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Theme Gardens

 Hours/Location
orange and yellow roses

Year opened: 2018

The Theme Gardens are a collection of five specialty gardens including Rose, Fragrance, Plant Select, Moon and Butterfly & Hummingbird.

Featuring:

  • Plant Select was designed by Loretta Mannix and is a non-profit collaboration of Colorado State University, Denver Botanic Gardens and professional horticulturists whose goal is to create smart plant choices for a new American landscape inspired by the Rocky Mountain region. Among other characteristics, plants chosen for this garden flourish with less water, remain tough and resilient in challenging climates, provide one-of-a-kind, long-lasting beauty, and resist disease and insects. Learn more about the Plant Select program here.

  • The Fragrance Garden was designed by Tonya Dunn and adapted to our site by Sherry Fuller. The design showcases fragrant flowers or foliage whose scent may be stronger in the morning, during the heat of the day or in the evening. Some of the plants may require you to get very close to detect the scent, while others may be picked up as you enter. The raised-bed design of the garden helps make experiencing the fragrances easier and more comfortable for people of all abilities.

  • The Moon Garden was designed by Anne Clark and adapted to our site by Sherry Fuller. It is a garden to be experienced at dusk and night time. The intent is to highlight plants that look luminous in the moonlight, featuring plants with white or light petals, and fragrant species that attract nocturnal pollinators. These pollinators are a whole different set than those most commonly seen throughout the day.

  • The Rose Garden was designed by former Gardens on Spring Creek director Michelle Provaznik, who reflected on her own history with roses, which have woven their way through all stages of her life. The roses are separated into three different beds by type—hybrid teas, grandifloras and floribundas, and miniatures—as is typical in formal rose gardens. However, this garden is a bit different from traditional ones because the roses have been combined with complementary perennials, grasses and vines.

  • The Hummingbird & Butterfly Garden was designed by Sally Guthart to attract, feed and shelter hummingbirds and butterflies and to be a place where people can connect with nature. An informal pathway cuts through the garden dividing it into separate island beds. These beds can be viewed from all sides, giving visitors an immersive experience. The garden provides a beautiful, sustainable, four-season display bursting with color and life.