丹佛植物园（Denver Botanic Gardens）是美国科罗拉多州丹佛市的城市绿洲，致力于将人们与植物联系起来，尤其是落基山脉地区及世界相似气候区的植物，为每一位访客带来愉悦与启发。植物园是501(c)(3)非营利机构，也是科学文化设施区（SCFD）的成员机构。

园区概况与使命

丹佛植物园的使命是”将人们与植物联系起来”，尤其关注落基山脉地区及全球相似气候区的植物资源，让所有人获得愉悦与启发。植物园的核心价值观包括四个关键词：变革（Transformation）、相关性（Relevance）、多样性（Diversity）和可持续性（Sustainability），这四项价值观指导着植物园的发展方向。1951年2月3日，科罗拉多林业与园艺协会（Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association）正式合并成立丹佛植物园的前身——丹佛植物园基金会（Botanical Gardens Foundation of Denver），开启了其发展历程。

园区分布与规模

丹佛植物园共有两个主要园区。约克街园区（York Street）位于丹佛市中心，占地24英亩，与丹佛市及丹佛县合作运营，展示了来自世界各地多样化的植物收藏。查特菲尔德农场（Chatfield Farms）位于杰斐逊县南部，坐落在鹿溪（Deer Creek）沿岸，是一处占地700英亩的原植物保护区与经营性农场，由植物园与美国陆军工程兵部队合作管理，内有可追溯至19世纪的历史建筑和2.5英里自然步道。

植物收藏与特色花园

约克街园区的活体植物收藏以自然主义景观和现代设计风格相结合的方式展示于园区各处。科学金字塔（Science Pyramid）展示了植物、动物与水之间的联系。莫德凯儿童花园（Mordecai Children’s Garden）为儿童和家庭提供探索与发现的户外空间。植物艺术收藏涵盖多个画廊，展出植物主题的当代艺术。查特菲尔德农场的蝴蝶馆（Butterflies at Chatfield Farms）是季节性开放的大型蝴蝶栖息地，数百只本地蝴蝶在此繁衍生息。

教育与培训项目

丹佛植物园为各年龄段访客提供丰富的教育项目。成人项目包括实践工作坊、证书课程、公开讲座、专业发展研讨会和休闲学习。植物艺术与插画学校（School of Botanical Art & Illustration）教授绘制植物科学细节的技能和创作美丽植物肖像的艺术技法。儿童与家庭项目让孩子在玩耍中探索植物与自然世界。学校与教师项目帮助学生提升科学技能、植物知识和环境意识。海伦·福勒图书馆（Helen Fowler Library）收藏约25,000种图书，涵盖落基山地区及全球相似气候区的植物学与园艺学资料。

科学研究与保护

丹佛植物园的科学活动涵盖园艺研究、生物多样性研究和社区科学项目三大领域。植物园在野生植物保护和生态修复方面发挥着关键作用，通过除草控制、主动生态修复、实验和长期监测来改善栖息地质量。园区内设有Kathryn Kalmbach维管植物标本馆（Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium of Vascular Plants）和Sam Mitchel真菌标本馆（Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi），收藏了大量科罗拉多植物标本。社区科学项目将专业研究人员和社区成员联系起来，共同创建研究问题、收集和分析数据。

社区影响与公益项目

丹佛植物园通过多种公益项目积极影响社区。水资源管理项目推广半干旱气候下的节水园艺原则。城市食品项目包括2010年启动的社区支持农业（CSA）项目，是首个由植物园运营的CSA项目，为325个订阅家庭提供每周新鲜农产品。植物园还在丹佛住房管理局（DHA）的Sun Valley和Mariposa社区开展城市农业项目，通过免费农场集市分发食品。治疗园艺项目（Therapeutic Horticulture）为老年人和特殊需求人群提供以植物为基础的感官体验项目，帮助他们感受大自然的康复功效。

官方网站：https://www.botanicgardens.org

Denver Botanic Gardens

Overview and Mission

Denver Botanic Gardens’ mission is to connect people with plants, especially plants from the Rocky Mountain region and similar regions around the world, providing delight and enlightenment to everyone. The Gardens’ four core values — transformation, relevance, diversity and sustainability — guide its strategic direction. Incorporated on February 3, 1951, as the Botanical Gardens Foundation of Denver, the organization was formed through a consolidation of existing horticultural groups including the Colorado Forestry and Horticulture Association, marking the beginning of its journey as a major civic institution.

Locations and Scale

Denver Botanic Gardens operates two main campuses. York Street, located in downtown Denver, spans 24 acres in cooperation with the City and County of Denver, showcasing a diverse range of plants from around the world. Chatfield Farms, situated along the banks of Deer Creek in southern Jefferson County, covers 700 acres and is managed in cooperation with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The site serves as a native plant refuge and working farm, featuring historic buildings dating back to the 1800s and 2.5 miles of nature trails.

Collections and Gardens

York Street displays its living plant collections in naturalistic landscapes and modern designs throughout the grounds. The Science Pyramid explores the connections between plants, animals and water. The Mordecai Children’s Garden offers an outdoor space for kids and families to play, explore and discover. The Galleries present rotating exhibitions of contemporary art inspired by plants. At Chatfield Farms, the seasonal Butterflies habitat provides a home for hundreds of native butterfly species, while the Community Supported Agriculture program grows more than six acres of vegetables for subscribers and farm stands.

Education and Training Programs

Denver Botanic Gardens offers a broad range of programs for all ages. Adult programs include hands-on workshops, certificate courses, public lectures, professional development seminars and personal enrichment opportunities. The School of Botanical Art & Illustration teaches skills to render plants in scientific detail alongside artistic techniques for creating lasting plant portraits. Children and family programs provide diverse opportunities to explore the natural world, while school programs help students develop science skills, plant knowledge and environmental appreciation. The Helen Fowler Library houses approximately 25,000 titles covering botany and horticulture of the Rocky Mountain region and similar climates worldwide.

Research and Conservation

The Gardens serves as an active center of scientific research and biodiversity conservation. Horticultural research forms the foundation of the botanic garden’s mission, while biodiversity research focuses on weed control, ecological restoration, experimentation and long-term monitoring. The Kathryn Kalmbach Herbarium of Vascular Plants and the Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi contain extensive collections of Colorado plant specimens. Community science programs bring together professional researchers and community members to co-create research questions, collect data and analyze results. The Gardens also provides diverse training opportunities for the next generation of scientists and horticulturists.

Community Impact and Outreach

Denver Botanic Gardens positively impacts the community through diverse outreach initiatives. Water stewardship programs promote water-efficient gardening principles appropriate for semi-arid climates. Urban food programs include the pioneering CSA program launched in 2010, which provides weekly fresh produce to over 325 subscriber families. Urban agriculture projects at Denver Housing Authority neighborhoods grow over 30 varieties of produce using organic and regenerative practices, distributed through free farm stands. The Therapeutic Horticulture program offers sensory, plant-based experiences designed to enhance physical, mental and social well-being for seniors and people with special needs.

Official Website: https://www.botanicgardens.org

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