The Colorado State University Trial Gardens in Fort Collins, Colorado is a breathtakingly beautiful place to lose yourself in flowers of every color, texture, shape and form. The purpose of the garden is to research and test annual plants under unique Rocky Mountain environmental conditions. This includes large shifts in temperature, high altitude, solar radiation, winds, hailstorms and the constant need for irrigated water. As we walked around, we appreciated the subtle shifts in saturation, intensity and tone. For a person who is passionate about capturing the ranges of mottled, dappled hues in nature through photography exploring the garden under diverse light conditions was a real find. The grounds are a nice place to have a picnic, walk, smell the flowers and vote for your favorites.
