September 28, 2026
Denver’s Washington Park is looking fallish. On a recent stroll around Grasmere Lake, I enjoyed fall perennials still in flower…
…and trees turning rusty.
On closer inspection, however, the lindens looked more drought stressed than autumnal.
Biking by
Or maybe it’s a combo of drought stress and fall.
Those suffering lindens (please hang in there!) make a pretty frame for lake views.
This park is magical to me — an oasis in the middle of the city.
Big cottonwoods lean over historic Smith’s Ditch, which snakes through the park. It was Denver’s first irrigation canal, dug by plow between 1860 and 1867.
It ran 27 miles to bring water to the park, where an open section still flows today. I often see kids and dogs playing in it.
Tree-framed view of Wash Park’s boathouse on Smith Lake
The walk home
I welcome your comments. Please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post. And hey, did someone forward this email to you, and you want to subscribe? Click here to get Digging delivered directly to your inbox!
__________________________
Digging Deeper
“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.
