2011 ANNUAL REPORT - Denver Botanic Gardens

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CORE VALuE 4: divERsiTy
The Gardens organized or hosted 12 exhibitions in 2011, including those on the York Street grounds,
Gates Garden Court, El Pomar Room and offsite locations such as Denver International Airport, Front
Range Community College, university of Denver Museum of Anthropology and Republic Plaza.
Denver Botanic Gardens signature exhibition, Native Roots | Modern Form: Plants, Peoples and
the Art of Allan Houser, was a catalyst for seven guest lecture programs and was supported
specifically by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Colorado Creative Industries, the
Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, and Xcel Energy. Collaborations included
working with Denver Indian Center and Museo de las Americas.
The Botanical Art & Illustration program looked beyond the walls of Denver Botanic Gardens,
successfully arranging four distance learning courses in 2011. Two courses were offered at El
Charco in Mexico to 29 registrants.
In the spirit of offering new and different ways to engage with the Gardens, 2011 saw the increased
use of new technologies and social media to reach out to new audiences, donors and long time
supporters of Denver Botanic Gardens. The endowment campaign for Mordecai Children’s Garden
employed Web-based giving, blogging and other electronic communications, in addition to traditional
means of solicitation. On a related note, of the generous individuals who gave to Denver Botanic
Gardens as part of Colorado Gives Day, 30% were first time philanthropists to our organization.
Our Horticulture Therapy program served 34 facilities with approximately 350 participants in 40 sessions
through the Winter Green and Summer Sensory Programs. The program complements the recently
renovated Sensory Garden at York Street.
One of the most attended events each year takes place at Chatfield. In advance of Pumpkin Festival,
approximately 35,000 pumpkins were produced on 10 acres in 2011, leading to record pumpkin sales
of $76,000. Total attendance at Chatfield was over 104,000 people in 2011.
Thanks to a donation from the Washburne Family, in memory of Mary Washburne, the Chatfield
horticulture staff replanted the historic orchard adjacent to the Hildebrand Ranch House, establishing
the Mary Marsh Washburne Orchard. The orchard includes over 20 apple, plum and cherry trees.
Tree varieties include newer dwarf and semi-dwarf trees, as well as heirloom varieties that have
historically been grown in this area.
www.botanicgardens.org 2011 Denver Botanic Gardens Annual Report
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