What do you love about a specific flower or a garden?
Words sometimes fail to describe overwhelming abundant beauty. The Denver Botanical Garden in June 2023 after unusual Spring rains, is a place of diverse planting and garden scenes. Every path takes you to a different view of well tended gardens. It is a sauntering walk – not a hike. Going fast will spoil the view.
Thank you! Everything in me says “Thank you!” Angels listen as I sing my thanks.I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, Thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, Most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; You made my life large with strength. Psalm 138: 1-3 The Message
There is a columbine garden with all the different state flowers of Colorado. A traditional blue and white columbine grows next to orange and yellow and white columbines. They are so delicate with their spiky blooms. I have never been able to grow columbines in my alkaline and sandy soil.
The iris are in full glory with spiky, white, yellow, pink, purple, tan and black colorings. They are the harbingers of Spring in most areas of America. In Colorado, they bring us the hope of the end of long winters at this altitude.
Peonies are in their ‘last hurrah’ as the loss of their blooms is interspersed with late blooms. The struggle to grow this short flowering shrubs in Colorado has intrigued my garden skills for years. I have one plant. Just one. And it was 3 years old before it grew and five years old before it flowered. When it flowered it had two plants grafted together – dark pink mostly with a section of stunning white.
What positive garden experiences have you had? How do you appreciate nature in the middle of the cities? Do you plan to visit specific gardens in your travels?
Clematis and roses are starting to show off their summer beauty. The vines and sizes of roses are indicators of what they will be next month. I have gardened with both clematis and roses with differing levels of success. Petite roses have died, one is 25 plus years old. The “knock out” red rose has loved the healthy soil and great attention to watering it receives.
The spikes – some over 6 feet tall were the show offs of this week in June. I loved touching their blooms. They are coupled with low ground cover as their large stalks come out of nowhere. I do not know this bloom at all. My curiosity is peaked by their strength to survive in the harsh Denver spring.
The Japanese garden mixes the beauty of structures and water with floating flowers being tended to by caretakers. The water lilies and iris reflect in long shadows over the water.
At the exit of the garden is a carved tribute rock. “You are the sum total of everything you’ve ever seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot- it’s all there. Everything influences each of us, and because of that I try to make sure that my experiences are positive.” -Maya Angelou
