RETURN VISIT TO DENVER BOTANIC GARDENS

On our way to Seattle this summer we pulled into Cherry Creek State Park for the weekend. We wanted to pay a return visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens. This has to be one of the most beautiful gardens in the country-and very well funded, as you will see later.

You can imagine that the gardens were quite busy on a summer Saturday. In fact a wedding was about to take place in my favorite garden so I could only sneak a quick picture under the ropes. The Romantic Garden at Denver was designed by Lauren Springer Ogden.

I think Denver is such a favorite of mine because of the many garden rooms. Step from one and you find yourself in another completely different garden.

The herb garden.

I don't even remember this one from 2 years ago. The sundial garden.

The Scripture garden

Henry Moore has been replaced with sculptures more fitting to the South Western scene. Here, Dance of the Mountain Spirits by Allan Houser (1919-1994).

Mother natures own art work in this Lacebark pine, Pinus bungeata.

Spirit of the Mountains.

 Simple hand made troughs in the rock garden.

Warm Springs Apache Man.

And my favorite one of all. A Navajo shepherdess tending her sheep in Homeward Bound.

Maybe we missed this garden the last time we were here. What a wonderful idea for a courtyard garden. Variously sized pavers set in decomposed granite with hypertuffa troughs. What could be more simple.

Of course it helps to have a fine piece of sculpture as a center piece.

Prayer Song.

The day lily garden.

Ramada with penstemons.

A palate of soft pinks and rusts.

Dreaming of growing plants like this in my rock wall.

The hell strip.

Two pots of A. desmettiana flanking a citrus with underplanting of herbs. Good idea!

Alpinia 'Singapore Gold' in the tropical house.

A breakdown of the costs of the ongoing and completed projects, Quite a budget and many paid for with bonds.
The only disappointment was to finally get to see the Mordecai Children's Garden in completion. Not at all a children's garden in my opinion.
There is so much more to see. A must for everyone who visits Denver.

GETTING A GARDEN FIX WHEN AWAY FROM HOME. DENVER BOTANIC GARDEN

This time it was with a visit to the Denver Botanic Gardens. There were so many memorable places and vistas but I begin with one of my favorites. Is it because I am English born that this garden reminds me of so many of those wonderful English gardens?

Our visit coincided with "Moore in the Gardens" Presenting 20 of the British sculptor Henry Moore's monumental works. Here a long shot of the same garden seen through his Oval with Points.
We had reached this garden, the Schlessman Plaza and fragrance garden, by walking down the perennial walk. But for the fact that the walkway was paved rather than grassed I thought I was at Wisley. The long perennial walks, which originated in Europe, were designed as a rebellion against the formal gardens of the Victorian era. This was more of a mixed border with annuals mixed in among perennials but providing color and texture through all seasons.

Rest a while among the achillea.
Watch the barracuda leap by the wall of water.

Or take a minute in the shade of one of the two summer houses. Always a feature in many English gardens; a must on even a nice summer's day.

My granddad built a sunken garden in his garden. Like the walled kitchen gardens, a sunken garden would afford protection against the harsh winds, providing a microclimate. Here in Denver another garden which was to remind me of my long ago home.

From the English style of garden to a garden across the other side of the world; the Moongate leads into the Chinese garden. It represents the full moon and happiness.

A pebble pathway leads through the lush planting..

To the Ting, which in Chinese means 'pause' inviting the visitor to stop and rest and enjoy the scenery. Not a hard thing to do on a hot day in Denver.

This interesting vine was Lonicera reticulata, Kintzleys Ghost Grape Honeysuckle.

The South African Garden displayed many of the plants I am familiar with. The succulents were beautifully displayed in various levels of planters.

Or raised on gravel beds

The rock alpine garden with the cactus and succulent house in the background.

The gateway into the Japanese garden.

Stone, water and plants brought together in such a way that we would recognize this garden immediately.

A stop for lunch at the cafe. Great paninis.

Overlooking the potager, or kitchen garden with its giant headed alliums. I think I should change the name of my vegetable garden to 'potager'. It does sound so much nicer.
More Moore. Mother and child.

Daylilies in full bloom.

Please someone tell me what these flowers are and will they grow in Texas. They were stunning en masse.
More places to sit in the shade.

I would love to grow this frilly cosmos too but have never had much luck with any but the native orange variety.

And if you find the idea of a tank in your garden too 'Texas' then here's an idea with a softer look.
there is a little bit of everything in the gardens. Here a style that might be a little closer to home.
A green roof, although I am not sure how this would offer much of a cooling effect.

A recent bond, to fund parks, means that new gardens are being added all the time. I was given a peek at the new Mordecai children's garden which will open later in August. Here children were helping with the planting.

One thing is for sure. I won't pass through Denver gain without spending a day at the gardens. Members of the Wildflower Center enter the garden without charge.