By Molly Quirk
The Golden Pioneer Museum has been
working hard on their Heritage Garden Exhibit, and it
shows! The beautiful garden surrounds the museum on all
sides and is composed of plants that could have been
grown prior to the 1900s.
The museum received the garden plan from
the University of Colorado at Denver. Several graduate
students prepared garden plans filled with plants that
would have been grown in the 1900s as a project. These
students supplied the Golden Pioneer Museum with the
plans so that they could accurately depict an early
1900s garden.
When you visit this exhibit, we can
supply you with a brochure explaining the garden and the
various plants found in it. Most of the plants or their
species were grown in the Golden area in the early
1900s. You can find native grasses of Golden in the
garden, as well as many ornamental flowers and plants.
On the east side of the museum you can
find an herb garden complete with medicinal and culinary
herbs as well as edible flowers. At the back of the
museum is a patio surrounded by ornamental plants and
flowers.
On the side of the building which is
facing the creek, you can find the Heritage Rose Garden
where species of roses dating back to as early as the
1790s thrive. You can also find indigenous plants of
Colorado in this area.
During the spring and summer, the patio
can be reserved for garden parties and special events.
Garden lectures also take place here. Call the museum
for more details or to reserve the patio for your own
party.
If anyone is willing to help water, weed
and fertilize the garden, please call the museum and
discuss times, etc. with them. Your help is always
appreciated. The garden will be around for as long as
the weather holds up, so get a look at it while it looks
beautiful!
