Tending The Water Gardens

 Volunteers in hip waders moved quietly among the lilies and reeds at the Denver Botanical Gardens. They removed spent foliage, trimming and tidying. The detritus went into a kiddie-sized floaty tethered to each worker. The water is colored with plant-safe dye that makes it harder for unwanted plants to get enough light to grow. It transforms the surface into a dark mirror, reflecting the clouds scudding across a bright Colorado sky.