"A source of wonder and delight that flowers from the entwining of two loves — gardening and Shakespeare's plays."
— Marlene Cowdrey, Founder
There are only 34 established Shakespeare gardens in the world.
One of them is in a courtyard at the University of Colorado Boulder, just west of the flagstone-stepped outdoor Mary Rippon Theatre, where Shakespeare plays have been performed outdoors since 1944.
Every plant in this sunlit courtyard was chosen for a single reason: Shakespeare mentioned it. Rosemary and Rue. Violets and Eglantine. The Thyme where Titania sleeps. The Hemlock that boils in the witches' cauldron. We tend them because the plays are still performed fifty feet away every summer — and it turns out that growing the plants makes you read the poetry differently.
We are the volunteer gardeners who keep this place alive. If that sounds like your kind of thing, we'd love to have you.
Seventeen plays.
Twenty-seven gardens.
Four centuries of botanical imagination.
Plant & Play Library
Explore the full library of Shakespeare's botanical references — researched and maintained by our volunteer gardeners.
The gardens need tending. So do our books.
In the garden
(April-Oct): planting, tending, guiding visitors who come in from the festival.
In the library
(Jan-Mar): researching upcoming plays, sharing with the group, building community.
No expertise required. Just curiosity about plants, Shakespeare, or both.
A brief history:
Our garden was founded in 1991 by Marlene Cowdrey.
We’ve been a member of the American Association of Public Gardens since 2014.
We’re located on the CU Boulder campus, in the courtyard where Shakespeare plays have been performed since 1944.