The Vision
seed was planted
when Lisa…
Became frustrated with oversized houses in her neighborhood.
Bought the house next door to stop developers from building.
Saw a NYT article about pocket parks in Philadelphia.
Began volunteering at Denver Botanic Gardens.
Had a chance meeting with an expert horticulturist.
Was curious about native plants and had a deep understanding of science.
Iâm not an ideator. Iâm a synthesizer. Iâm good at taking disparate ideas and melding them together to create action.
– Lisa Negri
Volunteer
Trim, prune, clear, plant or seed. We can always use a few extra hands. Volunteer shifts vary by season.
Guided Tours
Book your garden club or responsible watering coalition for a field trip to SummerHome Garden. Now scheduling for May to October, 2024.
Celebrate
SummerHome Garden is a beautiful place for weddings, memorials, senior photos and more. Capacity: 25
Keynote Speaking
Lisaâs story inspires, educates and empowers. Learn how SummerHome Garden came into being and the magic of this sacred space.
âItâs been a pleasure to work with you on your 2023 Open DayâŚ.the money youâve raised by sharing your garden and expertise raises crucial funds for our work in preservation and grant-giving.â
The Garden Conservancy, August, 2023
The Design
By densely planting and seeding regionally adapted plants in a style emulating southwestern shrublands, we created a novel plant community suited for Denverâs climate with endless potential for change.
âI was delighted to see this rather grand insect hotel: it seemed that every botanic garden we visited in Europe had them in 2013: yet they’re still a rarity in America: they do attract a lot of native carpenter bees and other pollinators to nest and overwinter.â
Panayoti Kelaidis, Founder & Writer of the Prairie Break Blog, Senior Curator and Director of Outreach at Denver Botanic Gardens