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Outdoors Bloom and Fruit Tour

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Discover the over 40 outdoor gardens at Denver Botanic Gardens either in person or from the comfort of home. Every day brings new blooms, fruit and vistas on the 20+ acres.

The outdoor gardens at York Street have year-round charm and interest. During the start of autumn, the aster family takes center stage alongside the fruit that starts to color on crabapples and hawthorns. Annual flowers, including cosmos, dahlia, petunias and zinnias, brightly color many garden areas, while native plants like goldenrod, penstemon, liatris and sunflowers, continue to attract hummingbirds, bumblebees, finches and other foraging pollinators prior to our first hard frost.

Tour updated September 29, 2025

Solidago rugosa 'Fireworks' (Goldenrod)

Bright yellow "explosions" of tiny yellow flowers on this large perennial

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O'Fallon Perennial Walk (Garden Features)

The O'Fallon Perennial Walk is in full bloom in its 3rd year of growth since being redesigned. The aster family has many species in bloom in early October.

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Symphyotrichum lateriflorum 'Lady in Black' (Calico Aster)

Small white flowers grace this late blooming member of the aster family.

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Helianthus maximiliani (Maximilian's Sunflower)

Bright yellow flowers on tall stems are ideal in the background of the O'Fallon Perennial Garden landscape.

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Nymphaea 'Foxfire' (Waterlily)

This waterlily is the star of the El Pomar Waterway to end the summer season.

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Hydrangea paniculata 'Limelight' (Peegee Hydrangea)

The large white flower clusters are eye-catching even from afar, especially on an overcast day where the color really becomes visible.

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Rosa 'Douglas Gandy' (Rose)

Roses rebloom in late summer, after the threat of Japanese beetles pass.

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Colorado (Garden Features)

colorful glass sculpture in the Ellipse Garden

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The Ellipse in honor of Nancy Schotters (Garden Features)

The Ellipse Garden is in full and fragrant bloom in late spring through early summer. A large number of roses, peonies, iris and daylilies can be seen flowering in the area between May and July.

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Colchicum 'The Giant' (Autumn Crocus)

Fall blooming bulb with large pink flowers that are just a few inches high.

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Fountain Beds (Garden Features)

Planted with bright annuals, the Fountain Beds are an area where many dahlias bloom in late summer.

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Tricyrtis hirta (Japanese Toad Lily)

Toadlilies in bloom are a sign that autumn and cooler days are coming soon.

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Annuals Garden and Pavilion (Garden Features)

The Annuals Garden and Pavilion is a favorite spot in the height of summer. This year's garden has many plants with orange, red, bronze and pink foliage and flowers, giving it a fiery appearance from both near and afar.

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The Willow Glade in Celebration of Brandon Mandelbaum (Garden Features)

A waterfall and native plantings create beautiful views into the surrounding gardens.

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Gentiana lagodechiana (Lagodekhi Crested Gentian)

These blue-purple bell-shaped flowers are one of many gentians to bloom in the Rock Alpine Garden as we head towards autumn.

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Sorbus aucuparia (Mountain Ash)

Bright orange fruit make this tree visible from across the Rock Alpine Garden.

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Rock Alpine Garden (Garden Features)

The Rock Alpine Garden has thousands of different plant varieties growing on about one acre. This areas bursts into color in late spring with plants from many steppe and alpine areas around the world. In the late summer and fall it transforms with brightly colored fruit, golden flowers of the aster family, and the brilliant blues only found in gentians. Winter in the Rock Alpine Garden can teach us how shadows impact the temperatures of the environment. Note how snow remains on the southern border areas while melting quickly in the central meadow.

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Laura Smith Porter Plains Garden (Garden Features)

The Plains Garden is in its height of glory in the fall. The native grasses are flowering and going to seed while their leaves change from green hues to reds and browns as the season progresses.

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Water Gardens (Garden Features)audio

The Water Gardens are in full bloom with bright waterlilies, Victoria water platters, lotus and other water loving plants. You may even see ducklings relaxing on the water platters.

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Heptacodium miconioides (Seven Son Flower of Zhejiang)

This small tree blooms white in late summer and will soon have bright red calyxes that add even more interest for the early autumn garden.

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Salvia × jamensis 'Ignition Sunrise' VIBE® (Jame Sage)

One of many late-blooming sages in this area, this one's flowers are bicolor with both bright pink and light peach.

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Nexus Garden (Garden Features)

The Nexus Garden has architectural interest yearround. In early autumn, a mix of Salvia, Penstemon and Sedum bloom.

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Cylindropuntia whipplei 'Snow Leopard' (Whipple Cholla)

These upright members of the cactus family almost glow when backlit by the sun in the mornings and late afternoons.

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Caesalpinia gilliesii (Bird of Paradise)

Bright red and yellow flowers attract many pollinators late in the season

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Beehive (Garden Features)

Look up at the wall near the Conservatory to see the beehives. Can you see honeybees flying in and out?

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Epilobium canum ssp. garrettii 'PWWG01S' ORANGE CARPET® (Hummingbird Trumpet)

The tubular orange flowers are a favorite of the hummingbirds and bloom until frost.

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Roads Water-Smart Garden (Garden Features)

The Roads Water-Smart Garden is beautiful yearround. Early fall blooms include Hesperaloe, Epilobium, grasses and members of the aster family.

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