Can you find all twenty-one sculptures spread across our thirty acres of walking trails? Many people look to nature and art for a mental and physical boost. If that’s you, enjoy a free, self-guided art walk featuring permanent displays and temporary installations made possible through the South Suburban Park and Recreation’s Art-on-Loan program.

Download a PDF map of the gardens with the locations and information about all our current “Art in the Gardens” installments.

Steel sculpture depicting a winding staircase

Climb

Artist: Maureen Hearty
Year: 2016

Climb depicts a winding staircase with architectural forms that rise past play, work, and success, living in the balance of organic forms and human-made structures to reach victory. Climb is built from reclaimed steel and was fabricated in a North Denver studio fueled by solar power.

It was one of sixteen sculptures showcased in Hearty’s ‘Iron Cycle’ sculpture exhibition, held at Hudson Gardens in summer 2016. Following the exhibition, Climb was added to the permanent art collection. It is located south of the Welcome Center.

Steel tower rising above the gardens in a large nest-like shape

Collective Nest

Artist: Joshua Weiner
Year: 2013

This 22-foot steel towers over the wildflowers in the Songbird Garden. The steel beams of the sculpture are arranged in a nest-like composition to give the viewer an image of nature and civilization in harmony.

Bronze sculpture of two burros

Dee Dee & Libby

Artist: Robin Laws
Year: 2017

This bronze sculpture was inspired by real burros living in Wyoming: mother Dee Dee and her baby Libby. It was generously donated to Hudson Gardens by Littleton resident Louise “Mim” Donner and is on display near the Garden Railroad.

Bronze sculpture of a young woman reading a book with a pet dog by her left side

Dorothy & Friends

Artist: Phyllis C. Beattie
Year: 1998

This sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Dorothy J. Vogt—a community leader and volunteer. The sculpture depicts Mrs. Vogt as a young girl doing what she loved best: reading The Land of Oz with her dog at her side. Dorothy & Friends was the first permanent art installation at Hudson Gardens and is currently on display near the Hudson Residence Business Office.

Abstract image of a cello made from forged steel

Eccentric Cello

Artist: Victoria Patti
Year: 2018

Crafted from forged steel, Eccentric Cello playfully accentuates the feminine character of the cello while also mimicking the movement and nuances of music.

This sculpture was one of many temporary installations provided through South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s “Art-on-Loan” program. Our patrons combined their resources to give it a permanent home at Hudson Gardens. It’s the first sculpture in our permanent collection to be purchased entirely with community-donated funds.

Metal sculpture with lattices and groves that resemble insect wings

Flight

Artist: Maureen Hearty
Year: 2016

Flight represents love and respect for the insect world, inspired by insect wings which are at once intricate, delicate, and incredibly strong. Its four separate pieces are woven with reclaimed printing press address labels and secured in a steel armature.

Flight was one of sixteen sculptures showcased in Hearty’s ‘Iron Cycle’ sculpture exhibition, held at Hudson Gardens in summer 2016. Following the exhibition, the sculpture was added to the permanent art collection. It is located across from the Vegetable Garden.

A steel metyal sculpture, that has weathered to be brown, containing brightly painted pink steel flowers and green leaves

Find Beauty

Artist: Charlotte Zink
Year: 2016

Find Beauty is a bright garden tower that adds a splash of color to our landscape. No watering required.

A magenta sculpture of an Iris flower made of recycled steel

Forever Iris

Artist: Marlene Plomske
Year: 2020

The brilliant magenta blooms of Forever Iris flower in stately elegance in front of the Welcome Center. Inspired by the shapes, textures, styles and colors of nature, this sculpture was crafted of recycled mild steel and pipe and made using more than thirty different pieces of equipment and tools. It is part of South Suburban Parks and Recreation’s Art-on-Loan program and will be on display from June 2020 to June 2021.

A metal sculpture representing two people, one handing something over to the other, while the other holds their hands out to receive the offering

The Gift

Artist: Susan Grant Raymond
Year: 1999

The Gift is nestled among the pine trees of the Conifer Grove along a quiet walking path. This sculpture was donated by Donor Alliance to commemorate organ donors and recipients.

Bronze representation of two bear cubs climbing on a tree branch

Hanging Around

Artist: Stephen LeBlanc
Year: 1996

Hanging Around portrays two bear cubs climbing a tree, while the mother bear in the adjacent Under a Watchful Eye sculpture looks on.

The bronze sculpture can be found in front of The Barn near Hudson Gardens’ west entrance, adjacent to the Mary Carter Greenway Trail. Commissioned using funds from the Scientific and Cultural Facilities District, Hanging Around was selected for permanent display by the City of Littleton’s Fine Arts Committee in 1996.

Horse sculpture in bronze at Hudson Gardens

Kate’s Pony

Artist: Stephen Leblanc
Year: 2000

This sculpture is dedicated to the memory of Helen Koernig, a gardening enthusiast. The memorial is a bronze representation of Helen’s daughter Kate’s beloved Shetland pony and is located near the Hudson Lake.

Bronze sculpture portraying several geese in flight

Incoming

Artist: Stephen LeBlanc
Year: 2001

Incoming, a bronze sculpture depicting geese in flight, is dedicated in memory of Ed Warner and is located on the small island at the south end of the Hudson Lake.

A bronze sculpture with three interlocking circles, two of which hold kaleidoscopes. The kaleidoscopes point to a bowl full of live, blooming flowers

Kaleidoscope

Artist: Robert C. Anderson
Year: 2010

This interactive living sculpture is located near the Hudson Gardens Business Office. Made of steel and copper, this piece was donated in memory of the lives of Joedy, Thomas, and Daniel Stegman and features a pair of twisting kaleidoscopes that focus on live flowers blooming in a rotating bowl below.

Steel sculpture of a lotus plant, but each leaf is a different color of the rainbow

Lotus

Artist: Charlotte Zink
Year: 2002

Lotus is a whimsical interpretation of the plant that bears its name. You can find this colorful steel flower by the actual lotuses in our Water Garden.

nine stainless steel figures depicting the human presence, removed of age, race, gender, era, and all other characteristics that distinguish it from the whole of nature

Mind Fields

Artist: Todd Siler
Year: 2002

Mind Fields is a collection of nine stainless steel figures depicting the human presence, removed of age, race, gender, era, and all other characteristics that distinguish it from the whole of nature. Together, the figures symbolize the processing and communication of life experiences.

Mind Fields is installed on the South Lawn adjacent to the Conifer Grove.

Bronze sculpture of a woman in a dress frolicking, her hands are similar to the fins of a decorative fish

Red Dress

Artist: Shohini Ghosh
Year: 2016

Red Dress is a figurative, stylistic representation of the simple moments in life. This bronze sculpture is set among conifer trees adjacent to the Victoria Water Lily Pond. Installed in 2015, Red Dress was loaned to Hudson Gardens through South Suburban Park and Recreation District’s Art-on-Loan program. Using funds contributed from a variety of donors, Hudson Gardens purchased the piece to become a part of its permanent outdoor art collection.

A bronze bench, designed to look as though it is made of wood

Ray’s Bench

Artist: Stephen LeBlanc
Year: 2014

The bronze Ray’s Bench overlooks Kate’s Pony; a beautiful bronze sculpture  that was placed in the gardens in honor of Ray’s wife and daughter.  Ray’s Bench is dedicated to the memory of Ray Koernig: a volunteer, advocate, and board member of Hudson Gardens.

Ray’s Bench is located near the Hudson Lake.

A bronze sculpture of a mother bear, sitting on the ground looking on over two bear cubs depicted the adjacent Hanging Around sculpture

Under a Watchful Eye

Artist: Stephen LeBlanc
Year: 2005

Under a Watchful Eye portrays a mother bear looking on over two bear cubs depicted the adjacent Hanging Around sculpture. It can be found at Hudson Gardens’ west entrance, adjacent to the Mary Carter Greenway Trail and the South Platte River. The bronze sculpture was purchased using funds from the Littleton Fine Arts Board and a donation from Mary Bradford, in memory of her daughter, Wendy Carpenter Bowe.

Recycled small pieces of steel scrap, painted blue and shaped to look like a large water droplet with an opening in one side so that people can crawl in and out of the sculpture

Water Drop

Artist: Maureen Hearty
Year: 2016

Water Drop is built from reclaimed industrial steel pieces welded together to form a droplet of water. The piece provides an invitation to consider the impact of modernization on water resources with the hope of inspiring conservation.

It was one of sixteen sculptures showcased in Hearty’s ‘Iron Cycle’ sculpture exhibition, held at Hudson Gardens in summer 2016. Following the exhibition, Water Drop was added to the permanent art collection. It is located near the north end of the Hudson Lake.

Stobe sculpture representing two gears leaned on opposite sides of a stone wheel

Endless Time

Artist: Jan Steinhasuer
Year: 2020

Endless Time was inspired by a large stone, gear-shaped object the artist had seen during her travels in Turkey.  Endless Time initially was displayed at Hudson Gardens as part of a temporary art exhibit in 2000.  Upon her retirement from sculpting, Jan donated all of her sculptures to local organizations. Hudson Gardens was selected to become the permanent home to Endless Time in 2020. Endless Time is located in the Conifer Grove overlooking the South Lawn.

A green steel sign with a blue star and yellow text reading "Blue Star Memorial: I tribute to the Armed Forces that have defended the United States of America

Blue Star Memorial

Donated By: The South Central District Garden Clubs
Dedication Date: November 2003

The Blue Star Memorial honors all who serve or have served in the United States Armed Forces.  The symbol was taken from the blue star of the service flag.  This flag represented how many family members were serving during World War II.  The Blue Star Memorial is surrounded by beautiful pine trees and is located between The Inn and Welcome Center.