Discover Top Posts Tagged with #apga

Opuntia (yellows and oranges) | The Gardens on Spring Creek, Fort Collins, CO

#opuntia #gardens on spring creek #botanical gardens #public garden #apga #Fort Collins #Colorado

The Gardens on Spring Creek | Fort Collins, CO

My last post on this final stop of APGA 2025 conference field trip day are my favorite picks of color at the Gardens.

I’ve got two more garden visits to share from this trip to Colorado, though - so, stay tuned!

#the gardens on spring creek #gardens on spring creek #fort Collins #Colorado #apga #public garden #botanic garden #pride #cactus #succulent #wildflowers

Opuntia (pinks) | The Gardens on Spring Creek, Fort Collins, CO

#opuntia #gardens on spring creek #Fort Collins #Colorado #Kelly grummons #apga #botanic gardens #public garden

The Gardens on Spring Creek - Fort Collins, CO

The gardens were not lacking in compelling texture!

#the gardens on spring creek #fort collins #APGA #public garden #botanic gardens #mugo #sedum #iris #salvia

Cactus Garden | The Gardens on Spring Creek

The Cactus Garden at the Gardens on Spring Creek in Fort Collins is a striking showcase of resilience and design, featuring one of the largest outdoor collections of cold-hardy cacti in the United States. Opened in 2019 as part of the Gardens’ major expansion, this south-facing, ¾-acre space was designed by renowned horticulturist Lauren Springer. Its sloped, sunny layout and rhyolite rockwork mimic high desert terrain, creating an ideal environment for drought-tolerant species adapted to Colorado’s climate. Hundreds of cacti, all hardy to USDA Zone 5, are artfully arranged alongside gravel paths and shaded seating areas, offering visitors a unique and immersive experience.

More than a visual spectacle, the Cactus Garden serves as a living model of sustainable gardening. Blending form and function, it incorporates native and xeric plants that attract pollinators and demonstrate water-wise landscaping principles. As part of the larger Undaunted Garden, this space supports ecological education and invites guests to explore the beauty and adaptability of arid-climate plants. Whether in bloom or dormant, the garden reflects the power of nature to thrive under challenging conditions while inspiring more climate-conscious gardening practices.

Pictured here: views of the covered space overlooking the garden.

#the gardens on spring creek #Fort Collins #Colorado #cactus #succulent #Lauren springer #apga #public garden #botanic gardens

Denver Botanic Gardens | Nexus Garden

The Nexus Garden at Denver Botanic Gardens has become one of my favorite spots. Redesigned in 2018, it’s grounded—literally and artistically—in Kelly Grummons’ Walk in Beauty™ Opuntia collection. The garden used to be a more formal parterre, but now it spills gracefully down the slope with a mix of prickly pears, succulents, and drought-tolerant perennials. I love the way the silvery pads and golden spines catch the light, punctuated by pops of color from seasonal blooms. Along the north edge, redbuds and butterfly bushes bring softness and contrast, giving the space a layered, living rhythm.

This is my second time seeing it, and it’s clear the garden continues to develop beautifully. The Opuntia have settled in and started to sprawl with ease, blending into a design that feels both intentional and wild. The slope feels less structured now, more like a natural descent into a high-desert dreamscape that is resilient, striking, and deeply rooted in place.