May - June, September - October
Native plants are gorgeous additions to any garden. They need virtually no water or care and support our local pollinators. Learn why gardening with natives benefits our local ecosystems, which of Boulder’s native plants work well in gardens, and pick up some growing tips so you can enjoy Boulder’s wildflowers in your own yard.

View photos of Dave’s native plant garden, which is often included in the CO Native Plant Annual Spring/Summer tour.

June
Twelve thousand years ago, mammoths lumbered through Boulder’s cool deciduous forests. As glaciers melted, the climate dried up and the ancient forests vanished . . . except for a few rare hidden pockets. Travel back to a rare botanical time capsule, one of the last remnants of the Ice Age forest in Colorado, where natural marvels await.

Best May through October
The prairies, pine forests and lush, wet meadows around Boulder are thick with wildflowers and a haven for wildlife. Depending on the month, certain trails offer spectacular displays of flowers (Goshawk Ridge, Shanahan Ridge, Dakota Hogback, and more). Learn to identify wildflowers, and how they form a vital part of Boulder’s ecosystems.

April
Go on a treasure hunt for the first wildflower hike of the season. We’ll look for common and uncommon flowers of both prairie and pine forest that are the first to welcome the spring. Bring wildflower books if you have them.

Best mid-September to mid-October
Fall colors aren’t just for trees. The grasses of Boulder’s tallgrass prairie turn lovely shadesof tan, fawn, russet, wine, and maroon. Fall wildflowers add to the blaze of glory. Explore the botanical fireworks in a rare stand of tallgrass prairie. Bring a camera for pictures to add to your nature scrapbook.

May through October
Take a hike on the wildflower-strewn hills to give thanks for the bees, beetles, butterflies, hummingbirds, moths and flies that do so much work to fill our world with color and good things to eat. Watch pollinators in action and learn how plants and animals shape each other’s evolution.

The Front Range in Boulder, Colorado is prone to destructive wildfires. But fire also plays a crucial and rejuvenating role in health forest and grassland ecosystems.

Learn how fire can be both foe and friend while visiting a recently-burned forest.

Best color: Early to mid-October

That distinctive crisp chill in the air tells plants that it's time to slow down for the winter – with beautiful results!

Learn the secrets beneath the fall color change, and enjoy spectacular displays of colorful foliage from trees, shrubs and prairie grasses punctuated by fall wildflowers.