Colorado State University invites the public to pick their favorite flowers from this year’s blooms during Consumer Day on Saturday, July 31 at the CSU Flower Trial Garden. The free morning event is a perfect family-friendly, educational summer activity. No registration is required.
Folks can visit the Trial Garden at 1401 Remington St. in Fort Collins from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, July 31 to view and judge more than 1,300 varieties of flowers. Get started at the gazebo where CSU horticulture experts will be available to answer your questions.
Each year, industry experts descend upon the Trial Garden to judge the annuals and perennials that perform best in Rocky Mountain growing conditions. This process has a heavy influence on which varieties of flowers bloom from trial status to retail outlets. Beginning in 2018, consumers were invited to weigh in on their favorites. After a hiatus in 2020, the event is back again this year.
Know Before You Go
- The event is free and open to the public.
- Free parking will be available on CSU campus lots on Saturday. Participants can park in the campus lot on the corner of Matthews and Pitkin Streets, northeast of the University Center for the Arts.
- Participants will be given three flags to indicate their top flowers in both the Annual and Perennial Gardens.
- Guided 30-minute tours will take place at 9 a.m., 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.
- Folks can look at plants that thrive in the shade, which are good for people who live in apartments. They are located under the shade structure.
- Blue flags indicate new plant varieties.
- Free refreshments will be available.
- Door prizes will be awarded throughout the morning.
- Children can plant flowers to take home.
About the Trial Gardens
Located across Remington Street from the University Center for the Arts, the Trial Gardens spans more than three acres, making it the largest university trial garden west of the Mississippi River. Each year, the gardens provide crucial information on the best varieties to grow in the Colorado climate – research that elevates some varieties to the retail space and, eventually, to home gardens across the state. Learn more about the Trial Garden on its website. View additional events on the upcoming events page.
