Denver Botanic Gardens

Beyond our expectations! Very large gardens, beautiful and interesting. Parking was very easy but a bit busy in the morning. The artwork intermixed with the gardens were very nice as well. It was nice to sit on a bench and watch the Koi and dragonflies at the pond. Be sure to climb up the treehouse to see all of the beautiful tropical plants and flowers.

Lovely place! I think anyone would enjoy being able to just walk through and enjoy the beautiful surroundings and lovely layouts of the different garden areas (which have been very well planned, with lots of interesting hardscaping), but it’s even better if you’re actually interested in plants. :)
The eremurus were currently in full bloom everywhere and were absolutely stunning! I also especially enjoyed getting to see (and smell the stench of) the dragon arums. The tiny Victorian secret garden was a real delight. I was very interested in the unusual types of digitalis growing throughout the garden, and I also enjoyed seeing how plain old ponderosa pines had been shaped and kept controlled to create an authentic-​feeling Asian tea garden.
I had an agua fresca at one of the food area. It was very good, and the whole menu sounded amazing.
The only reason I took off a star is that I was a bit disappointed to find that the most unusual plants usually had no signs, or had signs that belonged to other plants. .. and of the ten or so volunteers and staff members that I stopped to ask about plant names, not a single one was able to tell me the name of the specific plant in their area that I was asking about.
Still, a very enjoyable way to spend the morning! I bought a «Denver Daisy» (a rudbeckia that had been especially chosen to commemorate Denver’s 100^th anniversary) in the Garden store as a souvenir to take home.

The atmosphere is very relaxed and it was interesting but im not exactly a plant enthusiast so i just found it like a nice stroll in the park.

The botanical gardens were very lovely and there were lots of benches and shaded areas to stop and get out of the heat. I especially loved the Chihuly statue because I love all things Chihuly. Most of all, I appreciate the volunteer at the help desk that gave me as many naproxen as I wanted so that I could battle back my migraine and enjoy the afternoon. She was so sweet and kind and made my day!

A wonderful place to visit. The exhibitions are breathtaking and beautifully displayed. My low score was based on the fact that during our visit a quick storm popped up with lightening. We were at a food station when the occurred. We were told to leave that building. Again lightening! When we moved to a covered area by the pizza oven, which was not working yesterday, we were again told we couldn’t stay there. We were trying to avoid being under trees because of lightning. We were treated with insensitively regarding the severity of the weather. We left shortly thereafter but felt disappointed that a place so dedicated to the preservation of living plants did not feel it should be extended to humans. The storm was not long and it would’ve have inconvenienced the staff long to provide cover.

This is such a gorgeous, glimmering, rainbow-​lush place. You can spend hours getting lost among the various gardens and trails between and within each. There are Asian gardens and ones of brilliant colors. I took the best pictures here of all. I wish I could spend more time looking at the names of all the exotic creatures that Mother Earth has grown. I think I could come here a dozen or more times and not get bored. It is definitely a must-​see in Colorado. The gift shop is also really lovely, and everyone is so nice. I would not say the place is as huge as some of the gardens and arboretums I have explored in California or Ohio, but much is packed within the space they have. Just a side-​note that really doesn’t have to do with this review… we saw a sign for a «Tornado Shelter» here. Does Denver get that many tornados?!

Love this place! A beautiful way to kill a few sunny afternoon hours. It was partially under construction during my visit but the gardens were stunning and I couldn’t help snapping a bunch of photos for inspiration. Nice, helpful staff, indoor restrooms and even two places to grab a snack! Appears kid friendly, too.

What a gorgeous place. I feel like there’s so much we didn’t even explore its so huge! Be sure to get a map so you don’t miss out. I saw people
Tucked away on random benches having lunch and relaxing, artists out there painting, so much to see and do. There’s a great kid area, however it’s just as rad
For adults. If you’re in Denver and have good weather, don’t pass this place by!!!

Denver’s Botanical Garden is well designed, serene, and beautiful. It is a great way to spend a morning or afternoon in Denver. The layout is quite easy to navigate. Paths meander and bring you into different themed garden areas. Be sure see the assorted sculptures that are located throughout the garden. There is a Chihuly «Colorado» sculpture which is located in southeast corner of the garden adjacent to the Waring House. The sculpture is over 14 feet tall and includes 1,017 hand-​blown glass pieces. The sculpture is quite colorful with orange, red, and yellow rods that jut out. A very significant piece. Every corner you turn you see interesting displays of plant palettes. Most are accompanied by signage describing the particular plant. The garden is an oasis from the city noises and chaos. It is truly a lovely garden. There are also many water features throughout the property. My personal favorite exhibit was the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory. The tropical plant atmosphere and small waterfall is blended well within the interior design of the conservatory.
The garden is a great place for children to learn and enjoy. They have a specific garden for children. There are paths for wheelchairs as well.
Tip: Stop for a bite to eat at the Hive Garden Bistro for some excellent sandwiches and pizza. The setting is quite nice as it overlooks the Monet Pool.

b e a u t i f u l.
Very nice gardens, and if you’re a student you get a discount, so bring your IDs!
I enjoyed the layout of all the different gardens, it had a nice flow. They also have a gift shop. VERY pricey but pretty. I would definitely go again!

Nice gardens, even in the snowstorm going on when we saw it. It would have been nice, however, to have been informed before we bought the tickets that there was a wedding reception that took over most of the inside spaces as well as the bonsai section being closed. I didn’t feel like we got our money’s worth.
My visit last summer was much better, although they had a section closed off then, too. They should discount the tickets if they are going to rent out a chunk of the place and restrict it to private parties.

I read great reviews for this place and saw some amazing pictures. The botanical garden was easy to find and they have their own lot. We actually passed the lot but was able to park on a street a two minute walk away so it was really convenient. Ticket prices were fair.
The Garden was very pretty. There’s a lot of variety when it came to different flowers and plants as well as environments. There are many sections to walk through!
The only downside was that we went in early May when a lot of the Garden is being reseeded and a lot of beautiful areas have not yet bloomed. I also expected to see my glass features (Chihuly-​like) but only found one or two. Maybe we didn’t look hard enough… I definitely want to come back again when everything is full and bloomed.

Note to self: Only visit the Botanic Gardens when you’re 100% certain that spring has sprung. Otherwise, you’ll have to put on your imagination hats to pretend like there’s budding plants and flowers.
Even though I went in April, it was still a snow-​free afternoon. And it was quite lovely despite the lack of foliage and blooms. The Climatron is set up for year-​round enjoyment under the glass and sun. The heat felt pretty darn good on a 60-​degree day. I also enjoyed the exotic frog collection, aka a small aquarium outside the Climatron that hosts some neon/​black tree frogs.
Walking around outside was fine. The fountains weren’t yet on and again, most of the exhibits were barren, but it was nice to stroll through the areas and get pumped up for the warmer months and returning for another visit. I especially enjoyed peeking through the exterior fences at the mansions right outside the gardens. Because there weren’t any leaves to block our view, it made for extra fun spying.
Give it another few weeks and the Botanic Gardens will be hoppin’, just like every outdoor space in Denver proper. When it’s a beautiful day, we like to go out and play.

My first time was when I took my husband and my daughter on a surprise outing in April. Even though the season wasn’t the best time for blooms it was a really amazing place. The architecture of the different gardens where gorgeous.
My husband’s favorite place was the herb garden, and I have to agree it made me hungry and desiring fresh foods made with herbs from here.
Our experience was great! The kids garden on top the parking garage was also very impressive. However, I will say they didn’t keep it very clean. There were fabric bits, Wood chips and other kid toys all over. It didn’t seem well kept, yet there were plenty of staff manning the front desk. That was disappointing because it looked a bit trashy.
This is the first year my 7 year old has displayed allergies. I didn’t know how bad it was until we went here. I guess this isn’t the best place to take a person with allergies. But with a bit of Cleratin we will go again, it’s too beautiful not to.

This place was magical. I was kind of annoyed that it was 12.50 $ a person to get in, but then quickly realized why.
First of all, if you go an hour before close you get half off** note to you who isn’t going to be studying the plants.
We got in and were quickly amazed by all the assortment of plant varieties, garden sculptures, layout and more. It was so so beautiful and inspiring. I want to redo my whole garden this very moment. !!
Go and see. You’ll leave feeling inspired too.

I love this Denver landmark!
Located in one of the oldest and haunted (infamous Cheesman Park district) —
It has come a long way in the last 10 – 15 years — If your going to visit Denver this needs to be on your list —
Make sure you set at least 4 hours aside to enjoy the full experience, and wear comfortable shoes for all the walking-​) We just happen to show up on a free day and didn’t realize it–
(Bonus) !!!
We begin with my top five gardens outside, working our way to the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory–
(Awarded in 1966 to establish this Landmark Status 1973!!)
My daughter is into Japanese culture, so of course we had to see the International inspired gardens first on our list — Inside the Shofu-​en Japanese garden «Garden of pine and wood»
You can feel the essence of the the Rocky Mountains,
designed by Japanese Artist Koichi Kawana–
And inside the Ella Mullen Weckbaugh Tea House — It’s tranquility is almost as if you forgot where you are in this peaceful environment– My favorite was the Scripture garden —
There is so much to see here I can’t describe in words how beautiful all the gardens are but you should stop off at The shop at the Gardens gift shop for a memory of the wonderful experience–

This is a beautiful garden situated in Denver. It’s not that big, but it’s well kept. My favorite is the Japanese garden and the adjacent tea house. There’s a little, hidden pathway on the side of the tea house with stone steps. It takes you to a little secluded corner of the garden that many people overlook and never get to see. I was able to find some tranquility here.
It costs $ 12.50 for non-​member adults for the whole day, and you can go in and out of the gardens as long as you show your receipt.

This place never cease to amaze me every time I visit! Despite being in the middle of winter, the flowers in the indoor garden were in full bloom! All the vibrant colors definitely brighten up anyone’s day. They were still in the process of building a new garden when I visited but the tranquil water features make the gardens a peaceful place to relax and enjoy nature! My absolute favorite is the tropical conservatory. With the lush tropical plants and flowers, one can easily be transported to a rain forest in South America. The gardens also host concerts in the summer which is quite lovely! I will for sure return in the near future!

The Denver botanic gardens are beautiful in any season. The first time I came here was during the spring and it was so beautifully tended to. Then I came in the summer to see the glass art exhibit and that was even more amazing. Then, just this past week, I was thinking of going to Zoo Lights when my boyfriend suggested we check out the «Blossoms of Light» here. It was perfect! For the best experience go right after a snow fall. The way the light glows and lights up all of the gardens is amazing.
I’ll need to start coming more often because there is just something so calming and beautiful about this place.

I love gardens. However, with most gardens, you can associate them with extra humidity (I remember back in the day when I would go to the Memphis or Atlanta Botanical Gardens, I would have to dust up in Gold Bond because it felt like I was in a swamp) to keep all of the plants looking their prime. the great thing about Denver is, you don’t really get that here!
Another thing about visiting gardens, I enjoy how open they usually are. They are not like art museums, where a horde of people storm up to a piece of art in a potentially stuffy building. I mean yea, some exhibits at gardens are like that, I hope you understand where I am going with that…
I was excited that the botanical garden was about a 10 minute drive from my apartment (only that long because of traffic lights). It is nestled amongst Cheesman Park on one side, and beautiful houses on the other. There is a free, 2 story parking garage right across the street from the garden. You get nice views on the top deck– overlooking parts of the garden.
The admissions building is mainly built of slate, and has the gift store on the left, ticket sales on the right. During special events, the line can get long. They have a members line, a kiosk line, and cashiers. Become a member or use the kiosk to cut down on time.
After getting through, it is pretty much self guided with a bunch of different types of gardens. They even have another building or two that house other plant life. My favorite area is the bonsai trees in the back right corner, near the pond. Very relaxing. I bet the people in the bordering apartment building have a great view!
Walking around and seeing everything, you can spend a decent 2 – 3 hours here– if you really soak everything in.
It also seems like they have a bunch of seasonal events– stuff for Halloween, lights for Christmas (which was pretty cool), Chihuly glass spread throughout, and so on. I think they even have concerts here as well.
A solid choice and a nice representation of all sorts of plant and tree life. Great for families, dates, and just if you want a place to hang out and relax.

When I am on vacation, I almost always check out the botanic (or botanical) garden. And I did just that on Monday, September 21 with my husband in the afternoon on our last day in Denver.
The Denver Botanic Gardens is truly a beautiful place with it’s lush colors of mother nature’s masterpiece. There is much to see, so allow yourself a few hours in order to view and enjoy everything.
The current exhibit on display is Deborah Butterfield: The Nature of Horses. These sculptures are made of bronze driftwood pieces that are formed to look like horses standing or with their legs tucked in, lying on the ground, and are displayed throughout the gardens.
There are so many great things that we saw and truly enjoyed but a few things stick out to me that I would like to highlight:
Corpse Flower– Although the corpse flower has already died, there was a video feed (right next to this flower) showing day by day of the flower growing and eventually dying. There is a little bit of information about the germination of this flower and the cycle it follows from life to death that is worth reading to understand. I thought this was just really unique and glad to have seen a video feed of it’s lifespan.
Japanese Garden Pond– The large lily pads were really interesting, something I have never seen before and really intrigued me.
Indoor Waterfall inside Marnie’s Pavilion– The day we came, it was rather warm but inside this building the air condition was blasting. But besides the nice cool air, the waterfall and the plants around it was a beautiful sight and worth a visit (there are also restrooms here).
Mordecai Children’s Garden– Located across the street where the parking lot is. This is probably the least visited section of the garden because it is an easy miss. After my husband and I were done with the gardens, we finished our visit here to eat our lunch we brought (although there are 2 places on sight that you could buy food from, we opted to have a nice picnic lunch). The only negative about this part of the gardens is that there is not enough shade (there are a few tables and chairs with a covering though but you have to walk down further to find it).
Anyways, this section is very kid friendly with the outdoor playground. The little stream was quite popular with the children (even if it wasn’t a warm day out, I think children would still splash and play so be sure to bring a towel and/​or extra clothes if you plan on bringing your little one).
I think what was really interesting about this part of the gardens is that there is a small edible garden (sponsored by Chipotle) with some familiar fruits and vegetables that your child may already know, but also some new ones as well. It is always a great thing to teach children how food is grown and where it comes from (farm to table concept can be explained in easy terms for your child to understand). So make sure that you do not miss out on this part of the gardens, even if you don’t have kids.
General admission is $ 12.50 but students (with ID) pay a mere $ 9.
As mentioned earlier, there is a parking lot (free) across the street. When we arrived, we were able to find parking, but it was definitely pretty much filled for the most part (probably about 90% of the parking spots were taken). I would recommend that you try to find parking down in the underground parking if you come on a warm day. But there is also street parking if you don’t find any luck the time you come. I also want to mention that when we left (probably around 4 pm) there were a ton of parking spots available. So the later you come, possibly the better.
If I lived closer to this place, I would probably buy a membership. By the way, you can save $ 20 on any membership (including the individual membership, but can also be a great deal if you get the bring 1 friend for free membership) with your receipt on your admission. So save your receipt and admire just a glimpse of what hard work and care can look like on mother nature.

I had a late flight Saturday afternoon to LAX from Denver and made it a point to drive in from Breckenridge to arrive at opening 9:00 am to beat the crowds. Parking is limited — located directly across the street with covered and uncovered spots. Upon entering, I utilized the kiosk machines for entry fees. Tickets can also be purchased online at their website and are $ 12.50 for general admission. For $ 14.00 a guided tour is included with admission, if time constraints aren’t an issue. Tours are on Saturday afternoon.
The gardens are massive — 25 acres of manicured privately and publicity funded different gardens including a large permanent greenhouse exhibit. The weather couldn’t have been better on this summer morning we visited. In addition to the gardens there’s a large grassy area for outdoor concerts and private events that can accommodate large groups.
I’m so glad I visited this botanic garden, Its not to be missed if you’re visiting the Denver area. Here is the website for additional information or if you need to purchase tickets or set up a tour:

The Denver Botanic Gardens are actually quite amazing. I decided to spend a day in Denver before moving out of Aspen, and the Gardens seemed to be one of the more unique options in the city. At $ 15/​person, I figured why not!
Luckily, we missed seeing the Corpse Flower by one day, which reduced the crowds, big time. The Gardens are truly massive, and you will struggle to not miss any parts. There are many different sections, but the Lily Pond was probably my favorite area. Truly beautiful. My mom really loved all of the driftwood horse sculptures. This is one of the most amazing gardens that I have ever seen, in size and quality.
Two issues: First, parking here is a joke. There is nowhere near adequate parking so just find one of the quiet residential streets, and park there. Denver, for considering themselves to be outdoorsy, has no sidewalks. So be prepared to walk carefully to the Gardens and back to your car. Second, the admissions line will appear to be massive. Most people seem to be afraid of the automated machines, but we bypassed about 35 people by using the machines. Embrace technology.
Make sure to check that there are no concerts in the Gardens if you want to visit! The Gardens often close early for special events!

People suggested this place as something to bring guests to for years now. But I never had any interest. Boy did I not know myself! I love the botanic gardens now. I was really impressed on my first visit, and each subsequent visit has been delightful. The Japanese garden is tranquil and relaxing. I love the little garden house about half way through the gardens, I don’t know what it’s called, but every time I see it, I want to book a tea-​party themed bridal shower.
The gounds are beautifully kept, and there’s always something new. I 100% recommend spending an afternoon here.

I love to garden, and the Denver Botanic Gardens are a nice oasis in the middle of the city!
I love the breadth of gardens they host — everything from wildflowers to Japanese, and peony to cacti. These gardens take a lot of work, so it always seems like something is a big dirt bed each time you visit. Also, everything is very low — shrubs, plants and flowers — few trees. The Japanese garden could benefit from the variety they offer.
The current exhibit is Moore at the Gardens — a collection of about 20 Henry Moore sculptures displayed outside, throughout the gardens. I was very excited by the premise but a little bummed by the execution. There really seems to be very little interplay between the sculptures and the gardens, rather the mammoth artworks just sit in the middle of sidewalks. If you’ve got your camera with you and are looking for a good photo, this will become painfully evident as there is rarely an opportunity to capture the interaction between the gardens and the sculptures without concrete and buildings finding their way into your view.