Namesake flower: Denver daisy
State flower: Rocky Mountain columbine
Number of parks: More than 300. Check out denvergov.org/parks
Number of Denver Botanic Gardens locations: 3; the main downtown location (1005 York St.), plus Littleton and Mt. Evans. botanicgardens.org
Number of community gardens: More than 80. Download a map from Denver Urban Gardens .
Best place to buy plants: Tagawa Gardens in Centennial (pictured).
Claim to gardenspeak fame: “Xeriscape” was coined in 1981 by the Denver Water department.
Best garden-inspired restaurant: Potager (French for “kitchen garden”). $$; closed Sun; 1109 Ogden St.; 303/832-5788.
Where to dine in a garden: Highland’s Garden Cafe. Order the watercress, pistachio, and pink grapefruit salad. $$$; closed Sun; 3927 W. 32nd Ave.; 303/458-5920.
Most impressive rooftop garden: The 20,000-squarefoot “green roof” at the Environmental Protection Agency’s regional headquarters. 303/ 312-6836 for tour info.
