Denver Botanic Gardens’ Post

Botanical Description of Sisyrinchium bellum Sisyrinchium bellum, commonly known as Blue-Eyed Grass, is a perennial herbaceous plant that belongs to the Iris family, Iridaceae. This enchanting wildflower is native to California and can be found in various regions of North America. Let's delve into the botanical description of this charming plant. 1. #NaturesPharmacy

https://lnkd.in/eQqQ-YzM Did you know this growing anthurium from flowers? by Tree Plant Mini Anthurium Collection + Growth Updates | 6 Anthurium Varieties by My Fellow Foliage How to grow anthurium with flowers by Tree Plant 81 ANTHURIUM SPECIES | HERB STORIES by Herb Stories Propagate anthurium from leaves #shorts by Flower Propagation

🌸 Plant highlight - Althaea officinalis 🌸 The ancient Greeks referred to Marshmallow as, 'the official healer," because of its soothing properties, and many today still find it helpful for soothing the gastrointestinal tract.* For various reasons, we highly recommend growing this perennial plant in your own garden. It produces beautiful yearly blooms that attract pollinators. Marshmallow is hardy and largely disease-resistant, making it a low-maintenance choice. Medicinally, the roots and leaves can be made into powder, tinctures, syrups and you got it, marshmallows. Seems like there isn't anything this botanical wonder can't do!

PLANT OF THE WEEK- Erophila verna (common name: common whitlowgrass). The name Erophila verna is actually a pleonasm, as ero means 'spring' and verna also means 'spring'. It is one of the first spring plants and it usually emerges in March in Denmark. It is a small plant that grows between cobblestones and tiles. Everyone has probably stepped on it. Even though there are 350,000 species of whitlowgrass in the world - the common whitlowgrass is one of the most beautiful for its size.  It has a cruciform flower with four petals. Most flowers have three or five petals, but this one has four petals, which characterizes the plants in its family, the cruciferous family (Brassicacae). But here the petals are split, so it looks like there are eight petals. This Plant of the Week is based on the book Planternes Manifest – forsvar for en tavs livsform by Anders Lund Madsen and Michael Broberg Palmgren.

🌵 Who here loves a cacti? 💚 🏜 Here are three of the most fun facts about cacti: 🌵 Cacti's spines are modified leaves 🍃 - Cacti have evolved spines instead of leaves to reduce water loss and protect from herbivores. The spines come in various shapes, sizes, and colours, adding to the visual appeal of cacti. 🌵Cacti's night-blooming flowers 🌺 : Many species of cacti bloom at night, attracting pollinators and conserving water during the hot daytime hours. 🌵Cacti's water storage abilities 💧 : Cacti are experts at storing water, with some species capable of storing up to 90% of their weight in water. This water reservoir helps them survive in dry environments where water is scarce. In dire situations, people have even used cacti as an emergency water source by cutting open the stems to access the stored water. ✨ 🙌 These facts highlight the fascinating adaptations and unique features that make cacti such intriguing and iconic plants. #CactiFunFacts #ModifiedCactusLeaves #NightBloomingFlowers #WaterStorageAbilities #CactiAdaptations #DesertPlantLife #UniqueCactusFeatures #WaterSavingPlants #CactusPollination #AridEnvironmentSurvival #ShaRogansMiracleBloom

Catnip – Nepeta cataria Nepeta cataria is a short lived herbaceous perennial, growing 50?100 centimetres?tall and wide. It resembles a typical mint family member in appearance by having the characteristic square stem that members of the Lamiaceae plant family have, but with brown-green foliage. The coarse-toothed leaves are triangular to ovate. The small bilabiate flowers can be white and finely spotted with pale purple or pink. They are showy and fragrant. The plant blooms from late spring through autumn. Nepeta cataria is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in gardens. It is also grown for its attractant qualities to house cats and butterflies. The compound "iridodial" as extracted from catnip oil has been found to attract the beneficial insect known as lacewings which eat aphids and mites. The plant is drought tolerant and deer resistant. It can be a repellant for certain insects, https://lnkd.in/g5G8ERZm

Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) Oyster Mushroom is a basidiomycete and belongs to the Genus `Pleurotus'. The fruit bodies of this mushroom are distinctly shell, fan or spatula-shaped with different shades of white, cream, grey, yellow, pink or light brown depending upon the species.

Can we get a little love for our Sphaeralcea ambigua 'Orange Crush'? Also known as Globemallow, this fun little cultivated native has some unique, yet beneficial differences and similarities to our native Sphaeralcea. Orange Crush has a spectacular show of brilliant orange flowers from November to March, allowing for a food source for pollinators during the chilly winter months. Unlike the native globemallow, which can become tall and airy, Orange Crush stayed more compact and mounded for a clean and tidy appearance. Each plant is a clone, which means every plant will have the same spectacular traits in the urban landscape. Low water use, Orange Crush is an arid plant that thrives in a xeric landscape. Learn more about this cultivated native here: https://lnkd.in/g5XUXJyJ

https://lnkd.in/eaRhfYVG What are the different types of Anthurium foliage? What are the care requirements for Anthurium foliage? COMMENT! #sousafamilygarden

Welcome to another edition of March Mussel Madness! Did you know that just like basketball players, freshwater mussels have adapted an ingenious method for moving around? Most mussel species native to the James basin rely on a unique relationship with a host fish to complete their reproductive cycle and to hitch a ride. Mussels release microscopic larvae called glochidia which will attach to the gills of an unsuspecting fish and ride along as a temporary parasite. Glochidia may stay attached for only a few weeks before dropping off, but this enables mussels to increase their distribution by colonizing new habitat that would have otherwise not been accessible. Different species of mussels have adapted distinct strategies to attract fish close enough for glochidia to attach. One example includes mussels in the genus Lampsilis that display something called a mantle lure when they’re gravid and ready to release larvae. The mantle lure has eye spots that resemble a minnow and potential prey for larger fish. And when a fish is fooled into coming in close to strike at the mantle lure, the mussel releases its glochidia. Not bad for a bivalve with no eyes? Check out this Lampsilis mussel luring in a bass: https://lnkd.in/dg7k8Rng #WildlifeWednesday, #MarchMadness, #MightyMussel