Arid western landscapes aren’t the most hospital places for colorful flowers – so maybe there’s a little magic sprinkled in with the dirt at these botanical destinations. All of the spots listed below are free and open to the public. While we’ve included current operating hours for reference, it’s always best to confirm details online, prior to visiting, to ensure nothing has changed.
Gardens open daily from sunrise to sunset; welcome center open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.
m. 6115 S. Santa Fe Drive, Littleton; No need to travel far for this first garden, which is a short ride from Denver via the South Platte River and Mary Carter Greenway trails.
If you bike in – highly recommended – start with something caffeinated at Nixon’s Coffee House, situated at Hudson Gardens’ northeast entrance. The main garden entrance is off Santa Fe Drive, and as long as an event isn’t happening, you’ll find ample free parking in one of several lots preceding a welcome center and gift shop. Owned and operated by South Suburban Parks and Recreation, Hudson Gardens houses thirty acres of display gardens, along with gentle trails, open spaces, water features, and plenty of peaceful nooks.
There’s lots to see and discover, including a water lily pond, rose garden, the native Colorado Garden, vegetable and herb plots, and Bob’s Pond Water Garden, showcasing the diversity of the planet’s aquatic plants. All of these spaces can be accessed via the sole paved trail looping throug.