Barnum Garden Tour: Danielle and David's Earth-Friendly Edibles

When I visited Danielle to photograph her lovely organic kitchen garden in Barnum West, I was instantly charmed. No neat lines and strict compartments separated her plants. Instead, her garden is a riot of colors and textures, full of abundance and stunning variety. Chinese Cabbage lay hidden under Egyptian Walking Onions, exotic-sounding varieties of radishes and salad greens crowd around lush walls of raspberries. Danielle's young son happily ate peas right off the vine, his brightly colored toys scattered about, forgotten in favor of fresh vegetables. Her family's backyard garden felt like a home.

Her ambitious side garden that lines the street is still in it's infancy, but already shows careful consideration for sustainability. Danielle has laboriously reshaped her slope into swales and hugelkultur berms that will conserve Denver's meager rainwater. Young jujube trees, cardoons, yarrow, squashes, and service berries line the swales, ready to turn a sun-beaten hill into an urban oasis. Looking at her new project, I couldn't help but think her garden will someday grace the cover of Mother Earth News.


Our Names: Danielle and David

Garden Style: Permaculture

How Long We've Been Gardening Here: 3 years

What's New In The Garden This Year: We have added perennial greens like sorrel, Italian dandelion and lovage, as well as medicinal perennial herbs like motherwort, skullcap and astragalus to our cooler weather polyculture garden. But the biggest change is turning our hot and sunny side yard into a permaculture garden where we aim to create a more complete ecosystem with perennial crops that play diverse roles like nitrogen fixing, attracting pollinators, drawing up minerals from deep in the earth, providing beneficial insect and animal habitat, confusing pests, creating more soil fertility, and suppressing weeds. We've added jujube trees and serviceberry bushes for fruit, surrounded by a number of supporting perennials, with our hot-crop annuals mixed in. We also did a lot of earth-moving, creating sunken beds that are more water efficient than raised beds.

What We Love To Grow: We have lots of great early spring crops like arugula, lettuce, orach (similar to spinach but a lot more productive), and snap peas. Later in the season we make a lot of salsa with our chiles, tomatoes and tomatillos. Cucumbers (pickles!), raspberries and winter squash (especially delicata) are also big favorites.

What We Cannot Grow: We have struggled to get New Zealand spinach to germinate. It's supposed to be a great hot-weather green but we've only been able to get one little plant to grow. Generally each year will be good for some crops and not others. Last year our tomato crop was limited but we were swimming in cucumbers. The year before it was the opposite.

Biggest Battle: Slowly building up our soil. We've sheet-mulched with compost and manure but it'll take time for the earthworms and other helpers to break up the hard clay underneath.

Our Advice To New Gardeners In The 'Hood: Carefully consider the water needs of the plants you want to grow. "Full sun" plants may thrive with more shade than you think. Building up the organic matter in your soil will dramatically increase the amount of water it can retain, and be sure to mulch deeply. Consider sunken beds instead of raised beds. Finally, don't bite off more than you can chew at first--we speak from experience!

Favorite Nursery/Supply Shop: Timberline, though in Arvada it's not the closest.

Thank you very much to Danielle and David for their hospitality and for sharing their garden with Welcome To Barnum!

Be sure to leave a comment for the gardeners below!

If you live in Barnum/Barnum West and would like to submit your own garden for a garden tour, please email a couple of photos to welcometobarnum (at) gmail.com. Selected gardens will be featured throughout the summer.

And, as always, if you are a Barnum or Barnum West resident who would like to contribute content to the Welcome To Barnum blog, please email us!

Bicycling in Barnum

I just stumbled across this notice that there will be an Open House with Denver Public Works tonight at the Barnum Recreation Center! They'll be discussing making improvements to South West Denver's bicycling infrastructure. Here's a link to the pdf notice.

I sure do wish they'd schedule these meetings a little later in the evenings so that I could attend after work. Oh well. If you go and get the skinny on what's happening, help a gal out and send me some notes via email!

welcometobarnum (at) gmail.com

Barnum Garden Tour: Devin and Daniel's Dreamy Cottage Garden

Devin and Daniel's cottage garden is absolutely stunning. Plants can be beautiful by themselves -- and D & D have many pretty plants -- but it's the combinations they've created that makes this garden truly fantastic.

The shrubs and trees, the vines and hedges, and all of the clusters of color and texture between show a true talent for design in addition to a quite obviously green thumb.

What a dreamy place to begin our Barnum Neighborhood Garden Tours.

Our Names: Devin and Daniel

Garden Style: Cottage

How Long We've Been Gardening Here: 5 years

What's New In The Garden This Year: This year we are planting a part sun garden on the north side of our house. We also did a raised vegetable garden bed where we're planting a few different varieties of cucumbers and squash, Brussels sprouts and eggplants.  

What We Love To Grow: Everything! We've always had an extensive vegetable garden and also perennial gardens. Some of our favorite plants include bee balm, lavender, meadow rue, columbines, bleeding hearts, and peonies.

What We Cannot Grow: We've had success with almost everything we've planted considering we select plants that thrive in our climate. We stray away from exotic or tropical plants that have a hard time adapting to our swinging temperatures.  

Biggest Battle:  We're fighting a constant battle with mallow weed.  It's our number one offender! 

Our Advice To New Gardeners In The 'Hood:  Amend your soil if you need to, select drought tolerant plants and use mulch or a ground cover to conserve water!     

Favorite Nursery/Supply Shop: We love O'toole's on Colfax/Quail.  

Their pup, Atlas, looking especially handsome.

Thank you both for giving us a peek into your beautiful Barnum garden!

Have a lovely Barnum or Barnum West garden of your own you'd like to share with your neighbors? Submit your photographs to the blog by emailing them to welcometobarnum (at) gmail.com. Don't forget to leave your comments for Devin and Daniel below!

Summer of Reading at the Barnum Branch Library

Every summer, our Barnum Branch Library (1st and Lowell) offers a pretty amazing summer program for kids. Not only can kids get awesome prizes for reading, they can also stop in to the library for an impressive lineup of free performances, crafts, and activities all summer long. Prizes are available for children from birth through 12th grade. Ask one of our local librarians or visit the Summer of Reading website for more details.

You can pick up reading logs for your kiddos beginning June 2nd. Here's a sneak peek at what is coming this summer to our Barnum Branch Library. Printed calendars are available at the branch:

TUESDAY, JUNE 3

1 p.m.

Hand Painted Ceramic Dunk Mug

This is such a popular mug! It holds your milk AND your cookies! It’s so fun to paint too since you can paint it like Cookie Monster, Minions, and more. (Project will be fired at Ceramics in the City and returned to library in 1 weeks time.) Registration is required. Please call to reserve your space.

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

1 p.m.

Connie Elstun’s Super Science Magic Show

Spend an hour with Connie and some members of her hilarious cast as she teaches you how they found out Science is Magic and Magic is Science. This popular program includes incredible magic and hands-on learning. All supplies are provided and the laughter is free. Good for all ages. No registration is required.

TUESDAY, JUNE 17

1 p.m.

Mark Strivings - Crazy Inventions

Master Magician Mark Strivings is at it again! He's been tinkering in his lab and will be showing you some of his crazy contrivances, daffy devices, wacky widgets, goofy gadgets and all kinds of fabulous flummery! It's magic like you've never seen before and so much fun it shouldn't be legal! Be there! No registration is required.

TUESDAY, JUNE 24

2 p.m.

Ann Lincoln -Space Alien’s Big Bang Magic and Juggling Show

She came from Outer Space and crash landed at your library! Now Ann Lincoln will have to “Fizz, Boom, Read” in order to blast off back to her home planet. Perfect for ages 3-10. No registration is required.

TUESDAY, JULY 1

1 p.m

Wild Wings Environmental Education - Raptors of the Rockies

In this interactive program, we explore the tools and adaptations that different raptors use to be successful in the wild. The program features live birds - a hawk, an owl, and a falcon - all species that are found here in Colorado. This program concludes with a discussion on the important roles of these raptors in the environment. No registration is required.

SATURDAY, JULY 12

1 p.m.

Harmony Yoga- Yoga for Kids

Let's take time out for yoga and ourselves. Yoga helps to reduce stress and create calm minds and bodies. We will move our bodies, breathe deeply and relax in a safe, non-judgmental environment. Flexibility not required, and no experience necessary. A limited number of mats will be provided; students are encouraged to bring one if they have one. No registration is required.

SATURDAY, JULY 19

1 p.m.

Safari Sallly - Fizz, Boom, Hiss and Kerplop

Did you hear that? What makes that sound? Get a chance to get up close and personal with some amazing animals with Safari Sally. From invertebrates, reptiles to mammals have a great time while you learn some amazing facts about these animals. From preschool to adults, there’s nothing more fun than learning about animals and even getting a chance to touch them and hear what sound they really do make! No registration is required.

TUESDAY, JULY 22

1 p.m.

Bleach Pen T-Shirt

Join us as we transform an ordinary T-shirt into something you’ll want to wear every day! For grades 2 to 12. Registration is required. Please call to reserve your space.

SATURDAY, JULY 26

1 p.m.

Stardust Vase

Come make a beautiful stardust vase to light up your room! For grades 2 to 12. Registration is required. Please call to reserve your space.

TUESDAY, JULY 29

1 p.m.

Denver Dumb Friends League - How to Meet a Dog

“Is it always safe to pet a dog? This course teaches children how to meet a dog by practicing some basic steps. They discover what an animal’s body posture may be communicating about how he or she is feeling and how respecting an animal’s feelings will keep everyone safe.” This program is for kids K – 5th grade. No registration is required.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 5

1 p.m.

Face Painting with Nancy Avalon

Have your face painted by artist Nancy Avalon. Due to the popularity of this program, please arrive on time to be sure you get a turn! All ages. No registration is required.


"The Children’s Library began a “Vacation Reading Program” during the summer of 1921 as a way to interest kids in reading over the summer. That tradition continues every summer with Denver Public Library’s annual Summer Reading Program. Now the program consists of three separate programs--Read With Me for babies and preschoolers, a kids' program for children in Kindergarten through grade 5, and a teen program for grades 6 through 12. Each of these programs offers rewards for reading independently or with an adult, as well as special events at locations all over the city during the summer." (Denver Public Library website)

Early Morning in Barnum Park

Barnum Park is wearing our stormy weather well. Here are some pretty shots from an early morning jog through the green belt to the park today.

How lovely!

Barnum Garden Tours

Charlie's cottage garden

There was an article in Westword a few years ago about all of the lawn ornaments in Barnum. Yup. We have a newsworthy number of lawn ornaments in this neighborhood. High-five, neighbors! 

However, for those of us who aren't into herds of plastic deer grazing upon fields of dandelions, it's the most wonderful time of the year. It's gardening time. Now that the very late final frost date has come and gone, shit is about to get real.

And, if the anticipation of all those peonies and tomatoes wasn't enough, this summer, Welcome To Barnum is going to host and post some neighborhood garden tours.

If you're a resident of Barnum or Barnum West and want to show off your green thumb, snap a few photos of your garden and submit them to the blog's email address (welcometobarnum (at) gmail.com). 

Sage and Yarrow and Cotoneasters, oh my!

Selected gardens will be featured periodically on the blog starting in June and continuing through October. Flower gardens, vegetable gardens, and/or generally delightful landscaping are all allowed. If you have potted an artificial Christmas tree in your front yard or planted faded silk flowers in a whiskey barrel (really?! ಠ_ಠ), you are automatically disqualified. That shit is not okay. But, otherwise, please feel free to send in your awesome yard! No last names or exact addresses will be published.

Don't Know Much About Barnum?

When we first moved in, several of our neighbors were super excited to tell us how our backyard was once-upon-a-time a hotel for circus elephants. So charming, but sadly not quite true. Since PT Barnum was somewhat famous for his hoaxes, entertaining as they might have been, I think it's rather fitting that his namesake neighborhood carries the same sort of not-quite-true-but-it-makes-for-a-good-story sort of mythology.

Here's some fun facts for your next Barnum barbeque: Yes, this land was purchased by PT Barnum in 1878. No, it was not ever going to be a winter home for his circus. It was, in fact, a real estate investment. How mundane. After selling the rest in bits, he did sell part of it to his daughter, Helen, who was married to William Buchtel. If that name sounds familiar to Denverites, it should: William Buchtel became Mayor of Barnum, but his big brother, Henry Buchtel was Governor of Colorado, Chancellor of the University of Denver, and namesake of Buchtel Blvd.

One more cool fact: Barnum has a slogan. "If you stick with Barnum, Barnum will stick with you." What an unfortunate slogan.

For more info on ol' PT and the history of the Barnum neighborhood, check out this link to Denver Public Library's Western History and Genealogy Department: The Story of Barnum.

Do you have a cool Barnum neighborhood history to share? Leave a comment! Interested in becoming a contributor to the Barnum/Barnum West website? Send us an email! 

welcometobarnum (at) gmail.com