Posted September 17, 2026
Denver Botanic Gardens’ newest exhibition, Curious Companion: Fungi, Parasites and Carnivores, is a collection of intricate botanical illustrations that highlight the unusual relationships between organisms, including parasites, carnivorous plants, lichens, fungi and more. From ghostly translucent, fungi-fueled flowers to symbiotic, lettuce-like lichens, Curious Companions invites the viewer to observe a vast range of peculiar interspecies connections. The exhibit begins September 26, 2026 – January 31, 2027.
“The world is built on a web of relationships. That’s true for plants, fungi and lichens, too,” says Katie Foster, assistant curator of exhibitions at Denver Botanic Gardens. “Curious Companions explores the often-overlooked dramas unfolding all around us, whether the struggle between an unlucky host and a parasite looking for its next meal or the mind-bending, category-defying partnerships seen in lichens.”
The exhibition features 50 artworks by 46 artists from around the world, including the U.S., Canada, Brazil, Ireland, Japan, India, the United Kingdom, Indonesia and South Africa. All works are scientific and botanical illustrations that use a variety of media, including watercolor, ink, gouache paint, colored pencil and graphite.
Curios Companions is curated by the American Society of Botanical Artists, in partnership with the New York Botanical Garden, for the Fifth ASBA/NYBG Triennial. It will be on display in the Freyer – Newman Center’s Ladd Family Gallery from September 26, 2026, to January 31, 2027, and is included with general admission.
Celebrate Latino Culture Year-Round with Yo soy
Celebrate the richness and depth of Latino cultures through Denver Botanic Gardens Yo-soy—an ongoing initiative that brings heritage to life through art, storytelling and community connection.
This dynamic, year-round lineup of programs features art exhibitions, hands-on workshops and community-based activities that highlight the many layers of Latino identity and creativity, both locally and globally. These experiences invite deeper engagement with culture through both onsite programming and collaborative partnerships throughout the community.
Through Yo-soy, the Gardens builds meaningful connections to the past while honoring and uplifting Latino heritage in fresh, engaging and inclusive ways.
Art Exhibits include:
La lotería botánica
Sept. 13 – Oct. 15
York Street
Included with admission
La lotería botánica is a reimagining of the traditional Mexican card game of lotería through a botanical lens. Presented as part of Yo soy, the Gardens’ annual celebration of Latino cultures, the exhibition features original artwork by local artists inspired by plants and their connections to culture, food, history and community.
On view at the Gardens’ York Street location, visitors can explore a complete 54-card lotería deck displayed on Ming Bridge, highlighting stories of ethnobotany, iconic Mexican plants, plants of the Southwest and the cultural relationships between people and plants.
Mercado en el jardín
Sept. 13 and Oct. 4, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
York Street
Included with admission
Don’t miss Mercado en el jardín, a curated market featuring local artisans and small businesses. Cultural activities and hands-on experiences will be provided by community organizations including Al Frente de Lucha, Art and Color Collective, Denver Healing Generations and YBNeuro. The market celebrates creativity, community, and the many ways plants connect us to culture and one another.
Related Programs & Events
Dia de los Muertos at Civic Center
Saturday, Oct. 24
A premier community celebration honoring Día de los Muertos in the heart of Denver’s Civic Center, bringing together families, artists, cultural organizations and thousands of attendees to celebrate Mexican heritage, remembrance and artistic expression.
Muertos en Westwood
Friday-Sunday, Nov. 6, 7 & 8
A three-day community celebration honoring life, death, migration and resilience. The festival brings the Westwood community together through danza, live music, local vendors, family-friendly activities, community altars, art installations and food, creating space to honor the journeys, traditions and stories that connect us.
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