November 04, 2026
I burned up my phone camera snapping pictures of the gardens at Denver’s Washington Park this summer and fall. So many of those images never made it into a blog post. But today I’m backing up to late September to share early fall pics from the park’s Big Garden. A wide shot shows the size of this large meadowy garden, which definitely lives up to its name.
Park horticulturist Skyler Smith continues to nibble away at perimeters of lawn, expanding the garden even further this fall. More of this? Yes, please!
Benches tucked in flowery borders let you relax among the plants.
Flowering tobacco growing fragrant at dusk
One more, with a silvery willow or something behind it
Not too long ago, this was all bedding annuals. What a transformation in terms of seasonal change and habitat.
Ratibida seedheads
Ruby muhly grass and daisies
Not sure about this one — is it tall verbena gone to seed?
Agastache
More sparkling grasses
Joe Pye weed gone to seed
‘Fireworks’ goldenrod disguising a compost or hügelkultur pile
More goldenrod
Milkweed seedpods
Aster
Ruby muhly
Good spot for family photos
Pink cosmos and coreopsis
Bees working the cosmos
Tall verbena and blue grama grass
A professional photo shoot was happening on the lawn.
At the outer edge of the Big Garden, annual beds remain with showy plants like Datura metel and pennisetum.
Datura’s tubular flower bud
Unfurling at dusk, datura flowers evoke a Georgia O’Keeffe painting.
Mojave sage echoing the color of purple fountain grass
‘Pink Crystals’ ruby grass too
Flowering tobacco, black-eyed Susans, and tall verbena
Flowering border
I can’t remember what these beautiful yellow flowers are — budding sunflowers, maybe? They were wowing me with their height and clear yellow color back in September.
Echoing the sunset sky
One more
No no, one more with pink cosmos!
Agastache and cosmos
I’m planning for a raised-bed cutting garden in my future garden, something I’ve never done before. I’ll definitely be growing cosmos in it next summer. Any other cutting garden recommendations from my Colorado readers?
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“Gardens of Texas is not your typical door stop/coffee table book filled with beautiful images of gardens you can never hope to achieve. The photography is definitely inspiring, but Pam’s thoughtful, detailed storytelling and “Try This At Home” features…makes one feel empowered to create similar garden magic….This is what I’ll curl up with on late August afternoons when the mercury in Austin soars and I’m stuck indoors.”
–MomInAustin, a reviewer on Amazon
Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State is here! It’s for anyone who loves gardens or the natural beauty of Texas. Find it on Amazon, other online book sellers, and in stores everywhere. More info here.
All material © 2026 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
