Denver Botanic Gardens

The Denver Botanic Gardens is a public botanical garden located in Denver, Colorado. The park contains a huge variety of theme gardens, an orangery, an amphitheater, which hosts numerous concerts in the summer, as well as a conservatory. The Botanical Gardens consist of two diverse locations, namely York Street in Denver and Chatfield Farms in Littleton, with both being truly enchanting places hosting thousands of different species of plants.

York Street

A wide range of gardens and ever-widening diversity of plants is presented on 23 acres at York Street. The Gardens of the West consist of 17 arid gardens showing plants that thrive in Colorado's climate, among which are the Cactus and Succulent House, the Green Roof, and the Ornamental Grasses Garden. Moreover, guests may want to visit the Internationally Inspired Gardens: Garden designs and plant selections from Japan, China, South Africa and the Tropics can as much be paid a visit as the Ornamental Gardens.

You are into roses, daylilies and irises? The Romantic Gardens, Lilac Garden and the Victorian Secret Garden, for instance, are full of colors to enjoy. Last but not least there are the Shady Gardens and Water Gardens. While the latter is home to aquatic plant collections, such as waterlilies, lotus and canna at the Four Towers Pool and Monet Pool, Shady Gardens provide fantastic spots to linger on warm, sunny days. Apart from the Birds and Bees Walk, there are also Oak Grove, Shady Lane and Woodland Mosaic to be looked at.

Chatfield Farms

Denver Botanic Gardens Chatfield Farms is located along the banks of Deer Creek in southern Jefferson County. This part of the Botanic Garden is a 700-acre working farm and refuge for native plants. It is home to numerous wildflower gardens, the Deer Creek Discovery children's play area, nature trails and plenty of other facilities. In addition, the area is popular among all age groups and generations, as it is known for outstanding bird watching.

The Gardens at Chatfield include Agriculture Past & Present with its Herb Garden, Market Garden, Cut Flower Garden, the Pumpkin Patch, and many, many more. The Gardens for the West house the Lavender Garden and Prairie Garden. On top of that, there is the Deer Creek Natural Area, which is home to the Kim Sterne Survival Garden, the Riparian Demonstration Garden and the Carol Gossard Native Plant Garden, the latter of which is composed of plants native to Colorado: More than 40 species of wildflowers, grasses and woody plants are featured.

Denver approved the charter for a future botanical garden in February 1951. Just one year after, the Denver Botanical Gardens became a reality on 100 acres in City Park. Unfortunately, botanists were forced to move the Gardens in 1958 to a more protected property, as, during the night, people would trample and steal their flowers.

Eventually, the Gardens were moved to York Street between 9th and 11th Street, where an old cemetery was being removed, which means that the Gardens were built over many of the dead who hadn't been removed, yet. Planting on the new site started in 1959. Today, on these 23 acres is where the Denver Botanic Gardens can be found.

Located in the Cheesman Park neighborhood of Denver, Colorado, the botanical garden is easy to reach by public transport (Bus 10, 15 & 24).

From Denver International Airport head north on Peña Blvd, take E 84th Ave to Peña Blvd and continue on Peña Blvd to Aurora. Take exit 9 from I-225 S and continue on E 6th Ave. Take E Lowry Blvd, E 6th Ave Pkwy and 8th Ave to York St in Denver. Limited free parking is available in the Botanical Gardens' parking complex between York and Josephine streets. There is also street parking available in Cheesman Park.