Denver Botanic Gardens Curator Shares Passion for Plants and Design

Denver, CO – August 13, 2026 – Panayoti Kelaidis, a prominent figure in the gardening world, recently opened his home garden as part of the Denver Open Days Tour. Kelaidis, known as PK, has dedicated over 40 years to horticulture, including his role as senior curator and director of outreach at the Denver Botanic Gardens.

A Legacy of Plant Exploration and Connection

PK’s extensive network within horticulture, landscape design, and garden media has been instrumental in the creation of Plant Select, a program that trials and markets drought-tolerant plants for the Rocky Mountains and High Plains. He also maintains a popular dinosaur blog, Prairiebreak, where he shares botanical observations.

Visitors to his hilltop brick home were treated to a diverse display of plants, including fuzzy mullein, yarrow, artemisia, and larkspur. The garden featured unique elements such as hypertufa crevice containers and a collection of cacti and succulents. A dry garden, complete with yucca and thistles, offered a contrasting landscape.

The tour included a happy-hour reception for registered guests, which included a reporter. Kelaidis’s passion for plants and his commitment to fostering connections within the gardening community are evident in his extensive work and the beauty of his home garden.