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May 15, 2012
Gardening After Five
Mighty ‘Mato good for Colorado
Describe something as stronger, faster, and able to fend off foes, and most people think of caped crusaders in brightly colored tights. Toss in a “and their tomatoes are amazing!” and you’re written off as talking to adolescent boys and Boris Vallejo fans. But one look at the performance of this year’s hot new [...]
by gardeningafterfive at May 15, 2012 02:48 PM
May 14, 2012
Denver Botanic Gardens
Plant Conservation Day
Join us in the Gardens on Saturday May 19 to celebrate Plant Conservation Day.
The third week in May holds many opportunities to celebrate our rare and native plant species in Colorado. Not only is it Celebrating Wildflowers week, a week to get out and enjoy wildflowers in bloom on public lands in your area, but Endangered Species Day and Plant Conservation Day fall within the week as well. We invite you to join us on Saturday, May 19 to celebrate Plant Conservation Day at the Gardens.
Did you know there are 33 species in Colorado listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act? Sixteen of them are plants and we at Denver Botanic Gardens are working to conserve each of them. Through our partnership with the Center for Plant Conservation and the US Fish and Wildlife Service, we are working to collect seed of all of our listed species. Once seed are collected some are germinated for grow-out at the Gardens while the majority are sent to the National Center for Genetic Resources Preservation. We banked valuable seed of 10 federally listed species through seed collection efforts in 2009 – 2011. This year we are actively collecting seeds of six rare species and working on germinating several species to put on display at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Come to the Gardens this Saturday and learn more about the work we do throughout Colorado to help document and protect our rarest plants by meeting staff from the Research & Conservation Department. Activities in Mordecai Children’s Garden will have a conservation focus, and a new Garden Navigator tour will help direct you to areas of the gardens which highlight native plants. We will also have information on display from Denver Parks and Recreation’s Purge the Spurge campaign to eradicate Myrtle Spurge from yards in the Denver metro area. You can also pick up your copy of the newly revised Meet the Natives book by the Garden’s curator of native plants – Dan Johnson.
We encourage you to get out and appreciate wildflowers and native plants through hiking and expanding your knowledge of our native flora through areas and programs such as Mount Goliath (on Mount Evans) and the Colorado Native Plant Society.
by Jennifer Ramp Neale, Director of Research & Conservation at May 14, 2012 06:38 PM
Join us down at the Ranch….
Nuttall's larkspur (Delphinium nuttallii)
Last Wednesday I had the pleasure of scouting the route of our upcoming field trip to Cherokee Ranch with Lyn Wilkerson, the most remarkable birder I’ve ever known…there was the gentlest breeze, the temperature was perfect…we counted dozens of kinds of wildflowers everywhere we looked (including this gorgeous violet blue larkspur which was ubiquitous)…and could see the towers of Denver far, far in the distance as well as the crisp skyline of snowy peaks to the West, and the gorgeous bluffs and mesas around us clothed in dark forest….and I asked myself: why am I not out here all the time?
There are a handful of spaces left on this hike this coming Saturday afternoon, and the June (and later) hikes are filling up quickly! Do let’s show the education department that field trips like this are what Denver Botanic Gardens are all about!
Cherokee Ranch is best known for the historic home (the “Castle”) which is certainly a lovely landmark we can enjoy from a distance—but for me the Ranch is the pristine thousands of acres of foothills and prairies that are part of the largest last parcel of open space between Denver and Colorado Springs…come cherish this with me…and be introduced to one of Denver’s secret natural gardens!
by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach at May 14, 2012 12:13 PM
Jeffco Gardener
Upside Down Tomatoes by Carol King
The next couple of weeks is tomato planting time along the Front Range. Day and night time temperatures are still too low to support tomato growth so "wall of waters" is a good idea until night time temps reach 50+.
Planting "upside down" tomatoes appears to be a big fad right now. While the practice is nationwide, there are some Colorado-specific concerns from Planttalk Colorado.
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| organicgardeningfarming.com |
Many on-line comments about hanging tomatoes talk about wind damage. Some advertisements for upside down tomatoes suggest that they be hung from a tree or deck. Trees, roofed decks, and nearby houses cast shade and tomatoes need full sun for good fruit production.
Another concern is the size of the container (root size) to support a large tomato plant. One brand of hanging planters calls for two pounds of soil. This small rooting volume would not support a large tomato plant in our hot, windy climate. Only a small container size tomato variety would be suitable."
Be cautious about plant placement, remember to water frequently, and choose your variety wisely.
For more information about growing tomatoes in the home garden, see this fact sheet.
by Carollee (noreply@blogger.com) at May 14, 2012 01:05 PM
May 11, 2012
Denver Botanic Gardens
The Supreme Ultimate Exercise
Photo credit: John Rossi
“Tai Chi is in everything, and everything is in Tai Chi…” and now Tai Chi will be back in the Gardens! What better place to learn and practice this beautiful, joyful physical activity? Rooted in the Traditional Chinese Medicine and the Five Elements of Health, this meditational martial art teaches skills that transfer to all aspects of healthy living.
For more than six centuries the Chinese have touted the benefits of Tai Chi for health and longevity, calling it “the supreme ultimate exercise” (the literal translation of T’ai Chi). Scientific evidence in recent years confirms that this may well be true. Performed with slow rhythmic motions, Tai Chi balances the frantic pace of modern life by giving us permission to slow down.
A review of 77 studies, at the Center for Integrative Medicine at the University of California, found strong evidence that Tai Chi and Qigong offer benefits for:
• cardio-respiratory fitness
• physical function and bone health
• balance and fall prevention
• mental health and quality of life
By teaching the mind to take better control of the body, we gain back a sense of control over our lives. We feel a sense of mastery over our fate … a deeply enjoyable experience. Tai Chi is a fun way to relax, maximize your energy, minimize injuries and make friends.
Experience Tai Chi and its many benefits here at the Gardens every Tuesday morning from 7- 8 a.m. starting May 29. Each session is only $8 for members and $10 for non-members. Join us for our first session FOR FREE! Register online or call 720-865-3580.
Guest Bloggers: Joe Brady and Jacqui Shumway
Joseph Brady is a Nationally Board certified practitioner and Diplomate in Oriental Medicine. Joe has taught Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Traditional Chinese Medicine for over thirty years at the University of Denver, The University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Metropolitan State College of Denver and in the Colorado Community College System.
Jacqui Shumway is Western Region Director for the National Association of Health and Fitness and served on the Colorado Governor’s Council for Physical Fitness for 12 years. Specializing in integrating western and eastern approaches to health care, Jacqui has over twenty years experience in developing, teaching, and coordinating clinical exercise therapy programs at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Colorado School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Metropolitan State College of Denver and Colorado Community Colleges.
Joe and Jacqui can be contacted at 303-744-7676, taichiproj@earthlink.net or visit the website TaiChiDenver.com
by Featured Instructor at May 11, 2012 03:23 PM
May 10, 2012
Denver Botanic Gardens
Madagascar Discovery – The Trip of a Lifetime!
Since the separation of the tectonic plate from Africa 165 million years ago and from India at the end of the Cretaceous period about 70 million years ago, Madagascar has been evolving in isolation leading to the emergence of numerous and distinct forms of plants, animals, and geological features. Madagascar’s biodiversity is like none other. It is home to over 10,000 vascular plant species with about 90% endemism. Faunal diversity includes 71 distinct taxa of lemurs (all endemic), 199 species of amphibians (99% endemic), 346 species of reptiles (90% endemic), and 283 species of birds.
Denver Botanic Gardens is offering an amazing trip to Madagascar, October 17 – November 2, 2012. Traversing the central and northern parts of the island, sites to be visited include the Baobab Alley in Morondava, the rugged limestone formations at the Tsingy de Bemaraha National Park, the lush rainforests of the Masoala Peninsula, palm-lined beaches and coral reefs at the island of Sainte Marie, and the busy cityscape in the capital city of Antananarivo.
More information can be found at Reefs to Rockies or contact Sheridan Samano at Sheridan@reefstorockies.com or 303-860-6045.
by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture at May 10, 2012 06:33 PM
May 08, 2012
Denver Botanic Gardens
Plant Sale frenzy: bring some color into your life!
- Overview of Curtis’ Lewisia bed looking north and west
English gardens in subtle pinks and lavenders are all well and good for England: in our bright Colorado sunlight, bright oranges, reds and purples RULE! And these shots from a local garden taken last week (Lee Curtis’ private garden in Lakewood to give credit where credit is due) just blew my mind! Most Colorado gardeners have heard of bitterroot, a rather uncommon wildflower from northwest Colorado that happens to be the state flower of Montana. These are its close cousins from the Siskiyou Mountains of southern Oregon and northern California, a fantastic wildflower with truly the most amazing range of colors imaginable.
- Closeup of Sunset Strain of Lewisia cotyledon
These are likely the “Sunset Strain” –an especially vibrant selection of the species originally selected by Jack Drake in the highlands of Scotland. The “Ashwood Strain” developed by an English nursery of the same name is the current purveyor of these especially breathtaking plants. Like many wildflowers, they do best in well drained (but not too hungry) soil in a rock garden setting. As you can see, they love our Colorado climate: we have had spectacular displays of lewisias in the past in the Rock Alpine Garden although this year we have been seriously upstaged by Lee!
Lewisias in Curtis' rock garden in Lakewood
You can find these brightly colored strains of Lewisia at many local garden centers this time of year. And I know that we will have quite a few in the Rock Garden section of Denver Botanic Gardens’ Annual Plant Sale this weekend. But I cannot promise you they will be waiting around all day: when people see these they GRAB!
More Lewisia cotyledon (Sunset strain) in Curtis' rock garden
Overview of Curtis' Lewisia bed looking south: Iris 'Dardanus' in background
I end with this lovely shot with backlighting of these astonishing plants, with one of my favorite irises in the background: ‘Dardanus’ is a Regeliocyclus iris (which is to say, an hybrid between the famous dryland irises of Asia)…the contrast of cool blue or lavender with these bright hard candy colors is very welcome.
I wish to thank Loren Russell for these pictures: my camera battery went dead just as we arrived at Lee’s garden. He came to the rescue with these wonderful shots–a real shot in the arm for Colorado gardeners this time of year (and candy for the eyes!). Do let me know when you have planted up a mass of lewisias that might rival Lee’s! I can assure you I’m planning to add to my collection this weekend…
by Panayoti Kelaidis, Senior Curator & Director of Outreach at May 08, 2012 04:03 AM
May 04, 2012
Denver Botanic Gardens
Peru Discovery – Chapter 7
For several folks in our group, today is the beginning of the second phase of our Peru Discovery adventure. After seeing the country’s desert coast and high Andean Mountains, we are off to the Amazon River basin of Southeastern Peru.
After a quick flight from Cusco to Puerto Maldonado, we hopped a short shuttle ride to our Amazon adventure headquarters where we downsized our luggage for our trip up the Tambopata River and into the jungle. During our ninety minute boat ride, we enjoyed an al-fresco lunch of fried rice, chicken and a delicious salty cheese all served wrapped in a banana leaf. Our utensils and napkins as well as all the food containers were compostable which meant our entire meal created no trash. Next time you get take-out food, take a moment to analyze just how much trash is created from that one meal and how many millions of people are doing the same thing every day. Earth Day is always a good time to recommit to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
Our destination for this leg of our trip is Posada Amazonas, a jungle lodge operated as a partnership with the local community of Infierno. Their goal is to develop a profitable, responsible ecotourism experience while directly involving the local people. The lodge and its activities create jobs and provide income to the 170 plus families living in the Infierno territory.
After meeting our guide Yuri and checking into our rooms we immediately set out on a hike to an observation tower for an over-view of the jungle. At nearly 
120 feet in the air, you get a spectacular view and a new appreciation for the vastness of the Amazon basin. As far as the eye can see in any direction, there are trees, water and more trees. The snow-capped Andes Mountains, the source of all the river water, can be seen far in the distance. We spotted several bird species from the tower and while on our hike, we saw incredible plant and insect diversity and heard the sounds of all the other wildlife (especially monkeys) that were more reluctant to be seen. We have an early wake up call in the morning so after another tasty dinner, we turned in early. With limited electricity there isn’t much need to stay up late and besides, hiking in the mud can be very tiring.
This morning we head to an oxbow lake, a small swampy lake created when a hair-pin turn in the river becomes cut off from the main current. It was raining most of the morning, but that didn’t stop us from seeing caiman and several species of birds and the almost comical looking long-nosed bat. We also got to go fishing for piranha – catch and release of course.
We hiked back to our boat and continued another 4 ½ hours upriver to the Tambopata Research Center for an even more secluded jungle experience. During the boat ride, we saw numerous capybara, caiman, turtles, birds and monkeys. We had an especially good opportunity to observe a group of Red Howler monkeys clambering through bamboo growing along the river’s edge. Our boat driver expertly held our boat close to shore directly in front of the monkeys, all while fighting a mighty river current.
After settling into our rooms, we headed off on another hike, this time to a cliff overlooking the river. Again, we saw numerous plants, insects and birds and Yuri even managed to coax a huge Tarantula from its hiding place for all of us to see. Yuri is proving to be an excellent guide and we both enjoy comparing notes on plants we observed during our hikes, both of us learning from the others expertise.
We relaxed around the lodge, enjoyed another delicious meal and again turned in early. If the weather cooperates, tomorrow we hope to enjoy an experience that few people have the opportunity to witness – the descent of hundreds of parrots on a favored clay-lick. We are keeping our fingers crossed.
by Nick Snakenberg, Curator Orchids / Greenhouse at May 04, 2012 02:47 PM
May 03, 2012
Denver Botanic Gardens
Springtime in the Oak Grove
Check It Out! It’s springtime in the Oak Grove. With the weather already warming up in Denver, the Oak Grove is a great place to go and cool down. Stroll through this natural setting and enjoy the shade that the canopy of oaks provides. There are forty-six oaks in this garden including species oaks and hybrids.
A carpet of sweet woodruff (Galium odoratum) covers the floor, giving off a lovely scent as you make your way around the circular pathway. You will find various under story plants along your journey including Spanish Bluebells, Azalea ‘Rosy Lights’, ferns, hydrangeas, hostas, heuchera , Golden Japanese Forest Grass (Hakonechloa macra ‘Aureola’), hardy figs, epimedium, Pawpaw (Asimina triloba), Siberian Bugloss (Brunnera macrophylla) and many other gems.
This transplanted Kentucky boy gets a little homesick, so I’ve tried to bring a little Kentucky to Denver. I invite you to come and enjoy my little piece of home.
by Mike Holloway, Horticulturist at May 03, 2012 08:54 PM
It’s Euxoa Time
Plants aren’t the only thing becoming more active this time of year. Warmer weather triggers a lot of invertebrate activity, and you may be noticing that your home is suddenly (apparently) some sort of transcontinental superhighway for arthropods. Which is just one of the reasons that I love springtime.
The six-legged companion that is perhaps most difficult to ignore is the miller moth, Euxoa auxiliaris. Miller moths are the adult form of the (more sinister-sounding) army cutworm, an occasional crop and garden pest. Army cutworms hatch in the fall and feed on just about anything green, including corn, tomatoes, beans, alfalfa, and wheat, but they’re so small at this point that few people notice them. They spend the winter underground, and wake up hungry in the spring (when farmers and gardeners are more likely to notice them and their damage). After a few weeks they pupate and emerge as miller moths, which enjoy spending the summer sipping nectar from high mountain flowers. This is why so many of them are seeking “over-day” accomodations in your houses and cars right now. Every Euxoa auxiliaris from here to Eastern Kansas is headed to their summer home in the mountains and we’re stuck in the middle of a pretty crazy tourist season. (Is this like living in Estes Park?) By late July the moths will turn around and come back through to lay eggs in fields and gardens.
Speaking of moths in general, have you wondered why they incessantly circle lamps? It has a lot to do with how they find their way in the dark. Many moths use polarized light (which we can’t perceive without the aid of special lenses) to determine direction and distance. It works great when just the moon and the stars are available, but street (and table) lamps become problematic, sending false signals because of their number and their proximity. For example, you can’t change your position relative to the moon (very much or very quickly), even by hopping in the car and driving like a maniac for Grand Junction. Your position relative to street lamps, however, is a different story. A moth which has mistaken a light bulb for the moon or a bright star probably “thinks” it’s flying straight by keeping the angle of incoming light to its eyes steady. I often wonder if moths circling street lamps are having the best night of their lives—“I’ve been flying for miles and I’m not even a bit tired!”—but I’m told that moths don’t really think of such things.
Streetlamps accompanied by swarms of moths can be a good source for summertime fun (and science!). Moths are heavily preyed upon by bats, which are able to hunt at night by using sonar. Now here’s the fun part: the right combination of keys and bangles, jingled, can produce just the sort of pings that a bat might produce and can send moths into their evolved bat-avoidance responses, which range from abrupt directional shifts to falling out of the air like a stone. Some moths even produce their own pings as an auditory “I’m not tasty” warning (though these aren’t observable by the car key method).
Sure beats television.
by John Murgel, Gardener at May 03, 2012 03:38 PM
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