The Garden's Secrets

Free days for Colorado Residents at the Denver Botanic Gardens: Tuesday, April 22 Monday, July 21 Saturday, Sept. 27 Saturday, Oct. 18

Find inspiration for your own garden at the Water-Smart Garden

The water lily pond in the Monet Garden is an ideal spot for quiet contemplation.

There’s nothing quite as soul-satisfying as that first spring stroll through the Denver Botanic Gardens, where plants of all shapes and colors seem to be stretching their leaves and petals after winter. But beyond the Gardens’ pretty plants is an amazing set of resources for Colorado residents: courses, lectures, advice from master gardeners—even a searchable database of plants that will thrive in the Rockies. So before you plant anything this year, visit the Gardens for inspiration and information.

Got questions? They’ve got gurus. Colorado Master Gardeners are available to answer your questions every Tuesday and Saturday and on Free Days (see on the right) from now until Sept. 30. Chat with the experts in person by stopping by the library; if you have a question that can’t wait until your next visit, call (720) 865-3575 or email gardeninghelp@botanicgardens.org.

Worried about the environment? Ask the Gardens’ horticulturists about “water-smart gardening,” a term they coined to describe the methods they use to irrigate the gardens efficiently. (About one-third of the gardens at the DBG receive no supplemental water and thrive in our semi-arid climate.) For inspiration, go to botanicgardens.org and click on “Gardening Help” and then “Water-Smart Gardening Tips.” Here you can download a brochure that explains how to create a water-smart garden.

Want to use your green thumb? Volunteer at the Gardens. Each year, more than 1,100 men and women give their time and talent to the DBG. Besides the feel-good factor, volunteering gives you an opportunity to learn from the horticulturists on staff. Email vol@botanicgardens.org for an informational packet and application.

Curious about which plants grow best in Rocky Mountain regions? Access the High-Altitude Gardener Plant Database, full of images and information on plants ideal for your area of the state. Log on to botanicgardens.org and click on “Gardening Help” to find the link. You can search by typing in all or part of a common or scientific plant name, selecting certain characteristics or browsing the alphabetical list of 300 plants.

Want to learn about how to create a balcony garden? Paint watercolor daffodils? Grow and cook garlic? Courses at the Gardens cover these topics and many more. Spend time sifting through the course listings online under “Education” at botanicgardens.org. We know you’ll find something that piques your curiosity.

The DBG also has three satellite gardens:

Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
8500 Deer Creek Canyon Road, Littleton
(303) 973-3705
Located along the banks of Deer Creek, this nature preserve offers scenic trails, a wildlife observation area, picnic facilities and great bird-watching. Check out the working beehives and the 19th-
century one-room schoolhouse. 

Mount Goliath
For directions to the trailhead, visit botanicgardens.org and click on “Our gardens.”
Volunteers lead free wildflower hikes along the M. Walter Pesman Trail in this section of the Mount Evans area. The 1.5-mile hike descends from more than 12,100 feet to 11,540 feet; all ages are welcome. For reservations, call (720) 865-3539.

Centennial Gardens
1101 Little Raven St., Denver
(720) 865-3585
This 5-acre garden occupies the space where a car-crushing facility once stood. Inspired by the gardens at Versailles, it combines traditional French garden design with a palette of Colorado plants. Admission is free.