Barbara’s first retirement adventure took her out West to beautiful Denver, CO. The Denver Botanic Gardens began in 1951 as a grassroots effort, originally establishing a 100-acre site in City Park in 1952. Frequent vandalism forced a relocation to its current 24-acre York Street location in the late 1950s.
Denver Botanical Garden
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Annual Border featuring Celosia (Celosia argentea) and Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Bill Hosokawa Bonsai Pavillion Japanese Lantern
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Hollyhock (Alcea rosea)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Bill Hosokawa Bonsai Pavillion's Trident Maple Bonsai (Acer fuergerianum)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
A New Humanism by artist, Jaume Plensa
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Birds & Bees Walk features a large steel-framed arch full of bee nesting materials
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Desert Bird of Paradise (Caesalpinia gilliesii)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Birds & Bees Walk has numerous bee hotels
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Gloria Falkenberg Herb and Knot Garden Lavender (
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Bird & Bees Walk contains habitat screens
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Chuhuly Glass Sculpture was inspired by the beauty of Colorado sunsets
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Clamshell and Head Containers planted with bromeliads in the Victorian Secret Garden
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Grey-headed Coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
El Pomar Waterway
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Denver Botanical Garden Parking Lot Perennial Bed
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Four Towers Pool
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Gloria Falkenberg Herb and Knot Garden
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Gloria Falkenberg Herb and Knot Garden
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Bubba Desert Willow (Chilopsis linearis Bubba)
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Dale Chihuly Sculpture in the Ellipse Garden
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Kiwi Mellow Cool Dianthus (Dianthus barbatus'Kiwi Mellow Cool')
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
Hydrangea Arbor in the Gardens of the West Area
Barbara H. Smith, ©2026 HGIC, Clemson Extension
