“When the world wearies and society fails to satisfy, there is always the garden.” — Minnie Aumonier
While there’s satisfaction to be found in our gardens, visiting public gardens can inspire and soothe. Here are a few to visit in Colorado Springs and some a bit farther afield.
• Horticultural Arts Society: The Horticultural Art Society of Colorado Springs (HAS) is a nonprofit supported by membership dues, proceeds from annual plant sales and other activities. It was founded in 1962 by local horticulturalists. The Demonstration Garden (222 Mesa Road) showcases selections from Plant Select and is a display garden for All-America Selections. HAS Children’s Garden (north of the Demonstration Garden) was presented to the city of Colorado Springs in September 2019. HAS Heritage Garden (1117 Glen Ave.) features parterre with thyme garden decorated with Van Briggle tiles and Lorelei Vase sculpture. HAS Pinetum (adjacent to Colorado College tennis courts) features unusual nondeciduous trees.
• Colorado Springs Utilities created two gardens that demonstrate water-wise plants and design. The Conservation and Environmental Center (2855 Mesa Road, overlooking Garden of the Gods) features Colorado-style Cottage Garden, Crevice Garden and Neighborhood mini gardens that showcase ideas for creating your waterwise garden. Second location is at Cottonwood Creek Park (3920 Dublin Blvd.).
• El Paso County Extension Native Plant Demonstration Garden (17 N. Spruce St.) boasts a pollinator garden, very low-water garden, low maintenance/low-water shrub garden, fire- resistant garden and native grasses.
• Denver Botanic Gardens offers two options. The York Street location (1007 York St.) presents a wide range of gardens and collections on 24 acres. The gardens reflect an ever-widening diversity of plants from all corners of the world. Denver Botanic Gardens and Cheesman Park are designated as birding hot spots on Cornell University’s worldwide eBird community science website. The Chatfield Farms (8580 West Deer Creek Canyon Road), managed in cooperation with the Army Corps of Engineers, is a 700-acre plant refuge and working farm, dating to the 1800s.
• Garden on Spring Creek (Fort Collins) is a 12-acre botanic garden opened in 2004. It is a partnership between the city of Fort Collins and Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek. The mission is to “Enrich the lives of people and foster environmental stewardship through horticulture.”
• Betty Ford Alpine Gardens (Vail) is the only botanic garden in North America dedicated to protecting alpine environments through education, conservation and living plant collections. Its natural paths are ADA accessible, and there is an education center.
• Yampa River Botanic Park (Steamboat Springs) features ponds and 63 gardens, including Fairy Garden and Crevice Garden. It’s free to the public May 1 to Oct. 31.
Submit gardening questions to csumg2@elpasoco.com or call 719-520-7684. The in-person help desk is open 9 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Visit elpaso.extension.colostate.edu and register for upcoming classes at epcextension.eventbrite.com.