Mushrooms can be poisonous. That is one of the first things we are taught as kids. Even though plants produce more detrimental toxins than mushrooms, society, rightly or wrongly, tends to teach the latter as being more dangerous. While attitudes toward mushrooms have been changing, the history around mushroom poisoning shows growth in understanding all the ways eating them can make people sick. </p> At Denver Botanic Gardens, Dr. Sam Mitchel</a> was perhaps the most central figure to expand mycology and knowledge of mushrooms of the Southern Rockies. He is not as well known for his role as a medical doctor and as a trained diagnostician. However, this dual perspective gave Dr. Mitchel the ability to merge his passion for mushrooms and medicine to produce an understanding of how they might poison people. </p> Along with other Denver-based doctors Drs. Barry Rumack and Manny Salzman, Dr. Mitchel coordinated efforts to understand and educate medical professionals about mushroom poisons in the 1970s. These efforts primarily took place in Colorado around the mid-70s when the Aspen Mushroom Conference became one of the first to train doctors from across the country. This conference gave doctors skills to ID mushrooms and diagnose mushroom poisonings, and included training on the variety of toxins that mushrooms can produce, how they affect the people who consumed them, and how doctors can treat their patients. </p> In general, there are seven poisoning “groups” that mushroom toxins can fall into: Cyclopeptide poisoning, Monomethyldrazine poisoning, Coprine poisoning, Muscarine poisoning, Ibotenic acid – Muscimol poisoning, Psiocybin-Psilocin poisoning and Gastrointestinal irritants. In 1977, Dr. Mitchel teamed up with the late celebrated mycologist Gary Lincoff to write “Toxic and Hallucinogenic Mushroom Poisoning: A Handbook for Physicians and Mushroom Hunters,” which details each of these poisonings and how to treat them.</p> Today these efforts to understand mushroom toxicology continue in Colorado. Dr. Rumack, with the assistance of Gardens volunteers Ed and Ikuko Lubow, continues to train doctors on identifying mushrooms and the poisons they produce. Nationally, the North American Mycological Association (NAMA) has an active Toxicology Committee that continues to offer aid and assistance in identifying toxic mushrooms and advising doctors and poison centers on how to diagnose poisonings.</p> Internationally, Dr. Mitchel’s work has reached across the Pacific to Borneo where medical professionals in Malaysia came together for a Mushroom Toxicology workshop in 2019. There the doctors learned about the mushroom poisonings above, as documented through the work done here in Colorado. </p>
Everyone’s life is marked with memories that stay with us forever. Some of my most cherished plant memories come from discovering the stunning world of cacti and succulent plants that are housed in the Cactus and Succulent House located in the Rock Alpine Garden. </p> I had the privilege of taking over this collection and replanting the display house during the summer of 2021. Now, after three years of care, the plants have really filled in and grown fantastically. I invite you to see what’s growing and blooming inside the Cactus and Succulent House during the height and blight of winter. One reason these plants are so popular and sought after is because the leaf forms are often so pretty that the flowers simply become a bonus or means to produce seed. In their natural habitat most of the succulents from the Southern Hemisphere do their growing and blooming during the winter months. Some of my favorites this year are: </p> Ceropegia cimiciodora </em>– A creeping, leafless stem succulent with super-cool flowers that blooms almost all year-round. You would be hard pressed to find a cooler flower.</li> Stapelia schinzii </em>var. angolensis </em>– Fuzzy maroon flowers that smell like rotting flesh! What could be better?</li> Haworthia emelyae</em> var. comptoniana</em> – A solitary species with a very small natural range in the Cape Province of South Africa. It is prized and known for its beautiful white markings on the leaf surfaces, slow growth and difficult propagation.</li> Haworthia arachnoidea</em> var. setata </em>– In its native South Africa, it is known as papierrosie</em> (paper-rose) or spinnekopnes</em> (spider’s nest). Sign me up!</li> Haworthia </em>hybrid – </em>A special blend of species created by me, formulated for your enjoyment!</li> Albuca spiralis –</em> A bulbous curly leaf plant. Give your curly leaf bulbs as much light as you can during the growing season.</li> Albuca hallii</em> – Another curly-leaf plant, the spring leaf plant has a pair of cork-screwed shaped leaves.</li> Trichodiadema </em>sp. – A beautiful plant that gets covered in purple blooms, reminiscent of summer-blooming iceplant (Delosperma</em>), during the winter months. </li> </ol> I have been collecting these plants for 21 years and I am still finding the next amazing thing I have to have. If you need some plant inspiration while your own garden is sleeping this winter, come visit our collection of unique cacti and succulents in their full glory. </p> Gallery photos by Scott Preusser </em></p>
A hidden charm sprinkled into private events at Chatfield Farms are several specific botanicals that you will find nestled within the landscaping of our venues and historical buildings. These special plants enhance the spaces through their symbolism and uses for wellbeing. </p> Near the Green Farm Barn</a>, you will find firecracker penstemon, Penstemon eatonii</em>, a native wildflower. This botanical symbolizes luck, just like the hummingbirds who frequent this venue throughout the summer. Firecracker penstemons also represent celebration and prosperity, a lovely combination to evoke for wedding celebrations and corporate events. Species of penstemon were historically used by Native Americans to treat a range of ailments, including sun burns, migraines and snake bites. </p> The Polly Steele Center</a> is a beautiful venue surrounded by a cottage garden. This is a favorite spot for birthdays, elopements, micro weddings and celebrations of life. Growing under some of the trees is lady's mantle, Alchemilla vulgaris</em>. Lady's mantle symbolizes protection and comfort, seen through the cloak-like shape of the leaves. Its Latin name translates to “little alchemist”, named after the morning dew that collects within its soft leaves, which represents transformation in alchemy. Medicinal uses of lady’s mantle for women's health have been noted, particularly within western European traditions. </p> There is an abundance of medicinal plants around the Chatfield Farms property. To view medicinal plants formally, visit our herb garden, adjacent to the historical Hildebrand Ranch house</a>. As you continue to expand your plant knowledge, we invite you to come out for a venue tour with our private events team</a> and see if you can identify additional botanicals within the space that can enhance and provide greater meaning or fun for your event. </p>
