Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple' (Smoke Tree)

These large shrubs have dark red-purple foliage and plumes of flowers, now turning to fruit, reminiscent of billowing smoke.

Echinacea purpurea 'White Swan' (Coneflower)

White blooming coneflower

O'Fallon Perennial Walk (Garden Features)

The O'Fallon Perennial Walk is in full bloom in its 3rd year of growth since being redesigned.

Echinops ritro 'Veitch’s Blue' (Globe Thistle)

The electric blue flowers are seemingly magnetic to honeybees and bumblebees. Once the flowering stage is complete the blue calyx remain vibrant in the garden for many weeks.

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.

Colorado (Garden Features)

colorful glass sculpture in the Ellipse Garden

Hydrangea arborescens 'Annabelle' (Tree Hydrangea)

Always a star of the summer garden, 'Annabelle' is a shrub that performs well year after year in Denver. The large rounded flower clusters are visually stunning for many weeks.

Fountain Beds (Garden Features)

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

Lilium lancifolium 'Flore Pleno' (Tiger Lily)

July and early August is the time to see brightly colored lilies in the Gardens. Many of these tend to be quite tall. 'Flore Pleno' is recognizable due to its bright orange double flowers with brown spots.

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.

Calycanthus 'Aphrodite' (Sweetshrub)

Wine red flowers on shrub

Chilopsis linearis Lucretia Hamilton™ (Desert Willow)

This small drought-tolerant tree blooms with many pink flowers for many weeks in the summer. It is also a champion tree.

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

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

Beehive (Garden Features)

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

Roads Water-Smart Garden (Garden Features)

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

Verbascum bombyciferum 'Polarsommer' Arctic Summer (Mullein)

Tall spikes of yellow flowers top hairy silvery leaves and stems. You can see this biennial plant pop up here and there throughout WaterSmart.

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.

Nexus Garden (Garden Features)

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

Stanleya pinnata (Prince's Plume)

Bright yellow flower spikes on this southwestern native species are long-blooming

Water Gardens (Garden Features)

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.

Penstemon rostriflorus (Bridge Penstemon)

The tall spikes of red tubular flowers are another species you may see hummingbirds visiting in July and August.

Laura Smith Porter Plains Garden (Garden Features)

The Plains Garden has many early season flowers this month. Many members of the aster family bloom in summer including Liatris.

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.

Gentiana asclepiadea (Willow Gentian)

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

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

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