During your visit to the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens, explore a butterfly house, a greenhouse teeming with exotic tropical plants, paved trails and outdoor gardens and demonstration areas. Be sure to stop by the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House’s Gift Shop for one-of-a-kind gifts and keepsakes.
Butterfly House
The Butterfly House is home to butterflies native to North America. Stroll through the Butterfly House’s lush forest of flowering plants, ferns and ponds as beautiful butterflies of all shape and colors flutter overhead.
Rainforest Greenhouse
Adjacent to the Butterfly House is the Rainforest Greenhouse. Wander paths surrounded by hundreds of tropical plants and trees. You will spot orange and banana trees as well as coffee plants. The Rainforest Greenhouse boasts an outstanding orchid collection maintained by the High Desert Orchid Society. Additional features of the greenhouse include fishponds and whimsical metal sculptures.
Sensory Garden
Use your five senses in the Western Colorado Sensory Garden. Maintained by a faithful group of volunteers, the Sensory Garden features a dash of color, a touch of allure and a rich heavenly perfume.
The Cactus Garden
Located west of the greenhouse is the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens’ highly acclaimed outdoor cactus and succulent garden. Established in 2002, the Cactus Garden is managed by the Chinle Cactus and Succulent Society and features succulent plants, some of the most beautiful and bizarre in the entire plant kingdom.
Shozan-en
Japanese gardeners often create harmony between man and nature by featuring local flora in their gardens. In the Western Botanical Gardens’ Japanese garden, Shozan-en, native Colorado plants are taken out of the context of nature and introduced as garden plants.
Heritage Garden
Created by Elizabeth Harris and her faithful crew, the Botanical Gardens’ Heritage Garden explores the story of Western Colorado and its horticultural history. Walk through time and discover the story of the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and the origins of its regional plants and the people who first settled in the Grand Valley.
Ursula Hemmerich Memorial Rose Garden
Named in honor of local rose enthusiast, Ursula Hemmerich, the Ursula Hemmerich Memorial Rose Garden features species roses, from hybrid teas to climbing and rambling roses. Roses within the garden are maintained by the Grand Valley Rose Society.
Harmony Garden
Harmony Garden is a colourful four-season garden boasting diverse and impressive plant material. Most of the garden is suited to a mostly-sun part-xeric exposure. However, it also accommodates some unusual shade-loving gems.
Celebration Plaza
The Western Colorado Botanical Garden’s Celebration Plaza was originally designed as a place of mediation and reflection for individuals with breast cancer. Today, however, Celebration Plaza serves as a respite for all garden visitors.
Herb Garden
The Herb Garden is maintained by the Western Colorado Desert Herb Society.
Delight in an oasis of color and fragrance, from soothing and soft lavender to fresh mint.
Be sure to stop by the Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House Gift Shop. Items made by local artisans as well as a lovely selection of gifts unique to the Botanical Gardens and Western Colorado are available to purchase.
Travel Tips
- The Western Colorado Botanical Gardens and Butterfly House is ADA complaint.
- Do not forget your camera. There will be exciting photo opportunities during your visit to the botanical gardens.