Tonight: August 26, 2021
8–9:00 PM

We’ve been waiting for this night all summer! One of our Victoria Water Lilies will bloom at sunset. Join us for the third annual Bloom Watch Party to celebrate this natural wonder.

This event has become a popular summer tradition with hundreds of guests gathering at sunset to watch a delicate white flower emerge over the course of an hour. Join our volunteers from the Colorado Water Garden Society as they explain the science, beauty, and strangeness of this rare plant. See, smell, and feel the bloom up close and personal during an interactive portion of the night. Enjoy a beautiful evening in the gardens with a community of nature enthusiasts.

Patrons are welcome to bring chairs, food, and non-alcoholic beverages. Alcohol and glass containers of any kind are not permitted.

Tickets

This is a free event. No ticket or registration required. Patrons are encouraged to give a $10 donation to support the water lilies and other garden exhibits. Better yet, donate by joining the new Benefactor Club!

Why are these blooms so exciting?

Hudson Gardens and Denver Botanic Gardens are the only public locations in the Denver area where you can witness a Victoria Water Lily bloom. These flowers, which are native to South America, have a fascinating, 48-hour life cycle. The flower is white and female on the first night of the bloom and releases a scent to attract beetles which fertilize it with pollen from other lilies. The flower closes and traps the beetles inside until the second night when the flower opens as a male with a purplish color. The beetles fly off to the next white flower, and the purple flower sinks back underneath the water. Learn more by watching the Colorado Water Garden Society’s educational video.