description of the gardens

Birds and Bees Walk
Organized as a living storybook, the Birds and Bees Walk is a secluded woodland path with interpretive panels that immerse visitors in the exciting world of pollination. The wooded garden is filled with trees, shrubs and plants specifically chosen to attract birds, pollinators and other fauna. Keep a watchful eye as you stroll along this quiet path - you could see bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, or hawk moths.

Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory
Upon entering this Denver landmark, visitors will find themselves instantly immersed in the humid tropics. The conservatory features thousands of exotic specimens from the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world and is one of the most unique and compelling displays of its kind in the United States.

Children's Secret Path
Fun, challenging and educational, the Children's Secret Path provides opportunities to interact with plants and the natural world. In our hands-on Musical Playscape, kids can play the giant amadinda (an instrument from Uganda) or get their hands dirty in the Soil Station. In the summer season, children delight in Story Time under the wooden pergola as they listen to a variety of tales and then engage in activities that bring the stories to life.

Cloud Forest Tree
The Cloud Forest Tree exhibit showcases thousands of sweet-scented orchids and other rare plants. Described as a "living sculpture," the gigantic 20 by 40 foot tree is formed not of roots and wood, but of steel, foam and plastic. Actual cork bark covers the entire tree, which supports hundreds of blooming orchids and other epiphytes (plants that grow on other plants, but are not parasites). A touch screen kiosk greatly enhances the gorgeous plant display in this exhibit.

Cutting Garden
Abounding with brilliant colors, this garden showcases a collection of flowers perfect for fresh or dried flower arrangements. Filled with annuals, perennials, bulbs, shrub and ornamental grasses, each plot offers a wide selection of tints, shades, textures and shapes of a particular color. The Cutting Garden presents a variety of different and unique flower shapes: trumpet, bell, rosette, pompon, pitcher, saucer and more, all designed to add dimension to arrangements. Grasses and intriguing dried seed heads lend structure to the Gardens even in winter.

Drop-Dead Red Border
From dark tones of burgundy to blazing scarlet and screaming orange, the intrigue of monochromatic color design grabs the eye and dazzles. Inspired by the gardens at Sissinghurst Castle Garden, the Drop-Dead Red border celebrates red in a big way.

Dryland Mesa
This elevated garden replicates a mesa, a flat-topped natural elevation in the desert. Dryland Mesa was the first public garden to portray the concept of using drought-tolerant native plants in landscaping. It requires no supplementary watering except during extreme drought. It also serves as a test site for many uncommon southwestern native plants.

Endangered Species Garden
Experience some of the rare, threatened and endangered plants of Colorado's west slope. Denver Botanic Gardens is a proud participant in the Center for Plant Conservation, contributing to restoration and seed banking efforts.

Flytrap Feast
Bug-eating plants imported from bogs should be an easy sell for the kids! Our Flytrap Feast features the Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula) and pitcher plants (Sarracenia spp.), the plant world's mysterious and fascinating carnivores.

Gates Montane Garden
Replicating Colorado’s montane life zone (the wooded ecosystem found at altitudes from 8,000 to 10,000 feet), the Gates Montane garden is filled with gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) and aspen (Populus tremuloides) creating the sensation of being in a secluded Colorado forest.

Herb Garden
European monks of the Middle Ages established the practice of cultivating culinary plants in segregated plots and jealously guarding their knowledge. We continue the practice of growing herbs in this traditional manner except we love to share our gardening wisdom. We offer a wide variety of classes on herbal remedies, cooking techniques, crafts and gardening tips. Our volunteers can answer your questions.

Japanese Garden
Shofu-en -- the Garden of Wind and Pines -- evokes a sense of tranquility. Water, rock and plants combine to symbolize our harmonious relationship with nature. The garden’s numerous Ponderosa pines were collected from Colorado’s Roosevelt National Forest. Our authentic teahouse was shipped across the Pacific from Japan and reassembled by skilled Japanese artisans. Designed in 1979 by Dr. Koichi Kawana (whose work includes gardens at the Chicago and Missouri Botanic Gardens), the Japanese Garden is now more than 25 years old.

June’s PlantAsia
June's PlantAsia captures the fascination and exuberance of the astonishing and threatened flora of the Asian steppe region. This garden showcases more than 8,000 exotic and fragrant plants from various Asian countries in a one-acre display. June's PlantAsia features eastern Asian plants such as peonies, bamboos, wild herbs, Japanese umbrella pines (Sciadopitys verticillata), wild plants collected in Pakistan, voodoo lilies (Typhonium venosum) and experimental cultivars of plants. A lush woodland area displays Himalayan and lacebark pines (Pinus wallichiana, Pinus bungeana) and over a dozen kinds of Asian maple. A unique hand-made stone path winds past a quiet stream, a wooden Chinese pavilion (or Ting) and two intricately designed moon gates complete the exotic ambiance.

Kitchen Garden
Artistic garden design and agriculture combine for a culinary masterpiece of vegetables, herbs and edible flowers in the Kitchen Garden. Visitors will find flavorful heirloom varieties of tomatoes and unique cultivars of pink, white, green and even striped eggplants.

Laura Smith Porter Plains Garden
Showcasing grasses and wildflowers this garden reminds visitors of what Denver used to look like in the 1800s, before parking lots and high-rises. In early summer, wild flax (Linum lewisii) presents its airy blue flowers. Prairie penstemons include Penstemon angustifolius (blue), P. ambiguous (pink), P. secundiflorus (pink) and P. virens (purple) with small tubular flowers arranged in vertical spires. The landscape design intentionally tricks the visitor’s eye, making this garden seem to extend farther than it really does, just as the horizon line on the open prairie is often deceiving.

Lilac Garden
The Lilac Garden showcases our extensive collection of over 100 different varieties of lilacs which bloom in succession through the end of June. Blossoms of pink, purple, and white dominate the area, while yellow daffodils add color on the hillside.

May Bonfils-Stanton Memorial Rose Garden
Occupying about a half-acre, the Rose Garden showcases different varieties, species and hybrids of roses that perform well in Colorado. Old fashioned shrub roses mingle with other heirloom flowers, including foxglove, lamb's ears and lavender. The new breed of tough, dependable pink landscape roses bloom prolifically over an extended period, a treat for both the eyes and nose.

Mile High Garden
Renovated in 2007 as a demonstration garden, the Mile High Garden is a collaborative project between Denver Botanic Gardens, the Green Industries of Colorado (GreenCO) and Mile High Youth Corps. Featuring GreenCo's Best Management Practices for a four-season, water-smart garden, this garden educates the public on sustainable gardening practices for our semi-arid region.

Monet Garden
This breathtaking garden is designed straight from some of Claude Monet's most famous works. The elements of design and the plants that have become signature motifs of his garden at Giverny are present in combinations of bulbs, annuals near the adjacent pool with its rich display of waterlilies.

Rock Alpine Garden
This garden is internationally acclaimed as a premier example of the art of rock gardening. Constructed with more than 500 tons of rock, this garden provides habitats similar to more than a dozen different high altitude environments. Spring bulbs begin the color display in March, with alpine plants taking the spotlight in May. Plants from monsoonal climates such as the Himalayas, southwestern United States, northern Mexico and the Karoo and Drakensberg of South Africa provide summer color.

Romantic Gardens
This collection of four gardens is a delightful adventure for the senses. The aromatic plants and plum trees of the Fragrance Garden and the lavish floral display of annual, perennials and overflowing containers in the sheltering pavilions of the Schlessman Plaza.

Sacred Earth
Inspired by the heritage of American Indians from the Four Corners area, Sacred Earth demonstrates the importance of plants in the lives of American Indians. These plants serve as medicines, building materials, dyes and food in addition to playing significant roles in the spiritual and ceremonial life of American Indian communities. A rustic ramada provides a shady spot to learn about the plants, the people and the cultures of the Southwest.

Scripture Garden
Ancient scriptures of many religions contain references to plants. This secluded and peaceful garden features plants that have stories to tell and an enduring legacy. Many plants noted in religious works are spread about, and many visitors come here just to relax and admire the wondrous plants.

Shady Lane
In the spring, Shady Lane comes alive with the blooms of over twenty varieties of crabapples. In the beds beneath the trees, a variety of shade plants offer inspiration to homeowners looking for ideas for shady spots where competitive tree roots create challenging growing conditions. The plants in Shady Lane create beautiful effects with a diversity of flowers, foliage, form and texture throughout the year. Visitors will notice unique planting combinations such as Irish Moss (Sagina subulata), a luminous light green ground cover, interspersed with Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon japonicus).

South African Plaza
Visitors are often surprised to note that some of their favorite plants that thrive in Colorado actually come from South Africa. Birds-of-paradise, calla lilies, agapanthus, asparagus fern and geraniums are featured in this garden's various container plantings. A beautiful pool and waterfall add to the enigmatic ambiance.

Victorian Secret Garden
This garden pays homage to the golden age of plant exploration in the late 1800s in Europe, when it was fashionable to create opulent tropical gardens to show off personal wealth and exotic plant collections. Since tropical plants don't fare well in Colorado's semi-arid, temperate climate, the Victorian Secret Garden has been carefully redesigned with flowers that look and feel like tropical plants but that can survive Colorado's hot, dry summers and cold winters. Stop in the shade of the Victorian Secret Garden's gazebo and enjoy the lush feeling of this unique garden.

Water Gardens
Though located in a semi-arid climate, the Gardens have become one of the world's leaders in aquatic gardening and the display of aquatic plants. An extensive waterway system, which meanders throughout the Gardens has become home to an aquatic collection of more than 450 species and varieties.

Water-Smart Garden
This garden conveys a sense of regional pride in its selection of plants and design. Plants here come from the semi-arid climate of the West or other areas of the world that have a similar climate. Flower colors and plant textures are skillfully combined to yield a sophisticated informality that characterizes the West. This garden is truly "water-smart" and a great educational tool on plant selection to conserve water in your our gardens.

Wildflower Treasures
An open plaza of flagstone provides a sun-drenched setting for several intimate displays of Colorado's native wildflowers. Container troughs showcase rare and endangered species that represent the native flora of many Colorado counties. Each trough is dedicated to a different mountain, plateau or region incorporating rocks from that particular region in each exhibit. Collections of Penstemon, Eriogonum, Liatris and Gaillardia are among the many native plants displayed.

Woodland Mosaic
This cool retreat, set beneath a canopy of mature trees, offers a host of ideas for gardening in the shade with beautiful, low-maintenance shrubs and perennials.

Yuccarama
Yuccarama features yuccas and other members of the Agavaceae family. These woody relatives of lilies conserve water in their roots and stems making them an excellent choice for water-smart landscaping. The garden also features a golden rain tree (Koelreuteria paniculata), a native of China, which is one of 26 Colorado Champion Trees registered to the Gardens as the best and/or largest specimen of their kind in the state.