreens are typically used in these celebrations as a reminder that life goes on even through the darkest and coldest days. Think spruce, holly, boxwood and yew.

These celebrations based around the "winter solstice," "midwinter," or "the arrival of winter" reveal the deep connection we have with plants and the seasons.

🌱ID:
1. 𝘐𝘭𝘦𝘹 × 𝘮𝘦𝘴𝘦𝘳𝘷𝘦𝘢𝘦 BLUE PRINCESS®, Blue Holly
2. 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘪𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘴 𝘴𝘢𝘣𝘪𝘯𝘢 'Monna' CALGARY CARPET®
3. 𝘗𝘪𝘤𝘦𝘢 𝘱𝘶𝘯𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘴, Colorado Blue Spruce
4. 𝘉𝘶𝘹𝘶𝘴 𝘮𝘪𝘤𝘳𝘰𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘭𝘭𝘢 var. 𝘬𝘰𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘯𝘢 'Wintergreen,' Korean Boxwood
5. 𝘛𝘢𝘹𝘶𝘴 𝘹 𝘮𝘦𝘥𝘪𝘢 'Hicksii', Hick's Yew

If one of your New Year's resolutions will be to start journaling-- we've got you covered!

Embrace Winter’s unique beauty while honing your observational and artistic skills with Nature Journaling!
The first of several journaling classes begins online Monday, February 5.

Nature Journaling: Winter’s Hidden Treasures
Nature journals can be filled with scientific observations, pressed leaves or imaginative drawings and notes. Students receive a set of prompts for nature walks that highlight seasonal themes and encourage intimate connection with nature. Discover what plants and animals are at work in our neighborhoods and capture the seasons by using expressive linework and a changing color palette.

Register here: https://www.botanicgardens.org/programs/nature-journaling-winters-hidden-treasures-online

Image Credit: Sarah Pedry (Instagram: )

The horticulture research team implemented a large field experiment at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms to determine the most effective combinations of soil amendments and mulches to improve soil characteristics, reduce water loss, limit w**d growth and promote healthy ornamental plant growth. In early spring, we prepared over 16,000 square feet of land at Chatfield Farms. Learn more on our blog: https://bit.ly/3RrQHZq

The 2024 lineup for Intersections: Conversations on Art & Science has arrived!

Hear from artists, scientists, community members and thought leaders that explore a wide range of topics highlighting the connections between art and science. Organized by the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens, all talks are available for online participation and some also take place in-person in the Gardens’ Sturm Family Auditorium. Additional lectures will be added. Tickets are on sale now: https://bit.ly/48m7sMj

🌿 "Botanical Gardens Through Glass" with 2023 Land Line Artist in Residence Yojiro Imasaka, Jan. 10
🌿 "Golden Legacy: How Golden Books Changed Children’s Books Forever" with Leonard Marcus, Jan. 25
🌿 "The Story of My Gardens' with 2023 Land Line Artist in Residence Aisha Imdad, Feb. 14
🌿 "Laws of Nature" with Tanya Marcuse, March 13
🌿 "Shark’s Ink: A Colorado Press" with Dr. Hope Saska, March 27
🌿 "Raise Some Heck" with Tyler Thrasher, May 8
🌿 "Art and the Environment: Navigating a Rapidly Changing World" with Regan Rosburg, June 12

Art: 1. Yojiro Imasaka, "DBG #8," Gelatin Silver Print, 2023. 2. Tyler Thrasher Portrait by Olivia Junghans. 3. Tanya Marcuse, detail of "Woven Nº 16," Pigment print, 62 x 124" 2016. 4. Aisha Imdad, detail of "The Gardens of Eternity: Bagh-i-Wah Series II," Watercolor, Gouache and 24 kt Gold-leaf on Wasli, 2022.

🎵 Walking in a winter wonderland 🎵

The Gardens' York Street location is looking magical with a delicate frosting of snow. We are open until 2:30 today and then will reopen for a sold out evening of Blossoms of Light.

This marks the 15th year of Trail of Lights at Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms! The event is open nightly December 15 - January 1, excluding December 25. Some dates are sold out and advance tickets are required. https://bit.ly/3ADec7z

Photos:
1. Hildebrand Ranch House 2008, illuminated with white lights, red and blue lights in the nearby trees. This was the inaugural year of Trail of Lights.
2. Hildebrand Ranch House 2023, outlined with multi-colored lights. A wash of blue is on the house the adjacent trees wrapped in blue lights.

Do you like the smell of this flower? 👃🌼

Narcissus Paperwhite 'Inbal' is a winter-blooming perennial bulb that can be planted outside in temperate climates. In places with cold winters, they can be grown indoors. The bulbs can be "forced" in water to be enjoyed indoors throughout the winter months. To "force" a plant means to encourage it to bloom outside it's normal time of year, usually done by planting them indoors.

You can purchase Paperwhite bulbs at the Shop at the Gardens! Gardens members receive 10% off all purchases.

Maintenance Tips:
🌼 Plant them three to five weeks before you want them to bloom.
🌼 Any container could do, but we recommend a shallow dish filled with gravel or pebbles.
🌼 Maintain the water level so it is at the bottom of the bulbs. DO NOT submerge your bulbs or this will cause them to rot.
🌼 Paperwhites are top heavy. To prevent them from falling, tie the stems together loosely with a ribbon.
🌼 When roots begin to form, move your bulbs to a sunny location in your home, but avoid direct light.

Do you see wilted, brown leaves on this otherwise healthy-looking plant?

This is 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘢, commonly known as Rose of Venezuela or Rosa del Monte.

Young leaves are often the most tender and nutrient-rich of all the leaves on a plant, making them a very attractive target for browsing herbivores. 𝘉𝘳𝘰𝘸𝘯𝘦𝘢 𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘻𝘢 has adapted to disguise these young leaves from hungry animals and insects.

Once the leaves have developed enough, they become rigid and turn green quickly to match the rest of the leaves on the tree. This adaptation ensures that the new leaves are not eaten and the tree's vigorous growth continues in the competitive race of lush rainforest vegetation.

Look for this plant near the west entrance of the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory.

These illustrations were created by recent graduates of the School of Botanical Art & Illustration at Denver Botanic Gardens. Each student completed hundreds of hours of study in botany and art techniques! 🎉

Check out the "2023 Graduate Showcase" on view in Gates Court in the Boettcher Memorial Center through Monday, April 1. Included with admission. Learn more about botanical illustration and other art classes: https://bit.ly/2NLhteO

Featured Artists:
1. Emily Prengaman, Burst (Iris x germanica), 2023, watercolor
2. Rachel Sturtz, McIntosh Apples (Malus domestica), 2023, carbon dust
3. Emily Prengaman, Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), 2023, colored pencil
4. Nancy Carlisle, Allium cepa, 2023, colored pencil