Documenting biodiversity is crucial for conservation and is a major aim of our research programs at the Gardens. To work toward this goal, we have been pairing up with the public through community science projects—which invite anyone, regardless of educational background, to be part of the scientific process by recording and sharing their observations of nature. </p> As an example of this, last summer we relaunched Insects Illuminated—a nighttime public event at Chatfield Farms designed to document nocturnal insect biodiversity. Using ultraviolet lights projected onto white bed sheets, we attracted moths, beetles, flies and other insects, documented them with iNaturalist</a> and collected 35 specimens to be deposited in our natural history collections</a>. Experts, staff and volunteers were able to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with those new to the joy of insect diversity. Highlights of the night include the grand elm sphinx moth and brilliant yellow geometer moth.</p> This year we doubled down, hosting the event twice, once at Chatfield Farms and once at York Street. And this year we were very excited to partner with our community engagement team to welcome Young People In Recovery</a> and Westwood Family Nature Club</a> to participate as community scientists at the events.</p> By combining the wonder of discovery with meaningful scientific contribution, events like Insects Illuminated demonstrate how community science can simultaneously advance conservation goals and foster deeper connections between people and the natural world around them. As we continue expanding these collaborations, we're not just documenting species; we're cultivating a growing community of citizen scientists who will carry this curiosity and conservation ethic far beyond our garden gates.</p> This article was contributed by Scientific Data Manager Rick Levy</strong> and Floristic and Outreach Coordinator Alissa Iverson</strong>. </span></em> </p>
Historically, Denver Botanic Gardens has hosted tours of private gardens in spring and early summer. That’s when most gardens boast the largest number of perennials in bloom, and late-flowering trees and shrubs can make a mighty impact.</p> But once the summer heat lets up, many gardens experience a “second spring” in late summer—when early autumn flowers combine with summer’s bounty to create striking sweeps of color at garden-savvy homes.This year, the Gardens has teamed up with the Garden Conservancy</a>, which hosts garden tours across the country, to showcase three outstanding—and very different—gardens close to home. The tour takes place Saturday, Sept. 13. Sign up so you don’t miss them</a>! What better way to spend a late-season weekend?</p> Bosler House</h2> This historical home has been brought to fresh life by owners Jan and Steve Davis, who have lovingly restored the striking Victorian-era house and surrounded it with lush gardens. Visitors will find lavish borders and a stunning potager.</p> Gatehouse Garden</h2> Tim Morgan and Laura Menzer have created a “secret garden”—and a pretty substantial one—in a quiet southeast Denver neighborhood. Morgan, a passionate lifelong gardener, propagates many of his plants in a greenhouse on the property.</p> A newly completed back patio frames a stunning view of the large island bed, which features multiple borders, rock gardens and arbors overflowing with treasures. The entire perimeter of the backyard is filled with plants, including a bog garden, more rock gardens and choice trees. This is truly a garden for all seasons.</p> Kelly Grummons’ Garden</h2> Kelly Grummons is one of the most highly regarded horticulturists in the Rocky Mountain region. His home garden is a showcase of a rich lifetime of gardening—including, of course, his beloved succulents (he is, after all, Mr. Cold Hardy Cactus).</p> Many stock plants can be found in and around several greenhouses on the property, but the real stars this time of year are the island beds south of his home, filled with late-summer annuals, flaming red Zauschneria and remarkable containers featuring succulents. Visitors will also discover gems like rhododendrons in the shady garden. The more you explore, the more you’ll marvel. </p> Denver Botanic Gardens and the Garden Conservancy have partnered for three years to showcase the finest gardens of the Front Range. This is the final weekend of this year’s program—but expect a dozen or more gardens on tour in 2026.</p> </p>
The Waterlily Weigh-Off, led by Denver Botanic Gardens, challenges an impressive list of public gardens and zoos around the world to see how much weight their Victoria waterlily leaves can hold. The third annual competition took place August 18-24, 2025, on TikTok, Instagram and Facebook with over 40 participants across nine countries. We kicked off the competition on August 18, and all other public gardens and zoos entered between August 19-24. The winner was announced on our social channels on August 28. </p> Missouri Botanical Garden was the 2024 champion</a>, with their leaf holding 142 pounds before it started to sink! We mailed them a trophy, and they will pass it on to the 2025 winner.</p> The social media competition went viral in 2024 and provides a playful opportunity to educate the public about the fascinating world of aquatic plants, specifically the waterlily species V. amazonica</em>, V. cruziana</em> and Victoria </em>‘Longwood Hybrid’. The leaves (lily pads or platters) of these tropical plants can grow up to a diameter of 10 feet and hold the weight of an adult. This remarkable strength comes from more than just trapped air: the leaves have a highly engineered network of radiating ribs and cross-veins on their underside. As these veins grow and expand, they create rigid compartments that both trap pockets of air and distribute weight across the entire surface. The upturned rims help keep water off the leaf, while the large size and sharp spines underneath prevent other plants from encroaching on their space.</p> The 2025 champion is Bok Tower Gardens</strong></a> from Florida, USA </strong>weighing in at a total of 183 lb. / 83 kg.! Right behind them, in second place, is our reigning 2024 champ, Missouri Botanical Garden</strong>, with a total weight of 182 lb. / 82.6 kg.! Third place goes to Huntsville Botanical Garden </strong>with a total weight of 176 lb. / 79.8 kg.</p> Confirmed Competitors</h2> You can find their video entries on Instagram, Facebook and/or TikTok.</p> Atlanta Botanical Garden</a> (Georgia, USA), 77 lb. / 34.9 kg.Birmingham Botanical Gardens</a> (England), 75.4 lb. / 34.2 kg.Bok Tower Gardens</a> (Florida, USA), 183 lb. / 83 kg.Botanischer Garten Augsburg</a> (Germany), 0.095 lb. / 0.043 kg.Botanica, The Wichita Gardens</a> (Kansas, USA), 42.5 lb. / 19.3 kg.Botanisk hage Oslo</a> (Norway), 40.8 lb. / 18.5 kg.Bristol Botanic Garden</a> (England), 15.4 lb. / 7 kg.Brookgreen Gardens</a> (South Carolina, USA), 23 lb. / 10.4 kg.Brooklyn Botanic Garden</a> (New York, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.Cambridge University Botanic Garden</a> (England), 26 lb. / 11.8 kg.Chicago Botanic Garden</a> (Illinois, USA), 25.25 lb. / 11.45 kg.Cleveland Botanical Garden</a> (Ohio, USA), “100,000 lb.”Como Zoo Conservatory</a> (Minnesota, USA), 71.51 lb. / 32.4 kg.Conservatory of Flowers</a> (California, USA), two ceramic frogsDenver Botanic Gardens</a> (Colorado, USA), 50 lb. / 22.7 kg.Desert City </a>(Spain), 59.5 lb./ 27 kg.The Eden Project </a>(England), 15.6 lb. / 7.073 kg.Espace pour la vie</a> (Canada), 50 lb. / 22.7 kg.Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens</a> (Ohio, USA), 5.8 lb. / 2.6 kg.The Hudson Gardens</a> (Colorado, USA), 21 lb. / 9.5 kg.The Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens</a> (California, USA), 12 tiny sand bagsHuntsville Botanical Garden</a> (Alabama, USA), 176 lb. / 79.8 kg.Longwood Gardens</a> (Pennsylvania, USA), 165 lb. / 74.8 kg.McKee Botanical Gardens</a> (Florida, USA), 44 lb. / 20 kg.Middleton Hall Gardens</a> (England), 0.024 lb. / 0.01 kg.Minnesota Landscape Arboretum</a> (Minnesota, USA), 0.07 lb. / 0.03 kg.Missouri Botanical Garden</a> (Missouri, USA), 182 lb. / 82.6 kg.The Morton Arboretum</a> (Illinois, USA), 12 toy frogsNaples Botanical Garden</a> (Florida, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill</a> (Massachusetts, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.New Orleans Botanical Garden</a> (Louisiana, USA), 73 lb. / 33.1 kg.New York Botanical Garden</a> (New York, USA), 100 lb. / 45.4 kg.Powell Gardens</a> (Missouri, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.Redleaf Exotics</a> (Tennessee, USA), 115 lb. / 52.16 kg.Royal Botanical Gardens Canada</a> (Ontario, Canada), 3 stones & an acornRoyal Botanic Garden Edinburgh</a> (Scotland), 79.6 lb. / 36.1 kg.Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew</a> (England), 168.7 lb. / 76.5 kg.Royal Botanic Garden Sydney</a> (Australia), 0.02 lb. / 0.01 kg. or “ten men”San Diego Botanic Garden</a> (California, USA), 0 lb. / 0 kg.Sarah P. Duke Gardens</a> (North Carolina, USA), 90 lb. / 40.8 kg.Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden</a> (South Africa), “all of the Anthropocene”The Toledo Zoo</a> (Ohio, USA), 31 lb. / 14.1 kg.University of Bonn Botanic Garden</a> (Germany), 154 lb. / 70 kg.University of California, Davis, Botanical Conservatory</a> (California, USA), 80 lb. / 36.3 kg.University of California, Los Angeles, Mathias Botanical Garden</a> (California, USA), 0.007 lb. / 0.003 kg, a.k.a. one gummy bearU.S. Botanic Garden</a> (Washington D.C., USA), lots of fluffVizcaya Museum and Gardens</a> (Florida, USA), 30 lb. / 13.6 kg.Wave Hill Public Garden & Cultural Center</a> (New York, USA), 39 lb. / 17.7 kg. </p>
Since 2019, the Diversity in the Arts (DITA) has been an internship program focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion, bringing these values within the arts and humanities industries. For 10 weeks during the summer, interns are placed at their host sites where they engage in various work tasks and learn the importance of how art connects with people. As a double major in art practices and ethnic studies at the University of Colorado Boulder, I knew this internship program would be a great fit to gain real experiences doing what I love.</p> Throughout the summer, I worked closely with the volunteer services and learning engagement teams, completing various tasks, activities, and events. With volunteer services, I co-managed the Summer Teen Volunteer Program with Maureen Igoe, assistant manager of volunteer services. With 76 teen participants, my role on this team included engaging and setting up volunteers for Evenings al Fresco, Summer Concert Series, Lavender Festival, and daily horticulture and guest engagement shifts.</p> With volunteer services, I facilitated painting classes for the teen volunteers, where they learned about Mexican magical realism and participated in a painting activity focused on storytelling through the inspiration of plants. I had the opportunity to curate the annual Art on the Prairie Show at Plains Conservation Center</a> in Aurora, utilizing my artistic knowledge to identify and organize common themes, colors, and mediums in the artworks submitted. In addition, I was scheduled as a visitor experience associate where I welcomed guests entering the Contemporary Fiber: Botanicals</a> exhibit.</p> With the learning engagement team, I focused on bridging art and science at Denver Botanic Gardens. My projects included conducting research on the most commonly asked plants' peak bloom and designing flashcards using the principles of art on display. I appreciated connecting with staff whose roles incorporate diverse groups of people and plants. They shared their career paths, successes, and challenges, providing me valuable guidance as I continue to navigate my future career in the art industry.</p> My experience interning at Denver Botanic Gardens has taught me the importance of connecting people with plants, collaborating with others, independent projects, leadership, and community engagement. I plan to utilize and expand these skills as I wrap up my undergraduate studies at CU Boulder. The Gardens inspired me to showcase my diversity and apply my creative skills to projects that celebrate the experiences of everyone.</p> This article was contributed by volunteer services and learning engagement intern Juni Balderas</strong>. </em></p>
August is a great month to take a walk around the water gardens to see our aquatic plants in their full glory. </p> Begin your stroll at the small pool in the Ellipse garden, home to the Chihuly sculpture, Colorado</em>. A unique plant displayed in this pond is mosaic plant (Ludwigia sedioides</em>). This South American native thrives in warm water, making this pool the ideal spot for it to show off its intricate pattern of tiny floating leaves arranged in a mosaic pattern on the water’s surface. Hardy and tropical wa-terlilies (Nymphaea </em>hybrids) including ‘Albert Greenberg’, ‘Wanvisa’, ‘Sunfire’ and ‘Laydekeri Ful-gens’, along with Colocasia esculenta</em> ‘Black Magic’ and Canna </em>‘Chiquita Punch’ round out the display in this pond.</p> Next, head west to the Romantic Garden pool, where you will find a display of star waterlilies. These waterlilies are named for the shape of their blooms, which are stellate and held high above the water’s surface. One waterlily species, Nymphaea gracilis</em>, has been used by hybridizers to create cultivars of star waterlilies with flowers in a rainbow of colors. N. gracilis</em> is native to Mexi-co and has solid white blooms and green leaves. Cultivars displayed in this pond include the pink flowered ‘August Siebert’, ‘Rhapsody in White’, which boasts white blooms and mottled leaves, and ‘Rhonda Kay’ which rounds out the collection with purple flowers. A pair of Santa Cruz water platters (Victoria cruziana</em>) surround a recirculating pottery fountain in the center of this pond.</p> Continuing to the west, you will find the Four Towers Pool. This pond borders the south and west sides of the Science Pyramid and showcases a collection of hardy intersubgeneric waterlilies (crosses between hardy and tropical waterlilies that have proven to be winter hardy here in Denver) as well as hardy waterlilies, tropical waterlilies, and an assortment of marginal plants (plants that grow in shallow water around the margins of a pond) including Canna </em>‘Flirtini’, Canna </em>‘Belin-da’, red stemmed thalia (Thalia geniculata </em>f. rheumoides</em>), swamp hibiscus (Hibiscus ‘Berry Awe-some’ and ‘Heartthrob’), and Mexican petunia (Ruellia simplex</em>). Water platters (Victoria </em>‘Long-wood Hybrid’) grown from seed each spring in our greenhouse complete this display.</p> Before you continue west, peek at the El Pomar Waterway to the east of the Science Pyramid. This long, shallow canal is planted with a repeating pattern of Egyptian papyrus (Cyperus papyrus</em>) and tropical waterlilies (Nymphaea </em>‘Foxfire’) this summer.</p> The next pond on our tour can be found at the west end of the Steppe Garden just as you enter the Annuals Garden. This pool is home to the Rocky Mountain Legacy Collection – waterlilies that have been tested for performance at the Gardens over the years and have historical signifi-cance. This collection includes the hardy waterlilies ‘Colorado’, ‘Denver’, ‘Denver’s Delight’, ‘Joey Tomocik’, ‘Bea Taplin’, ‘Attorney Elrod’ and ‘Cynthia Ann’. Tropical waterlilies in the collection include ‘Stan Skinger’, ‘William McLane’ and ‘Bob Hoffman’.</p> Continuing downstream, our Annuals Garden ponds feature a display of night-blooming waterlilies this year including ‘Texas Shell Pink’, ‘Missouri’, ‘Antares’ and ‘Rosa de Noche’. If you are visiting the gardens in the evening or early morning hours, you can find the blooms of these lilies fully open before they close for the day.</p> North of our outdoor café, the Hive Garden Bistro, the Monet Pool stretches north and west to the border of the Japanese Garden and is our largest display pond and the final stop on our tour. This water garden features hundreds of hardy and tropical waterlilies, water-loving Canna </em>hybrids, aquatic Iris </em>and other marginal plants including pickerel plant (Pontederia cordata</em>), lizard’s tail (Saururus cernuus</em>), and powdery thalia (Thalia dealbata</em>). Stands of lotus (Nelumbo </em>cultivars) are displayed throughout the pond as well. These begin blooming in mid-July and continue into August before dropping their petals to reveal showy, decorative seed pods. </p> Photos by Tamara Kilbane</em> </p>
In Colorado, 2020 was notable for being the most destructive wildfire season in the state's recent history. That year alone, more than 660,000 acres burned with multiple new records set for Colorado’s largest wildfires. The Calwood Fire, a mixed-severity fire that burned north of the City of Boulder, burned approximately 10,000 acres, primarily made of ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests. </p> While low-elevation ponderosa pine and Douglas fir forests are fire-adapted, they are adapted to frequent, low to moderate severity fire. In contrast to low severity fire that maintains open forests of mature trees and abundant understory communities (shrubs, wildflowers and grasses), high severity fire results in high tree mortality, post-fire erosion and flooding, and delayed or inhibited forest recovery. While the effects of high severity fire on trees are evident, long-term impacts on understory communities are not as apparent. Depending on the ecosystem or time since fire, moderate and/or high severity fire has been found to both increase or decrease the diversity of understory species. </p> To examine how fire severity influences understory plant communities, I have been collecting data this summer in the Calwood burn scar within Heil Valley Ranch</a> in Boulder County for my master's thesis. In addition to capturing data on what species are growing and how abundant those different species are, I am also collecting soil cores to examine what species are present in the soil seed bank. This upcoming fall I will be germinating my soil samples in the greenhouses at the Gardens’ York Street location. This experiment will contribute to our understanding of what species have dormant seeds resting in the soil seed bank and thus what species are likely to return following subsequent fire or disturbance events. </p> This field season has been humbling with many hot days, endless difficulty in identifying grasses, charcoal-stained clothes and expansive fields of downed logs. I am beyond grateful for all the amazing volunteers and friends who have joined me out in the field to collect some quality data!</p> </p> This article was contributed by Botany Assistant Meredith Prentice</strong>.</em> </p>
Did you know the Gardens offers an inspiring lineup of homeschool enrichment programs designed for curious minds and nature-loving families? These hands-on experiences invite children and their grownups to learn side by side, blending science, art and nature in unforgettable ways.</p> Kicking off the fall season is Homeschool Day: Amazing Adaptations</a> (Sept. 15), where families explore how plants survive in extreme environments—from deserts to rainforests—and even design their own imaginative plant species.</p> If your family loves to get creative, the Homeschool Make and Take series</strong> is perfect. Explore a serene Japanese stroll garden and build your own miniature Japanese garden</a> (Oct. 6), or dive into the tropics and craft a vibrant rainforest terrarium (Nov. 10).</p> For a more structured classroom-style experience, check out the Science Studio for Homeschoolers</strong>. This fall’s offerings include From Plants to Paper</a> (Aug. 25), where students learn to make their own botanical paper, and Cyanotypes</a> (Oct. 20), a unique introduction to sun-powered photography.</p> Families can also enjoy special evening and weekend workshops, like From Garden to Art: Pressing Plants</a> and Monarchs in Motion</a>, extending learning beyond typical school hours.</p> All programs are designed for children ages 6–12, with materials provided and opportunities to create lasting memories.</p> Ready to grow your homeschool journey? Check out the full schedule</a> and register. Financial assistance</a> is available to ensure every family can participate. </p>
Last year, I wrote a blog about my plan for field research on the Avery Peak Twinpod</a>. I was investigating what affects the reproduction within and between the populations of this rare, alpine species. Long story short, my field research during 2024 at three populations of this species did not find large differences in these populations’ reproduction, which was different than what we observed during 2023! But I wanted to highlight another aspect of the data we collected at six populations with the help of several volunteers: the animals that interacted with the Avery Peak Twinpod</a>.</p> The Avery Peak Twinpod was very popular with flower visitors</em> – a term used for potential pollinators, since we don’t know whether these animals are effectively pollinating the plants. There were several kinds of flies and bees detected sitting on the plants’ reproductive organs appearing to gather either pollen or nectar, an activity that often facilitates pollination. We also noted ants, beetles, moths and even one mite, among others. </p> In contrast to the diversity of potential pollinators, it appeared that there was one specific kind of beetle larvae that preferred eating the Avery Peak Twinpod’s flowers, and very occasionally their leaves. I posted photos of these larvae on iNaturalist</a>, and reached out to several entomologists to try to find out what the larvae could be. The entomologists guessed that the larvae were some kind of leaf beetle (family: Chrysomelidae). They discussed potential identifications and referred me to other scientists that could weigh in. With the help of Rob Westerduijn and Dr. Chris Reid, we concluded that the larvae are likely red turnip beetles (Entomoscelis americana</em>). Red turnip beetles are native to North America, are known to eat mustard species, and their larvae can eat farmed crops like kale and other cruciferous vegetables. Adult beetles mostly eat pollen and aren’t as voracious. This identification was further supported by the fact that red turnip beetles are the most commonly observed leaf beetle species in alpine areas on iNaturalist. </p> We also observed some tiny parasitic larvae</a> that caused the leaves of the Avery Peak Twinpod to swell up while they matured. Dr. Matt Bertone believes they are gall midges, a kind of parasitic fly (family: Cecidomyiidae). With the joint effort of several scientists, these observations reveal more about the role the Avery Peak Twinpod plays in its ecosystem. </p> This article was contributed by graduate student My-Lan Le</strong>.</em></p>
Discovering new ways to increase the success rate of ecological restoration efforts is paramount, and we in the Research & Conservation Department at Denver Botanic Gardens are excited about a new project that will contribute to this very area! </p> In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), we are growing several native plant species in an agricultural setting. The goal of this project is to develop best-cultivation protocols for mass commercial seed growers as well as to produce seed stock for local projects aiming to restore ecosystems post-wildfire. The seeds we are working with have been collected via BLM’s Seeds of Success program, which aims to preserve and increase the availability of native plant materials for restoration projects around the country and to capture as much genetic diversity within each species as possible. The more we know about the genetic background of our seed stock, the better we can predict which populations will do best in which geographic locations, and this will greatly enhance the effectiveness of our projects. </p> We are currently working on four native plant species: Heterotheca villosa</em> (hairy false goldenaster), Phacelia crenulata</em> (scorpion notchweed), Sphaeralcea coccinea </em>(scarlet globemallow) and Stanleya pinnata</em> (desert prince’s plume). For the last few months, I have been working with Dr. Rebecca Hufft, our associate director of climate resilience, to develop a plan and design for growing out these species and experimenting with different cultivation practices along the way, from in-house stratification and germination methods to in-field planting and seed harvesting strategies. </p> At this stage in the game, we have successfully grown at least 150 individuals of each species (for some that number is far greater) and have out-planted them in our research plots at Chatfield Farms</a>. Plants are establishing now, being watered sparingly via our drip-line irrigation system, and some have even begun to flower and produce fruit. As this first season goes on, we will continue to collect data on the plants to track their progress as well as add to our protocol and observations anything from watering timetables to common pollinator species witnessed. We plan to work with these species for the next few seasons and are looking to put together a plan for a fall seeding event as well. </p> Though this is just the beginning, I am excited and confident that projects like this have the potential to greatly improve our native seed stock deficit and give us the power to be more prepared and achieve far more lasting successes in the realm of ecological restoration!</span> </span></p> </span></p>
