Denver Botanic Gardens - October visit

Yesterday the sun came out and I headed over to the Botanic Gardens for a quick visit before school pickup times. Here are a few photos: 

This is the season that ornamental grasses really dominate the garden! They all have an amazing texture but I found a new one that was really unique- see the next image: 

This grass is Autumn Embers Muhly Grass and it's like sinking your hands into a soft porcupine! It has this amazing airy texture and a pink cast! I found this at the end of the main perennial border- near the fountains. 

The roses and the dahlias were wonderful- the roses smell amazing and the cool weather we have been having has not dampened their spirits!  
I have some amazing dahlias at home and this reminds me that this year my goal is to dig up their tubers. See here for a great how to guide: 
​http://www.gardeners.com/how-to/how-to-grow-dahlias/7125.html

The gardens are getting ready for their Dia de los Muertos event! Here is an arch of marigolds that they have made. We went to the first 2 years that they hosted the event (which this year is Nov 1st) and it was a wonderful cultural learning experience for our children with dancing, music, food and crafts. I highly recommend attending as they take it up a notch every year! Make sure you come in costume! 

This is the Potager. Which is a fancy word that makes vegetable gardens sexy. Just because. I realized half way thru my visit to the gardens that I was walking fast and that I was walking fast to get here. Next time I will just make a bee line to Le Potager and then wander the other gardens once I've had my fill.  This garden is a delight, and not just because I am a huge fan of stone. But they have used so much stone in this layout- from the walkways to the stone edger, stone seatwalls....it defines the space so well and makes the garden a year round destination. The seat walls and well placed benches give you permission to linger, sitting down to get closer to the plants. The use of boxwood as a short hedge helps organize the planting beds and brings in 4 season continuity. Pots are a must- I insist on those in my garden designs for mint and other herbs- like rosemary and bay (so they are portable in the late fall to bring inside). 

Look at the Giant Elephant Amaranth! Here with Dill. 

Artichoke bordered with boxwood, I love the contrasting foliage! 

Parting shot from this short garden visit: Bird of Paradise by the Offshoots Cafe. You can see how it's in the bean family :) 
The Denver Botanical Gardens are a year round resource for our community, I highly recommend a visit!