In a city that’s constantly building up, the Denver Botanic Gardens remind us what it means to grow deep. For 23 years, Corcoran Perry & Co. has been a proud sponsor — not just because it’s beautiful (though it is… and we have the Denver Botanic Gardens photos to prove it), but because it reflects the kind of long-term thinking and community investment we believe in, too.
More than a quiet place to recharge, the Gardens are a nationally recognized research institution, a hub for conservation, and a surprising source of edge-of-your-seat programming (seriously, don’t sleep on Glow at the Gardens).
Setting the Scene: Denver Botanic Gardens Photos
Over the years, we’ve collected snapshots from afternoons spent walking the gardens with homebuyers and colleagues. These photos capture the everyday moments—conversations on the path, impromptu tours, quiet breaks between showings—that remind us why the Denver Botanic Gardens has been one of our favorite spots to bring people together.
Rooted in the City: A Brief History of the Denver Botanic Gardens
The Denver Botanic Gardens. Photo credit: patch.com
The Denver Botanic Gardens opened their doors in 1951, originally planted at City Park. It didn’t take long to outgrow the space. By 1958, they moved to their current location on York Street in Cheesman Park — formerly part of the historic Mount Prospect Cemetery. (Yes, it’s built over a former graveyard. No, it’s not haunted. Unless you ask the people leading the ghost tour.)
In the decades since, the Gardens have expanded their mission beyond beauty. Today, they’re a globally recognized institution for horticulture research, biodiversity conservation, and public education. Basically, they’re the cool plant nerds with serious credentials.
More Than Dressing For the Season: The Real Work of the Denver Gardens
Yes, the lilies are lovely. But there’s more happening behind the scenes. The Denver Botanic Gardens operates as a nonprofit with a deep focus on ecological sustainability.
A few standout efforts:
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Seed Conservation: Their seed bank protects Colorado’s rare and endangered native plants from extinction. It’s like a backup drive for biodiversity.
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Research & Education: Scientists and students use the Gardens’ resources to study everything from alpine ecosystems to drought-resistant crops.
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Community Access: The Gardens offer free entry days, library passes (free for pre-scheduled days with a library card), school programs, and community garden plots.
They also partner with local artists, host outdoor concerts, and occasionally convince people to pay money to walk through a glowing field of illuminated glass mushrooms. (Which, in fairness, is a vibe.)
Cultivated Intel and Tips Worth Planting
Go early or go late. The light’s better, the crowds are smaller, and the photos are more forgiving. Especially in the summer.
There’s a completely separate kids' garden. Just next to the parking lot (on the E side of York St.) is the secluded Mordecai Children's Garden.
Lots of little secret gardens within the gardens. Don’t just stick to the main paved path. There are smaller offshoots of trails that lead to some of the most beautiful and intimate spots in the gardens.
Look up. Seriously. The Gardens have unexpected vertical plantings and architectural moments that most visitors miss while admiring tulips.
Branching Out Nationally
If you assumed the Gardens were just a nice local attraction, think again. They’ve earned national and international recognition from:
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American Public Gardens Association: Repeated awards for leadership in sustainability and plant conservation.
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Smithsonian Institution: The Gardens collection and data are regularly used in national botanical research.
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Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler: Featured as one of the top botanical gardens in the country.
Gardens, as in Plural
Many locals only know the York Street location, but the Denver Botanic Gardens actually operates two other sites worth exploring:
- Chatfield Farms (Littleton): A working farm with native plants, wetlands, and a pumpkin festival that’s become a fall rite of passage. Also great for birdwatching and pretending you’re in a Wes Anderson movie.
- Mount Goliath (Mount Evans): A high-altitude garden showcasing alpine species you won’t see at sea level. Open in the summer, and a must for fans of wildflowers, trail snacks, and lung capacity tests.
Chatfield Farms
Mount Goliath
Garden Sponsors: Corcoran Perry & Co.
We’ve spent more than two decades as proud sponsors of the Denver Botanic Gardens, and it’s never felt like a checkbox partnership. It’s a relationship rooted in shared values: sustainability, education, and cultivating a sense of place.
Real estate may be our profession, but helping people feel at home — in their homes, in their neighborhoods, in this city — is what keeps us going. The Gardens do that in their own way, too. Plus, we get some of the best Denver Botanic Gardens photos around.
If you haven’t been in a while, go. And if you go often, bring someone who hasn’t. Just remember to look up once in a while. The beauty’s in the branches, too.
Interested in setting down some Colorado roots? Our Colorado real estate agents are always here and happy to talk home (and garden).
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