In winter, the collection of new plant and fungal specimens stops altogether. However, the collectors of specimens made the previous summer are still working hard to prepare these for incorporation into the Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium of Vascular Plants</a> and Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi</a>. It takes a considerable amount of work to process a collection to become a herbarium specimen. Thus, after the busy specimen collection season ends, collectors finally get a chance to take stock of their recently collected riches.</p> Last year, we began the use of digital field notebooks to streamline specimen collections and ensure that the data collected are of the highest standards. Digital field notebooks use templates to prompt collectors to record all the relevant data for each specimen. Plant and fungi data collection templates contain different data fields because these organisms have such different morphologies. </p> Winter is a great time for collectors to identify their specimens. Collectors utilize many different resources, such as dichotomous keys to identify specimens, and often need to look at their specimens under a microscope to examine specific, tiny features that will help determine an accurate identification – something that isn’t easily done in the field. Without a name, the specimen cannot move forward through processing.</p> Once all the specimens have been identified in the herbarium, the result is a spreadsheet with all relevant collection data for each specimen. The specimen data help place the specimen at a specific place in space and time. Collection data include the name(s) of the person or people who collected it and any other ecological, morphological, cultural or other notes the collector(s) may have made. The specimens and their associated collection data are then uploaded and available for view on our free, publicly available, online databases</a>.</p> Winter gives our scientists the time they need to sit down, make identifications, type up all the wonderful data they recorded over the field season and push it out onto the world wide web for all to see! </p> Check out the images below in the gallery. </strong>Figures 1, 2 and 3 show some example pages of a plant collection field notebook. There are reference sheets that show the collector how to use the field notebook, data sheets where they record the actual specimen data and a metadata dictionary at the back of the which defines all the terms used. Figure 4 shows an example of a more straight-forward fungal collection field notebook data sheet. These collection templates now exist in our digital field notebooks, so recording the data is a breeze. </p>
Now that I might have your attention, the answer is no way, no how! What I’m really talking about is new kinds of trees we can bring into our urban forests to make them more resilient in the face of the increasing challenges of the Front Range climate. Over the past decade, experts have recommended new tree species for the Denver area, but only a dozen or so trees we all know well continue to make up most new plantings. The pace of change is glacial. </p> To help move the needle a tiny bit, I’d like to highlight one tree species that I think could have a good future here—the blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica</em>). First, its name is really appealing, with a rather rakish and even outlaw connotation. It reminds me of casinos, of the hand-held weapon often carried by Dick Tracy’s criminal enemies, of that unusual anise-flavored chewing gum and of former First Lady Jackie O’s father John V. “Black Jack” Bouvier III, who was noted for drinking, gambling and philandering. (More on that last quality in a moment).</p> I’m also very fond of blackjack oak’s tough, leathery leaves, which unlike almost all oaks in temperate North America have a wedge shape, their widest point found at the slightly undulating, sometimes nearly blunt end. Being an oak it possesses longevity and the strength to tolerate snow loads. Having a relatively modest stature, it’s more suitable for smaller city properties than its taller brethren like the bur or northern red oaks. Perhaps even better for our area, blackjack oak handles drought and heat with ease and if asked will grow uncomplainingly in some of the poorest soils. I will admit, however, that it’s not the fastest-growing tree, but good things come to those who wait, no?</p> Now let’s talk about the all-important issue of the blackjack oak’s fall foliage color, one of the key factors in assessing a tree’s marketability. Renowned tree authority Dr. Michael Dirr gave the underwhelming review that its fall color is “at best yellow-brown, occasionally flashes of bronze-red.” However, many of my contacts in the Midwest, where the tree is a fairly common native, say it almost always colors pleasingly in the fall, from orange to red to purple. In support of their position, we now have the experience here of three blackjack oaks purchased in the spring of 2011 from a Missouri nursery for the Regis University Arboretum. Two of them have reliably displayed very bright red-orange fall color, and the third so far has had a refined maroon-wine color. </p> The foliage of the first two blackjack oaks—but not the third—has a mixture of leaf shapes, some with lateral lobes, which could indicate they are hybrids with another oak species such as black oak (Quercus velutina</em>). This is possible given that oaks are the biggest philanderers of the northern hemisphere temperate trees. Collecting acorns to grow pure species of oaks can be a daunting task because if there are several species in an area, they may eagerly interbreed (if I can be pardoned for attributing eagerness to trees) so the offspring may be surprisingly different from the seed parent. This can work to our advantage, though, as in the case of the two Regis trees where hybridity seems to have conferred on them not only greater vigor but also brighter fall color than the third one that has the purer genetics. For me both the pure species of blackjack and the hybrid deserve more planting in our region, and we shouldn’t shy away from exploiting the benefits many oak species provide with their philandering ways.</p> The ninth annual Tree Diversity Conference Friday, March 10. </strong>Learn more about attending the conference in person</a> or joining online</a>. </p> This article was contributed by Sonia John</strong>, chair of the organizing committee of the Tree Diversity Conference, a joint program of Denver Botanic Gardens and the University of Denver Arboretum.</em> </p>
In December I had the opportunity to participate in the United Nations Biodiversity Conference of the Parties COP15</a> in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Having engaged in the global conversation on plant conservation for several years, I was excited about the opportunity to attend the Biodiversity COP. At the meeting, dignitaries from across the globe gathered to finalize and adopt the Global Biodiversity Framework</a> (GBF). Negotiations focused on refining goals and targets as well as defining indicators to measure and monitor progress toward global biodiversity conservation. </p> I traveled with Director of Horticulture Phillip Douglas and we attended in the 7th summit on subnational governments and cities. The summit took place in parallel to the primary negotiations and while national delegates had much of the focus, mayors, governors and city governments across the globe shared the good progress they are making toward protecting biodiversity in their areas. </p> As representatives of the Gardens, we spent three days at COP15 listening and observing how the negotiations on the GBF proceeded and gathered ideas on how to enhance the impact and influence of the Gardens on a larger scale. </p> We connected with others from across the United States also in attendance representing their cities and organizations as well as met participants from around the world. We listened to talks on science and policy and immersed ourselves in the meeting. The National Geographic Society sponsored an immersive video exhibition highlighting the plight of biodiversity and inspiring visitors to take action. A large robotic plant created by Thijs Biersteker of Woven Studio</a> grew or wilted with the progress of negotiations each day, a fascinating visual representation of the challenges of such complicated negotiations.</p> The formal adoption of the GBF is a huge step toward slowing biodiversity loss on a global scale. There is now much work to do to implement its ambitious goals and targets. We returned home full of ideas for how to expand our reach both locally and globally. Hopefully our attendance is a step toward furthering collaborative ideas for the conservation of biodiversity in Denver. </p>
Imagine walking across the high plains desert, no water as far as the eye can see, the tumbleweeds and dust plumes kicked up by the wind the only movement in the landscape. Your path takes you across old concrete foundations that scar the land; reminders of a not-so-distant past. Then you spot it among the tangles of prairie grass and husks of dead trees, growing where nothing has any business being alive: a rose bush. </p> The film “Amache Rose” tells the story of this rose, planted 80 years ago by a prisoner at The Granada Relocation Center, or Camp Amache, the concentration camp in Granada, Colorado, that incarcerated Japanese Americans from 1942-1945. </p> This is the first film created by Denver Botanic Films®</span>, the new film department of Denver Botanic Gardens, and is based on archeologist Dr. Bonnie Clark’s work at Amache. Among the interviews in this short documentary are those of Amache survivors Carlene Tanigoshi Tinker and Minoru Tonai, who recount their experiences in the camp in the vast desert of southeast Colorado. “Amache Rose” has already been showcased in multiple film festivals, including the Denver Film Festival and the Nichi Bei Films of Remembrance Film Festival. </p> That these roses are still living in the high desert of Colorado without proper care or watering for the last 80 years is truly remarkable. Now Denver Botanic Gardens is caring for clippings of the rose in our greenhouses. In March 2022, the Amache National Historic Site Act was signed into law by President Biden, designating the site as part of the National Park System</a>. These are important steps in protecting the memory of Amache and sharing its story, so history does not repeat itself. </p> “Amache Rose” will be screened in the beautiful Sturm Family Auditorium in the Freyer – Newman Center. No additional tickets or reservations needed beyond admission to the Gardens. Check the film schedule</a> for the day of your next visit. </p> Watch the “Amache Rose” trailer</a>.</p> </p> This article was contributed by Film Director and Producer, Denver Botanic Films Billy Kanaly</strong>, who directed “Amache Rose.” </em></p> </p>
If you’ve wandered the wooded trails of Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms you may have noticed an innocuous rounded tent structure situated among the colorful flowers, the majestic Rocky Mountain foothills in the background. Maybe you’ve thought to yourself, “What the heck is that? A tent? A shed? An art installation?” It is, in fact, a yurt. “What’s a yurt?” you might ask, and the short answer is a rounded tent-like structure held up by a curved lattice wood frame and central beams. The longer answer, however, spans a history of nearly 3,000 years. </p> Yurt, also known as gers, were first built by the nomadic people of the central Asian steppes. The word yurt comes from the Turkic word referring to the imprint in the grass the tent leaves behind. Used for centuries as a reliable and easy-to-move housing unit, they became widespread throughout Mongolian and other central Asian horse cultures. Originally constructed out of stretched animal hides and a collapsible lattice framework, yurts could be broken down and moved easily from place to place. Not only did this allow for hunter-gathers to follow animal herds, it also allowed for warlords like Genghis Khan to quickly conquer most of Asia and parts of Europe. </p> Today they are still used most notably by the peoples of Mongolia, but they have also seen a surge in popularity across the United States. Now more commonly associated with hippies than warlords, they have become a popular housing alternative and offer a cozy and charming space. </p> Although a little more high-tech than its ancestors, equipped with AC to cool it in the summer and heat to warm it in the winter, our yurt is much the same—a charming alternative space for events or social gatherings. With room for up to 50 guests it’s a truly unique space for your next meeting or retreat and a private place get ready for a wedding. Surrounded by acres of gardens and farmland it also offers great opportunity to get away from the busyness of the office and reset in the stillness and peace of nature. </p> Inquire about reserving the yurt</a> for your event. </p>
Denver Botanic Gardens’ horticulture staff are frequently asked "What is there to see in winter?" The answer is "Plenty"! In addition to the bountiful winter-interest of dormant plants, persistent berries and coniferous cones and needles, there are also numerous indoor spaces to explore to satisfy your plant fix.</p> Immediately inside the lobby of the Boettcher Memorial Center </strong>you will find a beautifully designed planter filled with a variety of foliage plants. This space is a very low-light environment and can be a challenge for the horticulture team, but it also provides inspiration and ideas for visitors who struggle with similar low-light conditions in their own homes. Check back frequently to view new accent plants added for extra color.</p> At the west end of the Boettcher Memorial Center lobby, you will find the entrance to our largest indoor plant display – The Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory</strong>. Home to hundreds of plants, this space highlights tropical plants from around the world. Palms and bananas stretch to the ceiling while species philodendrons, anthuriums and other tropical wonders fill the understory. There is always something in bloom</a> so come back often to observe how the space evolves through the year.</p> At the west end of the Tropical Conservatory, you will enter Marnie’s Pavilion</strong>. Here you will find more tropical plants surrounding a dramatic waterfall and stream. This space is accented with orchids and bromeliads rotated into the space from our behind-the-scenes collection greenhouses. A new addition to this space is a terrarium filled with many forms of butterwort (Pinguicula</em> spp.)</a>, a group of carnivorous plants that trap insects on their sticky leaves. More carnivorous plants can be seen on display in cases just as you enter the Orangery.</p> From January 12 to February 20, the Orangery</strong> will be filled with blooming orchids. This year’s Orchid Showcase</a> highlights not only the diversity of the orchid family, but also the diversity of the people involved in orchid research and cultivation. January is also a wonderful time to enjoy the fragrance of the blooming citrus trees.</p> Don’t forget to visit the Cactus and Succulent House</strong> in the southwest corner of the Gardens. Hundreds of plant specimens are on display in this cozy space.</p> In addition to the numerous plant displays, you can also visit the art galleries in the Freyer – Newman Center </strong>(included with admission) and before you leave, stop by the Helen Fowler Library</strong> (free admission to the library for members and the general public) to check out a book or two so you can continue your plant exploration at home.</p>
