I had incredibly bad night's sleep, especially considering what a long day yesterday was. I suspected it was due to my being anxious about today's destination. I was planning on the U.S. Mint. I'd checked at home and the only day that it was open this week while we are here is today. Last night, I double checked the website as to how early to get there. So, my alarm was set for 6 am. It was cloudy and 57°, when I got up.
At 6:37 (24648 on the odometer), I was on the road. I tried to drive by the mint, but I didn't see it. I wound up parking in a parking garage a couple of blocks away at 7:19 (24662). Unfortunately, I had to walk down multiple flights of stairs to the street.
Google Maps was a bit off as to the location of the entrance, but I found it through signs. As I came along the spiked iron fence, I saw a bit of a line ahead. But, when I got up to it at 7:25, there was a sign saying there were no more tickets. I was in shock- this was way earlier than the site said. The ticket window was not to open until 7 and there were 6 tours a day. I didn't expect to get on the 8 am tour, but I figured I'd be able to get a tour for later.
Evidently, the line starts to form as early as 4 am! Today, the guy went out at 6 to start counting. The last person was given a sign that said no more tickets. I was doomed from the start.
The gift shop wasn't supposed to open until 8, but it was doing a brisk business. I was not the only one who told a clerk that they needed to change the website. (I have since checked and it is no different.)
I bought a set of 2022-issued coins for my granddaughter in honor of the year of her birth. I got myself a pin. I also spent $1 in a machine that dispensed the current Eleanor Roosevelt quarters. At least there was a restroom.
As I walked back to the garage, I took photos of the mint's door, as well as the Denver Firefighters Museum, which was located in the first fire station on Tremont Place.
Parking cost me $9. It was 62° as I left the garage at 8:27.
I drove to my back-up plan, the Denver Botanic Gardens. I parked in the below-ground garage across the street at 8:40 (24665). I took some time to put on sunscreen and organize myself. I walked up the nearby stairs and it was already 64°. Up top, I found a cool sculpture and a nice view of the entrance, which wouldn't open until 9.
I got to take advantage of being over 65 now and paid only $11.50, a savings of $3.50. I was given no map. So, when I walked into the actual gardens, I just headed left.
The first area was mostly drought-resistant/desert plants. It really is amazing how pretty these plants can be. Oh, the fourth picture below is of Eryngium giganteum or Miss Willmott's ghost. Who comes up with these names?
Then, I reached some water features. I think that a really good garden has to have a water feature.
One of the first things I learned here is that clematis comes in a very nice range of colors.
Put up a few columns and plant a bunch of plants and voila! A Romantic Garden.
Symmetry and water features make for a nice display.
Names! Moss-rose purslane - I just can't!
Dale Chihuly's piece "Colorado" is perfectly situated in a circular garden in front of a stone house. Truly lovely! Evidently, this is the Mosaic Garden. I couldn't tell you why. I can tell you that the Chihuly piece holds up quite well in Colorado, one of the most hail-prone states, because the glass is actually up to 1.5" on each spike. There's a huge steel armature underneath and after the spikes were put on, it was wired together.
It's always nice to see my home state's flower, the Black-eyed Susan.
I have to tell you, I absolutely love how this photo turned out! This rose is "Crush on You".
This weirdly petaled flower is a prunella grandiflora called "Lacy Deep Pink" and is a self-heal flower. Fun fact: Prunella is derived from 'Brunella', a word which is itself a derivative, taken from "die Bräune", the German name for diptheria, which Prunella was historically used to cure.
Feverfew is aptly named, because it is used against fevers, among other things.
Another nice water feature held the beginnings of star waterlilies and had pleasant benches around it.
A fine botanical garden has herbs, too. Here are rue and silver lemon thyme.
Evidently, California poppies, which we also encountered in Europe this summer, come in a variety of colors.
Tiny grapes were beginning to grow.
A rather formal garden was achieved with bushes and sculpture.
This pool with the lovely reflection featured a plant I've never heard of before - water lettuce.
I really enjoyed finding such colorful lantana.
I loved it, when I could get a photo with some light behind the flower, such as this geranium.
Another style of water feature, but also with water lilies.
I continued my counterclockwise stroll around the paths that presented themselves, taking pictures of some incredibly lovely, showy flowers.
There was a solarium in what I came to think of as the back of the park. It was to have gone somewhere else, but the intended owners didn't pay the price. It languished in pieces in a box until it was decided it should go here.
I could peer through the trees to a new area that was under construction. It looks like it may be Oriental in design.
On the other side of that water feature with the waterlilies pictured above, there was a garden with narrow-leaved foxtail lily and an interesting Chapungu Sculpture, “So Proud of My Children” by Nicholas Kadzungura.
So much color! So many different flower shapes!
I learned that lilies, especially daylilies come in more than your basic white.
How cool is this bench made from a major portion of a tree?!
I think rock gardens are awesome, but plants like this Japanese barberry can really pop.
As I continued along, I could see a bench across some water. The plaque had a lovely sentiment.
I'm a sucker for a water feature and a waterfall is the best.
We have a prickly pear cactus, but it never puts out blooms like this Plains Prickly Pear.
I liked that sometimes, things were just allowed to grow wild and paths led through them.
I soon came upon the largest water feature. I suppose it was a pond, but it was large and J-shaped. There was a convenient ramp for the local ducks to get in and out.
Besides the ducks, the pond was home to so many beautiful waterlilies. So many colors!
Inside the crook of the J, there was a bit of a gazebo with plantings around it and even a sculpture called Bending In and Out: A Progression, 2016 by Will Clift.
In this area, I came across this really intense Callirhoe involucrata- purple poppy-mallow and a lovely view of the narrow part of the pond.
It was now around 11:30 and I thought I should get lunch. I checked the reviews online for The Hive, which was an open-air restaurant or café in this area of the grounds. The reviews were good, but warned of lines later. So, I got in line and placed an order for the Colorado Dip ($16), chips, and a 16 ounce raspberry iced tea. It came to $19.83 and I added a $1.50 tip, even though all they were doing for this was delivering it to my table. I found a table in the shade and it was 11:31, when my delicious meal was delivered to me. While eating, I marveled at how the young ducks seemed unafraid to roam around our feet.
At 12:10, I finished my lunch feeling full and glad I wasn't in the now-long line. I continued off past the pond, and soon encountered an unusual tree. A sign explained that it was a Gravenstein apple that was espalier. That meant its growth was controlled to grow flat against the wall.
I happened to look up at the apartment building just outside the park and saw that just one balcony put itself all in on decorating.
There were two more specialized gardens ahead- the Plains Garden, which I didn't enter, and the Nexus Garden, which was for low-water plants.
Now, I was near a couple of buildings, one of which was the orangery with its rather ugly Giant Lemon and beautiful anthurium.
Inside a building was a man-made waterfall and beautiful orchids and such.
Back outside, there were more flowers, as well as playful fountains. I got to see the amphitheater, which was being set up for some performance.
In circumnavigating the amphitheater, I saw some lovely flowers: Rocky Mountain columbine, "Moonshine" yarrow, and yellow hornpoppy.
On my way to the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, eyelash-leaved sage caught my eye because of its bright red color.
And then, of course, there were orchids. So delicate and yet so vivid. I loved how the first one had just languidly stretched itself across post. The second found a way to be happy in the rocks. And the third? Just gorgeous.
In a stairwell/ light well, there was a very interesting piece of art called Chromatae,(2012) by Marc Fornes and TheVeryMany. I wish this photo captured it better.
As I made my way to the next building, I came upon this almost hidden sign for a tornado shelter. I couldn't decide what they were trying to say by making it so hard to see.
I finally headed out for the garage. Just outside the entrance of the gardens, I saw a woman with a map. I asked where she'd gotten it, because I hadn't been able to find one. Upon questioning, I said that I was leaving and just wanted it now for my album. She kindly gave me hers!
When I got to the car, I found out that it was now 78°. I left the garage at 1:29, glad that I didn't have to pay for it.
When I reached the hotel at 2:05 (24681), it was rather tough to find parking. But, I did and hiked back to the entrance.
In the room, it was no warmer. I finished organizing it for our stay and stashed my purchases. I took a short nap, too.
Around 4, I looked out the window and discovered mountains! We were definitely facing west. What a nice view! I also looked down and saw the attractive patio between the hotel and the pond.
At 4:30, I looked out again and the mountains were even clearer. I really love all the stacking in the first photo. The clouds and the mountains are in layers.
At 5:30, I met my husband K in the lobby for dinner. To make it easier, we went to the restaurant off the lobby called Kachina. We were able to get a table with a nice view of the knickknack wall.
K got a Coors Lite ($7), since we are in Colorado, and I got a delicious Glider Cider for $8. We ordered two entrees to share. For $28, we got the Calabacita [little squash] stuffed poblano and the much more reasonably priced chicken tostada plate for $19. K, as usual, didn't need dessert, but I couldn't resisit the warm cinnamon chocolate cake. He, did, of course, test it to be sure it was good. It was.
When we left at 6:55, K went off to the evening concert and I went upstairs. There, I did needlwork, played games and listened to Welcome to Night Vale.
The phone indicated I'd walked 9,571 steps for a total of 3.3 miles.
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