Bonnie Brae Neighborhood Denver CO

Bonnie Brae, long considered to be one of Denver’s most beautiful and mature neighborhoods, owes much of that distinction to the trees that line its streets.  And Bonnie Brae’s residents do not appear to be satisfied with resting on their laurels.  Beginning in 2010, a campaign began to ensure that its well-groomed tree-lined streets stay that way.  It encourages residents to plant trees that may carry the torch for their elders when their time has come to return to the soil.  However, it’s not nearly as easy an endeavor as one might think.

To begin with, there’s a list of trees that are considered by the City Forester’s Office to be Main Street offenders; and the list might surprise you.  Outlawed are species of trees that many Denver residents consider as welcome and familiar as the geese and squirrels they share their parks with: namely the entire Poplar species (Populus spp.), and the every one of the Willow Species (Salix spp.).  Also banished to exile are the Siberian Elm, the Boxelder, and any type of “weeping” or “pendulous trees.”  But it doesn’t end there.

Along with those expelled from the neighborhood, comes an even longer list of species on suspension.  It includes such crowd-pleasers as the Evergreen Conifer, the Mulberry species, the Ash species, the Silver Maple, and any tree capable of producing fruit more than ½ inch in diameter.  Thankfully excluded, perhaps, is the Russian Olive tree—a harbinger of thorns often more than one inch in length and a furry fruit just smaller than a peanut.  It’s been a pest to Denver since it was originally brought here from Eurasia in the late 1800’s.

So what are Bonnie Brae residents left with to maintain the legacy of their famous tree-lined streets?  Thankfully the list is— if not easy to make sense of— quite long.  It includes numerous species that look as though they were torn from the pages of a romance novel: the Spring Flurry Serviceberry, the Crimson Cloud Hawthorn, the Ivory Silk Lilac, and the Columnar Hornbeam; trees that appear to have hired a marketing department to name them.  But the careful selections that residents will use in their campaign to continue Bonnie Brae’s proud arboreal tradition is full of interesting, well considered flora.  Mush time has been spent by the City Forester’s Office in selecting these breeds, whether or not their dedication isn’t readily apparent to the average passerby.

So, the next time you drive through Bonnie Brae and marvel at its old-growth foliage, don’t assume that you’re passing by a haphazard lineup of Maples, Poplars or Evergreens planted and left to fend for themselves years ago.  Instead, know that Bonnie Brae’s tradition of beautifully shaded streets is still being maintained by its residents— people you may not bump into while picking out trees at Home Depot, but rather, experts who can tell you what separates the Macho Corktree from its very close relative, the Eye Stopper Corktree.

Bonnie Brae Neighborhood Denver CO – Bonnie Brae is a street that has become synonymous with one of the most charming neighborhoods in Denver. Take a drive down one of Bonnie Brae’s winding roads and the appeal of the area will become instantly apparent. Located just north of the University of Denver, Bonnie Brae is the home of some Denver’s most beloved establishments, including: Bonnie Brae Tavern, The Saucy Noodle and Bonnie Brae Ice Cream. Beautiful Ellipse Park adds to the sense of tranquility and outdoor appeal of the neighborhood. While Bonnie Brae may be full of yesteryear charm, just ten minutes north is the lavish Cherry Creek shopping district, and just five minutes south is I-25, which allows residents of Bonnie Brae access to a variety of upscale dining, nightlife, and shopping options, and only adds to its real-estate popularity.