Love, Nature: A Valentine’s Day Weekend Writing Retreat

February 2026

The poet Mary Oliver once wrote, “Attention is the beginning of devotion”, a reminder that whatever we draw in close and truly see, we begin to more fully understand—and, in turn, are able to fully love.

This is the seed from which the idea for Love, Nature grew, and we’re excited to realize this vision of nature lovers gathering in the final luminous weeks of winter, notebooks in hand, to practice the art of seeing, within and beyond the self.

Join us over Valentine’s Day weekend for a 3-day writing retreat with guest teacher, Azar Kohzadi,  an award-winning teacher and writer who has taught creative writing for over twenty years at a variety of schools and venues. Azar writes and teaches in myriad genres and styles, from nature writing at Denver Botanic Gardens to poetry at Denver Art Museum and science fiction at Denver Museum of Nature and Science. For 11 years, Azar directed the Creative Writing Department at Denver School of the Arts, and she’s been teaching for Lighthouse Writers Workshop for over 7 years. Azar also runs the organization, Wild Ink Writing Collective, which presents students from age 10-adult with art and nature-based workshops, semester-long writing cohorts, as well as summer camps and overnight writing retreats. Azar has published poetry, memoir and fiction  in a number of books, literary journals and journalistic publications.

Love, Nature invites students of all writing backgrounds and levels of experience into writing practices aimed at deepening understanding of the language and particulars of botanicals and beyond. Through guided writing practices in poetry, memoir, and mindful writing, students will:

  • Deepen love for the earth, beloveds, and for the self—through the simple, radical act of noticing and writing;

  • Connect with the natural world and self through observation and close writing;

  • Bring botanicals to life on the page through artful literary depictions;

  • Give voice to the natural world and its inhabitants through unique storytelling techniques;

  • Glean teachings in the land’s living symbols and apply these in metaphor;

  • Awaken memories through engaging the senses, in order to discover personal stories in landscapes;

  • Explore seasonal expressions in late winter for personal insights and literary possibilities.

Retreat Includes:

  • Three days of guided writing instruction from 9 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  • Homemade healthy lunches with warm nourishing herbal teas, soups, winter salads, and breads.

  • A touch of aromatherapy self-care instruction and daily practice.

Dates & Times

  • Saturday, February 14 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Sunday, February 15 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

  • Monday, February 16 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Location:

SHEGROWS | 7491 Kline Drive, Arvada, CO

Total Cost $1850

Early Bird Registration: Save 15% when you sign up before December 31, 2025. Opens on December 1.

Travel recommendations: Students should use the Denver International Airport (DIA) if flying in from out of state. The farm is located between Denver, Boulder, and Golden (30 min from each). Hotels or rentals can be found in Arvada or the surrounding cities.

Register Here