FREE DAYS
Free days for Colorado residents are held throughout the year at both Denver Botanic Gardens and Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, thanks to funding from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District (SCFD).
Free Days occur during regular Gardens hours only, and do not include ticketed events.
The June Free Day at Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield is Friday, June 6.
2008 BONFILS-STANTON LECTURE SERIES - “GARDEN PERSONALITIES”
Stay up on current trends and innovative gardens by attending lectures by renowned speakers from around the world. Here is your chance to learn from the best.
JUNE LECTURE:
The Builders in the Garden
Urban Microclimates, Colored Walls
with Scott Calhoun and Judith Phillips
Scott is a self-described desert plant fiend and an inspired garden designer. He is the author of “Yard Full of Sun,” which won the 2006 American Horticultural Society Book Award, as well as “Chasing Wildflowers.”
Judith, a landscape designer and a teacher in the School of Architecture and Planning at the University of New Mexico, is a prolific author. She has produced five best-selling books on the use of native plants in the landscape, including “Southwestern Landscaping with Native Plants” and “Plants for Natural Gardens: Southwestern Native and Adaptive Trees, Shrubs, Wildflowers and Grasses.”
Sat., June 28, 11 a.m.
STORY TIME IN THE GARDENS
Saturdays and Sundays, May 31-Sept. 22, 10-11 a.m.
Children of all ages will enjoy listening to stories about plants, animals and nature from storytellers. Set in the Children’s Secret Path, entrance is included with admission to the Gardens.
2008 FITNESS WALKS & T'AI CHI
Every Tuesday morning, June 3-Aug. 26, 7-9 a.m.
Enjoy a fitness walk throughout Denver Botanic Gardens in its early morning glory. Additionally, a T'ai Chi class will be offered by the T'ai Chi Project from 7:15-8:15 a.m. All fitness levels are welcome and healthy snacks will be provided by AARP. Free admission for Denver Botanic Gardens, AARP and T’ai Chi members. There is a suggested donation of $5 for the general public/non-members. The presenting sponsor of Fitness Walks & T’ai Chi is AARP.
FREE WILDFLOWER TOURS ON MOUNT GOLIATH
Tuesdays and Thursdays, from June 26-Aug. 7 and Saturdays July 5, July 26 and Aug. 2
Discover the life cycles and lore of alpine tundra and the intense beauty of a natural garden that lasts only 40 frost-free days on a free guide-led tour on the M. Walter Pesman Trail of Mount Goliath. The hike is a moderately difficult 1.5-mile downhill trek from an altitude of 12,152 to 11,540 feet. Mount Goliath, a mountain peak section of the Mount Evans area, is 17 miles from Idaho Springs and located within the Arapaho National Forest. The wildflowers, ancient bristle cone pine trees and awesome vistas make for a delightful hike in one of Colorado’s most beautiful natural areas. Hikes begin at 8:30 a.m. and leave from the kiosk titled Mount Evans Scenic Byway, located adjacent to the Echo Lake Lodge parking lot off of Highway 103.
Reservations are required. Call 720-865-3539 to reserve your space on a tour.
CAMPS FOR KIDS
Denver Botanic Gardens offers fun-filled camps for kids
Junior Master Gardeners (ages 8-12)
June 23-27, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Learn the science behind plant growth, soils and more while also exploring the art of garden design. This program is designed for the young, interested gardener to explore plants and gardening in-depth.
FAMILY DAYS
Bring the family to Denver Botanic Gardens on the weekends to explore the world of plants this summer. On selected weekends, we’ll roll out the red carpet for families with a variety of fun garden activities and projects to take home. Activities will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each of the selected days. Families can drop in at any point during this period and stay as long they would like.
Plants We Eat from Around the World
Sun. June 1, Sat. June 21, or Sun. June 22
Take a journey around the world as you discover edible plants from other cultures. You’ll have the opportunity to eat and cook with plants as well as plant some new and exciting foods to grow at home.
Plant Olympics
Sat. June 28, Sat. July 5, or Sun. July 6
Discover the world of plant extremes as your family investigates a wide variety of plants from big to small, dry to wet, white to black. Discover which plants grow the tallest, fastest and biggest and which ones prefer to stay small and take their time. Start a plant race to take home where your family can discover which plants measure up.
*2008 Signature Exhibition*
"URBAN NATURE"
April 19 – Nov. 30
Always an urban oasis, the Gardens is embracing the city in new ways in 2008. “Urban Nature” explores the intersection of the urban environment and the natural world through art and horticultural practices, outlining strategies that all city dwellers can employ to evoke the natural world as green space diminishes amid concrete and steel. A sense of contrast, yet balance, with the natural gardens will be realized through paintings by more than 10 local, national and internationally known street-style painters and mural artists including prominent international personalities Lady Pink, Mac and Siloette – all of whom have contributed to the ever-evolving history of street-style art. Other local and regional talent includes artists Amanda Marie, Elisabeth Bunker, Delton Demarest, Dread, Sophie Fernandez, Javier Flores, Stevon Lucero, Jolt, Mission, Adam Moorhead, Todd Robinson, Ian Rumley, and Wiser.
Balcony displays, container gardening, and the concept of the urban homestead and other unique horticultural practices for city dwellers will be highlighted, as well. Pertinent issues facing city life will be addressed through a comprehensive program schedule, including panel discussions, music performances, and educational classes for the urban gardener. Additional indoor exhibitions will address concepts of urban nature as well, including botanical illustrations highlighting indoor plants and city weeds.
Several exhibits at the Gardens complement “Urban Nature,” including:
“City Rhythms”– Denver Botanic Gardens
This exhibition of new paintings by Denver artist Darrell Anderson captures the unstoppable, inventive spirit of music and the arts when complemented by the pulse of the city. Colorful references to sound, the natural world and movement abound in these vibrant original works.
“The Art of Nature” – Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield
This presentation of art embraces natural materials. Panoramic vistas of the foothills serve as the backdrop for site-specific installations by Durango-based environmental artist Mary Ellen Long. These works illustrate how people can express themselves by harnessing nature’s own tools from the earth. “The Art of Nature” will take place from May 3 through Nov. 30.
Visit www.botanicgardens.org for more information.
The presenting sponsor of “Urban Nature” is Wells Fargo.
2008 ART EXHIBITS AT THE GARDENS
Japanese Paintings, Prints and Pages
Connors Exhibition Case in Gates Garden Court
April 5 - June 29
Original wash paintings by Koichi Kawana and woodblock prints by Nisaburo Ito from the Helen Fowler Library’s Waring Collection will be displayed in the Library. Rare books on Japanese gardens and gardening, as well as suisekis (Japanese art rocks), will also be presented. The exhibit will recount the history of the Gardens’ Japanese Garden, Shofu-en (Garden of Wind & Pines), and may include works on loan from the Japanese Association of Colorado. Additional interpretation will relate this exhibit to Shofu-en, which also includes an authentic, traditional Japanese Tea House.
Old Garden Roses
Lobby Court
June 9-29
In conjunction with the American Rose Society's 2008 Spring National Convention in Denver (June 26-29, http://www.2008arsdenver.com/index.htm), the Gardens’ Botanical Illustration program will offer a special exhibit of Old Garden Rose and Fairmount Heritage Rose works on paper.
GARDENING HELP
We have answers to your gardening questions! Colorado Master Gardeners are available to answer questions every Tuesday, Saturday and Free Day from March-September from Noon-4 p.m. (In June and July, the program is also staffed on Thursdays). New this year, the program will run year-round. Days and hours for October 2008-February 2009 to be determined.
Access our experts the following ways:
In-person at the Gardens' Helen Fowler Library
By phone: 720-865-3575
Via e-mail: gardeninghelp@botanicgardens.org
Gardening Help is a joint program of Colorado State University Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners and Denver Botanic Gardens.
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© Denver Botanic Gardens, 1005 York Street, Denver, CO 80206