Garden Design's Self-Guided Day Trip to Denver, Colorado.
Written and produced by Karen Chapman as recommended by local garden expert Jodi Torpey
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Easily accessible by train from the airport, downtown Denver is known for its walkability, although a free shuttle running the length of 16th Street Mall brings the abundance of eateries, galleries, and boutiques within easy reach of all. Looking for the perfect selfie spot? No trip to Denver is complete without visiting the Big Blue Bear, peering endlessly into the windows of the Denver Convention Center.
When you’re ready to explore a little farther afield, local garden expert Jodi Torpey suggests you set a day aside to tour three of her favorite local gardens which she has selected for their beauty and sustainability. “It’s amazing what you can do with a drought-resilient garden,” she comments. “These are really inspiring.”
Begin the day at the Aurora Water-Wise Garden, an educational demonstration garden that also features a poignant memorial. From here, it’s just a 30-minute drive to the Denver Botanic Garden. While there, Jodi suggests focusing on the new Steppe Garden that showcases diverse plants from semi-arid steppe regions around the world. After lunch, continue on to The Gardens at Kendrick Lake, where a one-mile walking trail around the lake meanders through a lush dryland garden featuring mature plantings in an artistic design. If you have a few moments to spare at the end of the day, you might also like to visit Belmar Park's 132 rolling acres of natural grasslands and trees with historic buildings dotting the landscape, or Hayden Park on Green Mountain's 2400 acres of green space and trails with stunning views of Denver to the east.
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1. Aurora Water-Wise Garden
Located at the intersection of two busy streets and adjacent to a major municipal area, this is an intriguing place to explore. Mature trees and shrubs somewhat obscure the main garden yet these veiled glimpses lure inquisitive visitors in.
If visiting in spring, be sure to look above the stone entrance to the garden, where a great horned owl nests each year. If you’re lucky, you might catch a glimpse of the latest brood of owlets.
Completed in 2003 to serve as an example of low-water landscaping, this demonstration garden includes a variety of clearly labeled water-wise plants together with educational signs that explain the principles of water-wise landscaping. As a showcase for Plants Select xeric plants, gardeners will be inspired by the many colorful combinations to try in their home landscapes while the Habitat Hero garden includes examples of plants and habitats specifically to attract wildlife and pollinators, including a 6-foot-tall mason bee house. To the south of the gardens is a memorial dedicated to the victims and survivors of the Aurora Theater shooting that occurred nearby in 2012. A beautiful and thought-provoking sculpture by artist Doewe Blumberg, Ascentiate depicts 83 large metal cranes soaring skyward, symbolizing transformation and hope. “It’s a place of reflection,” says Jodi. Allow 1 hour As you leave Aurora for the Denver Botanic Garden, consider stopping briefly to see the Delaney Community Farm, a 158-acre property that features a large CSA farm, 1880’s structures, and a round grain silo now re-purposed as a cow barn.
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2. Denver Botanic Gardens - Steppe Garden
The Denver Botanic Garden could easily keep you enthralled for many hours, but for this visit Jodi suggests you focus on the Steppe Garden, a showcase of plants from all the steppe regions of the world including central North America, Patagonian South America, Central Asia, and interior South Africa. Steppe regions experience cold winters and extremely hot summers, and are considered semi-arid environments. Although they contain incredible floral diversity, steppes are known for their expansive grasslands and shrublands.
Jodi finds this diverse collection of plants fascinating, especially the living stone plants (Lithops) that resemble small pebbles. Here you will discover all manner of tough succulents, grasses, groundcovers, shrubs, bulbs, and wildflowers that thrive in these adverse conditions. Visitors will also enjoy the beautiful water feature and container designs. To learn more about steppe gardening, visit the nearby Science Pyramid, a wonderful educational center before having lunch at the Hive Garden Bistro which has outdoor seating by the Monet Pool, or indoors at the Offshoots Café. Allow 2 hours.
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3. The Gardens at Kendrick Lake
This public garden showcases plants suited to each of Colorado’s elevation zones: plains, foothills, great basin, montane, and alpine.
The significance of this garden is that the plantings are well established. The mature specimens offer visitors insights into both the possibilities and also the diversity of plants that can grow in the Rocky Mountain region. “It’s such an artistic garden,” enthuses Jodi, adding that it looks beautiful in any season.
Winding gravel paths meander through 10 beds showcasing over 350 Plant Select plants that have not only survived, but have truly thrived in these harsh conditions. Jodi loves the surprise on visitors faces when they see how lush and colorful a xeriscape can be while she personally appreciates its sustainability and the educational component. The one-mile loop around the lake is paved but wheelchair users may struggle in some areas due to tree roots. Otherwise it is a pleasant stroll with places to stop for a picnic and lovely views.
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About Your Local Garden Expert Jodi Torpey
I’m a Colorado native, Denver-based garden writer, master gardener, and author of Blue Ribbon Vegetable Gardening and The Colorado Gardener’s Companion. I’m also a blue-ribbon winning vegetable grower and contributing editor for Fine Gardening's VegetableGardener.com website.
I’m passionate about helping other gardeners get the most from their gardening experience and I enjoy presenting gardening programs around the country. Since 2010, I’ve promoted Denver’s annual 'Plant a Row for the Hungry' growing-and-giving effort.
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