Yampa River Botanic Park Welcomes New Season April 30
04/28/2021 12:44PM ● By City of Steamboat Springs
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO – April showers, or in our case, April snow showers, bring May flowers. But flowers aren’t the only thing blossoming ahead of May Day as the Yampa River Botanic Park celebrates the new season and its opening day Friday, April 30.
“Spring is in the air, the ospreys have returned, and the Park is transforming every day,” said Jennifer MacNeil, Executive Director of the Yampa River Botanic Park. “We’re excited to open and provide an outdoor space for our community after the long winter.”
The snow is receding quickly from the gardens with the recent warm weather ahead of the park’s April 30th Opening. The Crevice Garden and Jeff's Garden, both south facing with a lot of rock to retain heat, have melted out. Crocus are popping and the Spring Bulb Garden should be putting on a show soon.
The male and female pair of ospreys that nest along the river by the Botanic Park have returned for their sixth season. A third bird has arrived too that is thought to be a returning juvenile which will be kicked out once the parents are ready to nest again. The birds spent the winter in Central and South America. Come see them soaring up and down river!
Make sure you mark your calendar for Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 5 pm to join us for the Yampa River Botanic Park's first annual gala event Passport Through the Botanic Park. The event invites guests to journey through the gardens touring plant collections that are native to Colorado and similar environments worldwide while enjoying global cuisine, wine, and entertainment. Passports (event registration) go on sale soon for Botanic Park members first and 4 days following for non-members. Check the website to see when registration is open.
Once a sprawling horse pasture, the six-acre Yampa River Botanic Park is now home to more than 60 unique gardens, thousands of plant species, animals, and hosts special events of all shapes and sizes. An innovative experiment in private/public partnerships, the Botanic Park is free and open to the public from dawn to dusk, through October 31.
For ongoing updates on the Park’s various summer programs and events, visit the website at yrbp.org, or find us on Facebook by searching Yampa River Botanic Park.