YORK ST: EVENTS
Blossoms of Light
Nov. 18 – Jan. 7 (closed Nov. 24 and Dec. 25), 4:30-9 p.m.
Public: $24 Adults, $22 Student, $22 Seniors (65+), $20 Children (ages 3-15), Free admission for children 2 and younger
Members: $21 Adults, $19 Seniors (65+), $17 Children (ages 3-15), Free admission for children 2 and younger
Military: $22 Adults, $20 Seniors (65+), $18 Children (ages 3-15), Free admission for children 2 and younger
The Gardens’ signature event for more than three decades, this annual holiday lights extravaganza transforms our York Street location into a twinkling winter wonderland. Join us for this family-friendly event that has become a holiday tradition for thousands of Front Range families. In line with our core value of sustainability, all lights used in the event are LED.
 
Orangery Holiday Display
Nov. 24, 2021 – Jan. 8, 2023
Escape the cold and enjoy a stroll through the Orangery decked out in holiday cheer with bright poinsettias and seasonal décor.
 
CHATFIELD FARMS: EVENTS
Trail of Lights
Fridays – Sundays, Nov. 25 – Dec. 11; Nightly, Dec. 16 – Jan. 1 (closed on Christmas); 5-8:30 p.m.
Public: $16 Adults, $14 Seniors (65+), $12 Children (ages 3-15), Free admission for children 2 and younger, $14 Student
Members: $14 Adults, $12 Seniors (65+), $10 Children (ages 3-15), Free admission for children 2 and younger
Military: $14 Adults, $12 Seniors (65+), $10 Children (ages 3-15), Free admission for children 2 and younger
Trail of Lights at Chatfield Farms takes you along a winding path glistening with lights that illuminate the Colorado countryside. Tucked into the foothills under the dark sky, the glow of lights can be seen for miles. Just under a mile of walking trail, the illumination of cottonwoods, boxelders and pine trees line the pathway through the Green Farm, Crossroads, Deer Creek Discovery Children's Play Area and 1880s Hildebrand Ranch homestead. There is the option of a shorter path for those who want to take a shorter stroll.
 
YORK ST: EXHIBITIONS
Seeing Red: Botanical Art & Illustration
Through Jan. 8, 2023
Experience the vibrant shades of red found in plants and fungi. From peppers to hibiscus and apples to poinsettias, red is found throughout the natural world. Seeing Red highlights plants and fungi featuring red flowers, foliage, fruits and vegetables created by students of Denver Botanic Gardens’ School of Botanical Art & Illustration.
 
Sammy Seung-min Lee: Taking Root
Through Feb. 5, 2023
Sammy Seung-min Lee explores the immigrant experience through cast paper sculptures of food and flora. Using traditional Korean paper-making techniques, she transforms mulberry paper into trees, fungi, and table settings layered with longing and warmth. Exploring traditions surrounding food and home, Lee’s works give form to the ways in which we’re anchored by friends and family and examine what it means to take root in a new and unfamiliar culture.
 
Abundant Future: Cultivating Diversity in Garden, Farm and Field
Oct. 8, 2022 – Jan. 15, 2023
Discover the importance of plant diversity with Abundant Future. Featuring 40 original botanical illustrations of cultivated plants, this exhibition highlights the importance of biological diversity among crops. Humans have generated a nearly endless diversity in plants through selective breeding. However, in our recent past, agriculture has focused on a narrower range of important crops, leading to greatly reduced variety. Lack of diversity raises the risk of widespread insecurity from changing climate, environmental stresses, and disease. This exhibition seeks to highlight the biological wealth in our cultivated plants and wild relatives.
 
YORK ST: ADULT PROGRAMS
Sunrise Vinyasa Yoga at the Gardens
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8-9 a.m.
$12, $10 member
Vinyasa yoga weaves flowing movement with challenging postures and cultivates a sense of peace and calm by the end of each 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 contentment in our surroundings. The postures practiced in this all-levels class will promote alignment, flexibility, focus, endurance and help detoxify the body. Advanced registration is required. Please bring a mat, a towel and water.
 
Gin and Botanicals - ONLINE
4-class series: Fridays, December 2, 9, 16 & 23, 5-7 p.m.
$255, $215 member
Gin is a wonderfully varied, botanic-based spirit with so many possibilities. Join us for a drink and relaxed painting session in which we'll explore the plants that make up your favorite gin-based cocktail. Gin is a spirit flavored with berries from the Juniperus communis, but behind the distinct juniper flavor is a plethora of other botanicals that create a veritable bouquet in a glass. Classes will include a cocktail recipe for you to make at home, discussions with special guests, and a project illustrating the plants in our drinks. You are invited to work in your favorite medium or follow along with the demos using colored inks. This course is part of the Art Exploration program and open to everyone. The course fee does not include materials.
 
Yoga at the Gardens
Wednesdays, December 7, 14, 21 & 28, 9:15-10:15 a.m.
$12, $10 member
Vinyasa yoga weaves flowing movement with challenging postures and cultivates a sense of peace and calm by the end of each class. Practicing 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 contentment in our surroundings.
 
Lecture: Conservation and the Power of Contemporary Botanical Art
Sunday, December 4, noon-1 p.m.
Free, advanced registration required
Join Carol Woodin, exhibitions director for the American Society of Botanical Artists (ASBA), for a discussion about illustrator and environmentalist Margaret Mee and how contemporary botanical art has the power to inform and empower us to face important environmental issues.
 
Seven Principles of Water-Smart Gardening
Tuesday, December 6, 9:30-11:30 a.m.
$62, $55 member
Gardening remains high and dry in the Rocky Mountain region! Water-Smart Gardening is an environmentally friendly way to create a beautiful home landscape that will thrive under low-water conditions. Join this class to learn the principles of Water-Smart Gardening and some of the many plants that you can incorporate into your yard.
 
Lunchtime Vinyasa Flow
Tuesdays, December 6, 13 & 20, noon-1 p.m.
$12, $10 member
Focus your mind and empower your spirit with nurturing, fun and meditative vinyasa yoga. This well-rounded class is accessible and welcoming to any skill level. Leave feeling grounded and energized.
 
Colored Pencil on Wood - ONLINE
3-class series: Wednesdays, December 7, 1 & 21, 9 a.m. – noon
$195, $165 member
Colored pencil on wood? You bet! Try versatile colored pencils on a surface provided by nature and integrate surface texture and illustration design into a unique whole. Using a reference photo, you will be guided through the process of creating an illustration on wood. This course is an elective in the Botanical Illustration Foundational Certificate Program. The course fee includes some materials.
 
Color Layering for Colored Pencil
Friday, Saturday & Sunday, December 9, 10 & 11, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
$525, $475 member
Colored pencil presents a special challenge: mixing color directly on your drawing. Learn to use a simple color-mixing method adapted to the application of colored pencils. Two-, three- and four-color mixing will get you to the gorgeous greens, radiant reds and luscious lilacs you've been dreaming of. Practice color matching with a variety of plant materials as you create your own extensive color workbook to speed color selection and application for all future colored pencil drawings. This course is part of the Botanical Illustration Foundational Certificate Program but is open to everyone. The course fee includes a curated set of colored pencils and workbook.
 
Invitation to Ikebana: Contemporary
Saturday, December 10, 1-3 p.m.
$48, $43 member
Ikebana, the art of Japanese flower arranging, has a worldwide appeal due to the uniqueness and simplicity of the style. Sogetsu School of Ikebana was founded in 1927 in Japan by Sofu Teshigahara whose vision was to adapt traditional Ikebana to more contemporary times. The guiding principles are that anyone may create, using any materials, anywhere at any time. While retaining traditional Ikebana concepts such as asymmetry, open space, and depth, he explored new dimensions of creativity and design. Join us for an introductory Ikebana workshop. We begin with a demonstration of the art form followed by participants each creating their own arrangement.
 
Himalayan Singing Bowls
Saturday, December 10, 6:30-8 p.m.
$36
This program is a calming meditation accompanied by Himalayan singing bowls, gongs, bells and other musical instruments. Come join Suren Shrestha, born in Nepal, where he learned the ancient healing techniques that use sound and vibration and founder of the Atma Buti® School in Boulder, on a journey of sound, relaxation and harmony. The singing bowls create a simple, gentle, energy-based vibrational technique that is used for stress reduction and relaxation. Suren and Ruby donate the financial proceeds of this sound meditation concert to the Soul Medicine 501c3 Education Foundation, which provides quality education to disadvantaged orphans of Eastern Nepal.
 
Curator Conversations
Thursday, December 15, 10-10:45 a.m.
$19, $15 member, $13 student
Join us for a walk through the galleries with one of our curatorial staff members and learn behind-the-scenes information about how the exhibitions currently on view.
 
YORK ST: CHILDREN AND FAMILY PROGRAMS
Young Writers Group
Sundays, 10 a.m. – noon
No fee or registration required
Teen writers or aspiring writers are invited to join us for plant- and nature-themed writing prompts, word games and/or discussion topics. We provide writing resources and pens and paper. Takes place in the Helen Fowler Library; Access to the library is free, entry to the Gardens requires an admission ticket.
 
Crafting Community
Sundays, 1-3 p.m.
No fee or registration required
Sustainable arts and crafts afternoon in the Helen Fowler Library. Bring your own projects to work on or use our recycled materials to start something new. Plant- and nature-themed projects each week include origami bonsai, DIY bookbinding, collage bookmarks, comics, zines, pressed flowers and more! All ages welcome. Parental supervision and assistance for younger children is highly encouraged as some projects include the use of tools such as scissors and sewing needles. Access to the library is free; entry to the Gardens requires an admission ticket.
 
Family Make and Take: Winter Wreaths
Saturday and Sunday, December 17 and 18, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
$15 per project fee; $12 per project fee member
Create a seasonal wreath using wintry colors, pinecones, evergreen boughs and more! After you complete your wreath, bundle up and stroll around the Gardens with a scavenger hunt that explores the common varieties of evergreens onsite. 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!
 
PLAINS CONSERVATION CENTER
Family Workshop at Plains Conservation Center: People of the Plains
Saturday, December 3, 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
$12 per person
This program is geared towards children in 3rd-5th grade but all ages are welcome! Explore the differences and similarities between the plains Native Americans and prairie homesteaders in the 1800s. We will compare artifacts and use them to make a timeline to better understand the changes in materials and cultures in 19th century Colorado.
 
Prairie Pup Adventures at Plains Conservation Center
Tuesday, December 6, 9-10 a.m.
$8 per preschooler; one adult per child is admitted free of charge
Enjoy hot cocoa and cookies while we identify evergreen plants, paint with pine needles, and make a yucca bracelet to take home. Prairie Pup Adventures at the Plains Conservation Center offers a hands-on, fun way for preschool aged children to learn about the animals, plants and people who call the prairie home. Each week we will investigate a topic with a science, art, and exploration. For children ages 3-6 with their accompanying caregiver. Meet outside the Visitor Center at the Plains Conservation Center in Aurora for a fun adventure!
 
Family Make and Take at Plains Conservation Center: Winter Themed Bird House
Saturday, December 17, noon and 4 p.m.
$15 per project fee non-members; $12 per project fee members
Fall in love with winter on the prairie and create a miniature bird house with festive winter decorations, while sipping hot cocoa and roasting smores. After you complete your bird house, explore the prairie on your own with a self-guided scavenger hunt. Materials provided are appropriate for children ages 4 and up. Preregistration is required.