The book is filled with the contributions of more than 100 people, including the Gardens' own horticulturists and botanical illustrators.
The collection of plant portraits is combined with more than 50 full-page, color reproductions of original artwork, related photographs, and a historical timeline that chronicles the development of this important cultural institution.
Also included are features on the contributions of four early visionaries of the Gardens, including Saco DeBoer, George W. Kelly, M. Walter Pesman and Ruth Porter Waring.
This book, compiled by a hundred hands, is a primer of the dynamic process of art, science and delight called Denver Botanic Gardens, says the book's editor, Panayoti Kelaidis, the Gardens senior curator and director of outreach.
This book presents an assortment of plants introduced over the history of Denver Botanic Gardens, with ways to use them in the garden. Each plant description is accompanied by beautiful color photographs and hand-painted renderings from the gifted artists of the Gardens Botanical Art and Illustration program.
Many of the plants featured in Flourish are not found in common reference books or even on the Internet. This book was created to help readers gain a true understanding of horticulture in the West.
The plants that one encounters in gardens and nurseries in the Front Range area of Colorado, and elsewhere in the region, are utterly different from what one would have encountered 50 years ago, says Kelaidis.
A large proportion of the native and adapted plants utilized today in American gardens debuted on the grounds of Denver Botanic Gardens.
Flourish follows Gardening with Altitude, the first book designed, produced and published by the Gardens' staff.
Published by Johnson Books of Boulder, Colo., Flourish is available at the Gardens, local retailers and online for $26.95.
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