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Visit These Botanic Gardens in Colorado

Colorado is blessed with many botanic gardens around the state that offer the public opportunities to enjoy its incredible variety of floral, vegetable, herbaceous, and horticultural plant life. Educational and beautiful, these scenic gardens offer sanctuaries of calm, whether they are in downtown urban settings or rural areas, showing off the colors, textures and scents of nature. 

Several of these sites also offer cafés, art exhibits, seasonal festivals, art, and other classes for all ages, as well as event venues for weddings and other special occasions. All of them emphasize conservation efforts, native plant life and bird watching. Each facility also strives to build the participation and support of the community it serves. 

Here we highlight several of these gardens. Spend time exploring them this summer! 

Denver Botanic Gardens

Through outreach, collaboration, and education, the Denver Botanic Garden works to connect with a wide diversity of audiences that share a desire to preserve and protect species and natural habitats for future generations.

The outdoor facility is a public garden that occupies 23 acres in the Cheesman Park neighborhood of Denver. It boasts a conservatory, an amphitheater for summer concerts, and seven diverse gardens showcasing plants native to Colorado and surrounding states. It also features North America’s largest collection of plants from cold temperate climates around the world.

In addition to its home campus on its York Street site, the Denver Botanic Garden also operates at three other Colorado locations:

  1. Plains Conservation Center (Aurora)
  2. Mount Goliath (Evergreen)
  3. Chatfield Farms (Littleton)

Address

Denver Botanic Gardens
1007 York St
Denver, CO 80206 (map)

Admission

Denver Botanic Gardens is re-opening with limited capacity and timed tickets. For more information on admissions, reservations, and COVID-19 guidelines, visit their ticketing page.

Website

botanicgardens.org

Durango Botanic Gardens

For images and descriptions of the multiple Durango gardens, this colorful Gardens Overview and Map provides a great visual of the layout and views of the area. 

The Botanic Gardens, which shares its site with the Durango Public Library, announced that its next big project will be a Literary Garden to the west of the library. This new addition will blend flowers, trees, and plants with themes and authors in literature, and will recognize its partnership with the library.

Address

Durago Botanic Gardens
Animas River Trail
1900 E 3rd Ave
Durango, CO 81301 (map)

Admission

Admission is free. Tours are “always available” as well.

Website

durangobotanicgardens.org

The Gardens on Spring Creek

This 18-acre site opened in 2004 as part of an important partnership between the Fort Collins and the Friends of the Gardens on Spring Creek. Their mission is to foster environmental stewardship through horticulture. Their gardens offer a relaxed environment “for healing, rest and retreat and a place to experience nature and beauty,” and they offer many special events and opportunities for community involvement for all ages. 

Address

2145 Center Ave
Fort Collins, CO 80526 (map)

Admission

Tickets, admission info, COVID-19 guidelines.

Website

fcgov.com/gardens 

The Hudson Gardens and Event Center

This 30-acre site includes garden exhibits, walking trails, open spaces, and much more. Upcoming events include a summer opera festival and a popular beer festival, Brews & Views. Multiple classes and programs are offered for all ages. Check the Garden Map and Parking info before you come.

Address

6115 S Santa Fe Dr
Littleton, CO 80120 (map)

Admission

Open daily sunrise to sunset. Admission is free.

Website

hudsongardens.org

Andrews Arboretum 

Andrews Arboretum is a respite of green space in the heart of Boulder. Carefully chosen plant materials cover the grounds, including native evergreens, cultivated shrubs, exotic trees, and others. Benches are placed along the central path, creating a quiet space to enjoy an outdoor lunch. Amenities include unpaved walking paths, bike racks, bike trail access, and RTD (regional transportation district) access. Leashed dogs are permitted. 

Address

1560 Broadway
Boulder, CO 80302 (map)

Hours

Open 5 a.m. – 11 p.m. daily.

Admission

No admission charge.

Website

bouldercolorado.gov/parks-rec/andrews-arboretum 

The Arboretum at Regis University 

The community Arboretum at Regis University includes nearly 1,300 trees, 85 genera, and nearly 300 species or cultivars along the self-guided walking tour of campus. Trees are labeled by common name, scientific name, and an inventory identification number. Brochures about the arboretum are available online or at the Dayton Memorial Library front desk or at the Arboretum kiosk near the entrance to parking Lot 4.

Address

University Northwest Campus
3333 Regis Blvd Lot 4
Denver, CO 80221 (map)

Hours

Open during school operating hours.

Admission

No admission charge.

Website

regis.edu/about/regis-in-the-community/arboretum

Insure your Vehicle with Farm Bureau Insurance

Before you drive to the gardens, make sure your vehicle is insured with Farm Bureau Insurance. To get started, find a local agent near you today.