If dried flowers make you think of withered Miss Havisham and her decaying wedding dress, then it’s time to raise your expectations. Today’s dried flowers are nothing like the faded flowers worn by the jilted bride of Charles Dickens’s “Great Expectations.” They’re boldly combined, lushly textured and even colorful.</p> So, what’s changed? The floral industry has embraced dried plants as it’s pivoted to become more sustainable. When locally sourced and kept natural (not bleached or dyed), dried flowers have a smaller carbon footprint than fresh flowers that are flown in from overseas, refrigerated and displayed in non-biodegradable floral foam.</p> This has led to a surge in creativity. Floral artists are pushing the boundaries of display – adding dried flowers to fresh and wiring dried plant material to everything from hair combs to chandeliers. They’re also preserving flowers that were rarely dried before, from peony blooms to Smoke Bush plumes, and combining them in ways that take them beyond ordinary.</p> Consider the brown fronds of dried leatherleaf fern. Alone they may look ho-hum, but when spiraling around the edge of a wreath filled with Honesty seed heads and Chinese Lantern pods, they create energy. Or the fluffy heads of Pampas grass. By themselves, they could pass as feather dusters, but when wired with dried roses and allium seed heads onto chandeliers, they’re positively ethereal. </p>
Health and wellness used to be limited to physical strength and fitness, but our education team has been challenging that mindset and redefining programming in this sphere. The past two years have emphasized how essential caring for our mental health is, and how that can be further supported by moving our bodies to release endorphins. We have also realized in this ever-changing and stressful time how important it is to simply have fun! Inspired by these ideas, we redeveloped our programming to provide health and wellness in a more holistic way.</p> Studies show the positive impact nature has on our physical and mental wellbeing, which puts Denver Botanic Gardens in a unique position as our mission is to “connect people with plants.” We hope the Gardens will be a central component of your 2022 health and wellness journey and that our classes will help awaken your mind, body and spirit through our nature-based programming.</p> Here are six easy ways to create your own wellness adventure:</h4> Be as introspective or social as you like with our yoga, guided meditation walks, hiking and forest bathing programs. </li> Experience every aspect of personal wellness through music, body movement and an outdoor picnic during our summertime program Vinyasa, Violins and Vino.</li> Learn to make your own home remedies, teas and herbal salves and spices in the Herbalism Certificate Program or the shorter Ayurveda series.</li> Engage in the meditative aspects of Bonsai or Ikebana, while learning the principles of design, beauty and balance.Get excited about local produce and learn how to cook unique farmers market or CSA finds while reducing food waste with our virtual chef-led cooking series, Unboxed.</li> Take time to play in the dirt and watch life flourish from seed with our gardening programs designed for every skill level.</li> </ul> We've curated a list of health and wellness classes</a> for you; all you have to do is choose what works for you. As the definition of “wellness” expands, we invite you to reward yourself, try something new, eat something delicious and have fun!</p> This post was written by Sydney Goldade, adult education assistant manager, and Patricia Harvey, adult program coordinator. </em> </p>
The last couple of years have given many of us time for reflection. We have reconsidered where and how we spend our energy and time. For some there has been an opportunity to learn new things, to grow and change. Others have tried to go with the flow and get through each day as it comes. There are no clear agreed upon rules on how to get through difficult times. Perhaps, having grace and patience with each other is a good start. </p> At the Helen Fowler Library</a>, we strive to collect and make available books and other materials that connect all people with plants. This Black History Month, we have curated a list of titles in our collection</a>, for children and adults, that highlight the rich history of African Americans’ connection to the land, food, nature, gardening and agriculture. Unfortunately, much of Black history that has been taught or highlighted tends to focus on the trauma and not always the triumph, but understanding the past is crucial in planting seeds for future change. We hope you visit the library to check out some of these titles, learn something new, and reflect on your own history. </p> </picture> </div> </div> </article> Search the library collections online or visit in person. The library is located on the first floor of the Freyer – Newman Center for Science, Art and Education</a>. No appointment or entrance fee is required to visit. Become a Gardens member to check out these and other materials.</p> Adults and Young Adults</h3> “Bird Brother: A Falconer's Journey and the Healing Power of Wildlife” </strong>by Rodney Stotts “Black Faces, White Spaces” </strong>by Carolyn Finney “Black Landscapes Matter”</strong> edited by Walter Hood and Grace Mitchell Tada “Black on Earth: African American Ecoliterary Traditions” </strong>by Kimberly N. Ruffin “Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land”</strong> by Leah Penniman “High on the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa to America”</strong> by Jessica B. Harris “In the Shadow of Slavery: Africa’s Botanical Legacy in the Atlantic World”</strong> by Judith A. Carney and Richard Nicholas Rosomoff “Rooted in the Earth: Reclaiming the African American Environmental Heritage” </strong>by Dianne D. Glave “Vegan Soul Kitchen: Fresh, Healthy, and Creative African-American Cuisine”</strong> by Bryant Terry “Working the Roots: Over 400 Years of Traditional African-American Healing” </strong>by Michele E. Lee</p> Children’s Books</h3> “Bring Me Some Apples and I’ll Make You a Pie: A Story About Edna Lewis” </strong>by Robbin Gourley “Circle Unbroken” </strong>by Margot Theis Raven “Harlem Grown: How One Big Idea Transformed a Neighborhood”</strong> by Tony Hillery “In the Garden with Dr. Carver”</strong> by Susan Grigsby “Layla’s Happiness” </strong>by Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie “Lola Plants a Garden”</strong> by Anna McQuinn “My Hair is a Garden” </strong>by Cozbi A. Cabrera </p>
Did you know that Chatfield Farms</a> has two herb gardens? For years we had a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) herb garden and a Denver Botanic Gardens Guild</a> production garden. After years of working their herb garden, the CSA relinquished its prime spot in front of the Hildebrand house in 2024. The horticulture team took over management of this space and the Guild took over maintenance. </p> In the fall of 2024, I started developing some concepts for a new herb garden. This new garden needed to serve multiple purposes, including producing herbs for the Guild, creating a learning space for our Education Department, and enriching the guest experience. We wanted it to retain a kitchen garden feel, befitting its location right outside the historical homestead.</p> I met with the Guild at the end of 2024, and they generously donated funds for this new project. Earlier this year, we finalized the design and got bids for construction. By April, we were demolishing the old, tired row herbs in favor of raised beds and accessible pathways. We partnered with a company called Earth Love Gardens</a> to install our new raised beds. They specialize in permaculture and edible gardens. </p> On May 28, members of the Guild, Aaron Michael (owner of Earth Love Gardens) and some of Denver Botanic Gardens’ staff came together to install all the plant material. We planted more than 1,500 plants! With another generous donation of planter pots and a beautiful bench from one of our volunteers, we were able to create a destination garden where anyone can browse our herbs, take a rest and enjoy Hildebrand Ranch gardens. </p>
