Rocky Mountain Gardening Required Course Group II

Study the native ecosystems of Colorado that range from plains grasslands to the alpine tundra, mountain meadows to sub-alpine forests. Learn to gauge your elevation and location by looking at the plant communities around you and explore the complex relationships between the plants and wildlife of Colorado.

Price: $88, $78 member

Instructor: Sheridan Samano

The arrangement of line, shape and color in artwork is itself an art form. The difference between a pleasant picture and amazing artwork is often found in composition. This course begins with a study of recognized masters and contemporary illustrators. Learn how to use compositional elements and principles in your botanical illustration. Create your own thumbnail compositions and develop insight and expertise to enhance your future illustrations.

No prerequisites.

Fee: $260 member, $310 non-member.

Date(s): Mon, Sep. 16, 23, 30, Oct. 14, 21, 1-4 p.m.

Instructor: Marjorie Leggitt

Date(s): Fri-Sun, Oct. 25-27, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Instructor: Marjorie Leggitt

By spring, the food reserves were running low and prairie families were eager for the return of spring and fresh greens. On the wood stove in the McClean Soddy at the Plains Conservation Center, we make a common winter dinner of root vegetable stew, cornbread and apple pie. Recipes and all supplies provided. Appropriate for adults and children ages 12 and up.

Price:  Member $20, Non-member $24

Location: Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013

Wind your way through seven acres of corn. The maze can be viewed from two 15-foot tall illuminated bridges. Visitors under the age of 10 can explore the mini-maze.

In an effort to reduce waste, printed maps will not be available at the mazes.

Tickets include one hayride, barrel train ride (for children 12 and under) and unlimited jumping on a giant pillow. Pony rides and hamster balls are available for an additional fee. An array of food vendors sell favorite fall foods such as funnel cakes, hotdogs, freshly squeezed lemonade and kettle corn.

Last entry and ticket sold at 5 p.m. Events close at 6 p.m.

Members receive complimentary admission tickets based on membership level and may use them Sept. 20-22 or Sept. 27-29. Online ticket redemption is required. 

Membership Levels

Individual and Individual Plus: 2 complimentary tickets

Friends & Family: 6 complimentary tickets

Gardens Plus and above: 8 complimentary tickets

Tickets are date specific and non-refundable.

Event is rain, snow or shine.

Pumpkin Festival is Oct. 11-13. Discounted Corn Maze tickets can be added for an additional $8 per adult or child and may be purchased online when you purchase Pumpkin Festival tickets.

PLEASE NOTE: The weekend of Pumpkin Festival, Oct. 11-13, you will need to purchase a ticket to the Pumpkin Festival to gain entry to Corn Maze.

Come learn how to take your master outdoor gardening skills to the next level and extend your growing season and increase your green thumb skills. Is the next step in your horticulture experience maintaining a greenhouse? Before building or buying a greenhouse, learn the benefits and the liabilities of owning a greenhouse.

In this class participants will experience everything they ever wanted to know about building or buying a greenhouse, but were afraid to ask. The purpose of this class is to cover the true costs of owning a hobby greenhouse and let participants determine if a greenhouse is really something you really need.

Price: $31, $26 members

Instructor: Thaddeus Gourd attended New Mexico State University where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Pest Management and Horticulture. He earned a Master’s Degree with thesis study in Entomology at New Mexico State University and a Ph.D. in Plant Pathology with emphasis on plant parasitic nematodes at North Carolina State University. Thaddeus has worked over 19 years in the private sector of the plant science business and since 2000, has worked at Colorado State University Extension as an Agriculture Agent and Director for Adams County. He has extensive experience of horticulture, gardening, weed science, entomology, plant pathology and greenhouse management and has been involved in the practice of Integrated Pest Management for over 30 years.

Dead Zone Scream Park includes admission into Corn Stalkers Haunted Maze and After Dark Maze. Recommended for ages 13 and up.

*Masks and costumes are not permitted on the premises.

*Tickets are date specific and non-refundable.

*Event is rain, snow or shine.

Fridays & Saturdays, Oct. 4-26

7-11 p.m.

Thursdays, Oct. 17 & 24

7-10 p.m.

Sundays, Oct. 13, 20 & 27

7-10 p.m.

Gates open at 7 p.m. End times listed are last ticket sold. Events close 1 hour after time listed.

Margaret Mee began her painting expeditions in the Amazon in the 1950s. Her beautiful botanicals are her legacy to rainforest education and conservation. Learn about her remarkable story and work as you direct your painting skills to bromeliads. Focus on leaves for composition, form, color, pattern and shine. Refine your skills at washes, as they will form the foundation for your finished botanical plate that follows in the footsteps of Margaret Mee.

Prerequisite: Botanical Illustration in Watercolor I.

Fee: $260 member, $310 non-member.

Date(s): Mon, Oct. 21, 28, Nov. 4, 11, 18, 6-9 p.m.

Instructor: Constance Sayas

Botanical artist Harriet Isabel Adams (1863-1952), member of the Botanical Society of the British Isles, fellow of the Linnean Society and a graduate of the Birmingham School of Art, produced and published a full and expressive body of botanical art. Isabel’s drawings and illustrations were developed out of the Arts and Crafts movement, including distinctive lettering for labeling. Learn about the artist’s working style and practice her techniques. Plan to sketch throughout the Gardens and finish with a botanical plate drawn in graphite and enhanced with color.

Fee: $265 member, $315 non-member.

Prerequisite: Botanical Illustration in Watercolor Pencil I.

Date(s): Wed, Oct. 23, 30, Nov. 6, 13, 20, 6-9 p.m.

Instructor: Renee Jorgensen

Rocky Mountain Gardening Required Course Group I

Ecology is the study of interactions in nature. It seeks to understand the relationship between organisms to their environment and to each other. Successful gardening involves understanding and applying these principles. Basic principles of ecology will be explored in relationship to conditions in the Rocky Mountain region. Current environmental issues of the region will also be considered.

Price: $91, $81 member

Instructor: Sheridan Samano

Using fountain pens is a wonderfully different and relaxing way to write and draw, especially when combined with nature! This course will teach you the basics of using and maintaining a fountain pen. You will also have an opportunity to sample various types of pens, paper and ink to help you decide which you prefer. You’ll even receive a fountain pen and notebook that are yours to keep! Open to all skill levels. Lecture style class with a hands-on portion that allows students to try out different fountain pens, inks and papers.

Price: $49, $45 member

Instructor: John Bosley is a professional photographer in Denver, CO. He is also a long-time collector of fountain pens and is the creator of FountainPenLove.com, a site dedicated to people who love using, collecting and learning about fountain pens.

Looking for an amazing place to practice your yoga skills, how about the beautiful Denver Botanic Gardens?

Vinyasa yoga weaves beautiful movement with challenging postures, and cultivates a sense of peace and calm by the end of each yoga class. Practicing vinyasa yoga on a daily basis can improve posture, flexibility, and endurance. Beyond the physical benefits, yoga helps to bring a sense of clarity to challenging situations in life, reminds us to stay present and focused in an ever-changing environment, and can help us find happiness and contentment in our surroundings.

The postures practiced in this challenging class will promote alignment, flexibility, focus, endurance and help detoxify the body.

Instructor: Blake Burger

Skill level: All levels welcome

Price: $12, $10 members

Special Instructions: Please bring a mat, a towel and water. Walk-ins are welcome for members or non-members! Please bring cash if possible but credit cards are also accepted. This class will be located in the Morrison Center (north end of the Children's Garden).

Photo: Perfecto Insecto (Flickr)

Explore the cultural traditions of Día de los Muertos as you create a Día de los Muertos-themed miniature nicho planter decorated with traditional representations of the holiday. Nichos are small, hand-made three-dimensional display boxes used to display lovingly crafted scenarios and are often used as a remembrance to an important figure or loved one. Families are encouraged to bring photos of loved ones to include in their nicho. Materials provided are appropriate for children ages 5 and up. Preregistration is required.

Family Make and Take programs offer a space for children and their grownups to connect with natural materials and create together. These self-guided and self-paced programs are designed to provide a creative environment that sparks imagination. The Gardens provides the space and supplies. You and your family provide the ideas and creativity!

Price: $15 per project fee non-members; $12 per project fee members. Each project fee includes one nicho box, plant and access to a variety of natural and manmade materials to use for decoration.

Special Instructions: Entrance to this program is through the Morrison Gate located at 11th Ave. and York St. To access the Morrison Discovery Center, you will exit the parking garage on the York Street side at level two and then follow the sidewalk (do not cross the street) north towards 11th Avenue. Just past the vehicle entrance of the parking garage is an iron gate. You will enter through the gate. The Morrison Discovery Center Classroom is located in the building on your left. The gate will be unlocked and open beginning at 5:30pm.

Embrace the changing seasons and create a wreath using natural garden materials. From colorful dried leaves to pine cones we will have an abundance of materials on hand for you to explore as you decorate a wreath to make a one of a kind seasonal creation. Materials provided are appropriate for children ages 5 and up. Preregistration is required.

Family Make and Take programs offer a space for children and their grownups to connect with natural materials and create together. These self-guided and self-paced programs are designed to provide a creative environment that sparks imagination. The Gardens provides the space and supplies. You and your family provide the ideas and creativity!

Price: $15 per project fee non-members; $12 per project fee members. Each project fee includes one undecorated wreath form and access to a variety of natural and manmade materials to use for decoration.

Explore the chocolate tree and its celebrated history. Follow the journey of a cacao bean and discover how chocolate is made. Join us and create a box of delicious chocolate treats to take home. This workshop is designed for families with children ages 5-10.

Workshops offer families a hands-on guided opportunity to learn about the science and enchantment behind the plants in our everyday lives. Workshops include a guided garden exploration and hands on projects for grownups and children to create together while exploring the natural world.

Price: $12 non-member adult, $10 member adult; $17 non-member child, $15 member child. Pre-registration is required and class size is limited.

Presented and Managed by the City of Aurora

Discover Aurora's true nature under the light of the full moon and learn a little about its history with this guided nature hike.

The City of Aurora's Parks, Recreation & Open Space department's mission is to encourage active lifestyles and create healthy environments for people, nature and community.

Dates: October 13, 2019 at 6 p.m. and February 9, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Price: $5

Location: Plains Conservation Center, 21901 E. Hampden Avenue, Aurora, CO 80013 Phone 303-326-8380

Immerse yourself in the Gardens with a horticulturist as your guide. Gain insight into living museum collections and walk away with gardening tips from an expert. Please note that every tour has its own emphasis and is led by a different horticulturist.

July 25, 9:30 a.m.: Medicinal plants with Blake Burger, specialty horticulturist

September 10, 11 a.m.: Bonsai with Larry Jackel, bonsai specialist

February 6, 2 p.m.: Orchids with Nick Snakenberg, curator of tropical collections and associate director of horticulture

Price: $17, $15 member

Special instructions: Tours can be both indoors and outdoors; dress accordingly for the weather. Water, sunscreen and sunglasses are recommended. Please bring booking confirmation. Meet guide in the lobby of the Boettcher Memorial Center after entering through the Gardens main entrance. Tours are one hour long.

Notes: Prices include admission to the Gardens. Tours with low registration are subject to cancellation. These tours are not available for private parties.

Denver Botanic Gardens dares you to join us after dark! At our annual Ghosts in the Gardens Tours, our guides will lead you through one of four separate ghost tours. Each tour guide will tell haunting stories of the Gardens' one hundred years of history and illustrate points of interest inside and outside what used to be called The Boneyard. Each tour will be unique and subjects will include actual staff ghost stories, real overnight security staff ghost encounters, and intriguing history (including access to the Waring House Mansion that is not open to the public). So conjure your courage and capture your fear as you walk our dark paths after hours and dare the night, here at Denver Botanic Gardens' Ghosts in the Gardens Tours.

Pricing $34, $29 member

Special Instructions:

Be prepared for a lot of walking outdoors and indoors.

Dress accordingly for the weather.

Children 12-years old and older are welcomed. This tour is not recommended for younger children.

Children are the responsibility of their parents at all times.

Part of the tour (the Waring House) is not wheelchair accessible.

**Gift memberships take up to 72 hours to be activated. Please allow 7-10 business days for the gift packet to be mailed to your gift recipient. Only memberships purchased on or before December 12th are guaranteed delivery prior to December 25th.**

If you are renewing a gift membership click here

1 membership card (Only valid for named card holder)

1 person admitted per visit (card holder)

Advance ticketing for Summer Concert Series (Day 5)

2 complimentary tickets to Blossoms of Light at York Street

3 one-time use guest passes

Entry to our Member Mornings where the Gardens are open just to members

Subscription to the Gardens' quarterly printed magazine

Receipt of our monthly Botanic Buzz e-newsletter

Spend a fun morning crafting enchanting gifts to delight friends and family. Make and take home chocolate delights including delicious chocolate nut clusters and irresistible chocolate dipped candied ginger and orange peel. Learn how to make spicy/sweet cocktail nuts, a soothing lavender lip balm, a pressed-flower glass candle holder and pot up some narcissus for fragrant blooms. We ll have chai tea and scones to keep that creative juice going. Recipes and all materials included. Treat yourself!

Price: $59, $54 member

Instructor: Susan Evans

Be a green Girl Scout! Learn about ways to save energy, explore water-smart garden plants, create reusable items, and plant an air-purifying house plant to take home with you. This program is designed for Brownie level Girl Scouts.

Scout Exploration Days offer scout troops the opportunity to explore plant-based themes through a variety of hands-on activities and take-home projects. Each Exploration Day offers several activity stations set up throughout the Gardens for groups to explore. Pack a picnic lunch and make a day of it!

Price: $12 per scout (includes admission to the Gardens). One adult (troop leader or parent) for every five scouts is admitted free of charge. Additional adults and non-participating siblings pay $7. Non participating siblings do not participate in the take home activities. If siblings want to participate please purchase a scout ticket.

Special Instructions: To accommodate a larger number of scouts and improve your group's experience we are offering 2 admission times. Activity stations will be available to your group from the admission time you choose until 2:00pm.

Activity stations will be located outdoors. On colder days or days with inclement weather programs will utilize the indoor spaces of the Gardens. We recommend the scouts dress in layers and bring a hat, water bottle and sunscreen with them. You will receive an email with check in information a few days before your scheduled visit.

Scout Exploration Day Refund Policy: Cancellations more than one week prior to the scheduled program are subject to a 15% cancellation fee. Cancellations with less than one week’s notice are non-refundable.