Denver Botanical Gardens, Colorado, United States

Drawn the Dale Chihuly's work on display (June-November 2014) at the Denver Botanic Gardens, my mom suggested that she would like to take my sister-in-law, nephews, and myself to the Gardens for a morning. I never know what to expect with Botanic Gardens. I have been to several where the flowers bloomed a month before I arrived—and all that amounted to the gardens were a couple pruned trees and grasses. Other gardens have impressed me and encourage me to return.
The Denver Botanic Gardens fit soundly in the second category. Evenly sprinkled with art features and interesting foliage, a person could hardly take everything in during one trip. Strolling on the windy pathways, something interesting will undoubtably meet your eye.
With a generous Modecai Children's Garden, kids are easily entertained looking for plants, learning about growing things, and playing in the babbling brook on the property. The Gardens play host to a number of activities and educational classes from painting, photography, gardening and horticulture, and even cooking classes.
As expected, the Chihuly exhibit was marvelous. The artist wove his beautiful flourishes of blown glass into the gardens—adding bursts of color and embellishments to the plants and flowers. While his art leaves room for your imagination to wander, it is hard not to see blue herons standing tall in the water, the koru (Maori for "loop") of a fern standing among tall grasses, or a pink chrysalis under the shade of tiger lilies.
Chihuly installations have dotted the globe. Consider visiting his distinct and beautiful art when he puts on a display near you or visit his permanent collection, Chihuly Garden and Glass, in Seattle, Washington, USA.