In 1951, the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association established Denver Botanic Gardens. Architect Saco Rienk DeBoer was hired to create the gardens as part of a 15-year master plan. Originally, the gardens were located on 100 acres in City Park but were relocated in 1959 to their current location near Cheesman Park.
This 24-acre urban oasis features native, exotic and xeric plants. It also features the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, Science Pyramid and Mordecai Children’s Garden. It is a popular destination for locals and visitors alike to learn about Colorado’s natural resources.
The Gardens’ mission is to educate people about the beauty of horticulture and nature through year-round events, lifelong learning opportunities and scientific research. It offers lectures, professional development seminars, botanical art and illustration courses and day camps for adults and children alike.
Its mission is to provide the public with a living collection of plants and botanical information from around the world. The Gardens maintain a wide variety of specialized collections, and these are used in conjunction with the Gardens’ horticultural and biodiversity research efforts.
They have a dedicated staff of gardeners to care for the grounds and plant collections, and they even have a help desk to answer home gardeners’ questions.
The gardens also host a number of special events throughout the year, including the Blossoms of Light in December. This event is very popular and attracts thousands of visitors each year.
There are also a number of annual fundraisers held at the Gardens, as well. These are always a fun way to donate money to the Gardens and have some quality time in a beautiful setting.
Some of the other events include a yearly Fall Festival, Glow at the Gardens and a Halloween pumpkin festival with hundreds of carved pumpkins, gourds and jack-o-lanterns.
The Gardens also offer guided tours. Tickets to these can be purchased at the ticket office or online. Admission costs are $11 for non-members, $10 for members and $7 for seniors and military personnel.
