On Saturday, about 50 people from southern New England enjoyed a day at the
New York Botanical Garden. The Connecticut and Massachusetts cactus clubs chartered a bus for the trip to the Bronx. The weather was fine, and the gardens seemed more spectacular than ever!
The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, home to a world class collection of exotic plants. The Victoria
plants and other tropical water lilies weren't really out yet. 
CCSS regular Sully in the New World Desert house, with a Boojum in the background. 
The Lithops, Conophytum
and other mesemb plants were in a glass case in the Old World Desert house. I think the glass is to prevent visitors from swiping or molesting them. 
Theobroma cacao
, the chocolate tree. The fruits were all pretty high up. 
The Conservatory is slated for major renovations soon, so we got in our trip just in time. In the corners of the palm house there were some recently moved specimens, possibly intended as replacements for some of the old palms that are getting too large. 
Cavendishia grandifolia
, a blueberry relative in the highland tropical greenhouse. The NYBG has a long history of research in the neotropics (Central and South America), and their living collections from this area are especially good. Nobody else grows some of the plants they grow.
There is a huge area of gardens outside the Conservatory, too. The Rockefeller Rose Garden was just about at its peak. 
The rose gardens were completely redone about 20 years ago. 
Everyone who knows about carnivorous plants is always aghast at the Sarracenia
(North American Pitcher Plants) growing on a seemingly dry slope in the acid-loving plant beds in the rock garden. The plants have persisted there for several years; I suspect the soil below the gravel stays pretty wet. 
Trunk of Prunus serrula
, the Birch Bark Cherry: the bark looks and feels like ribbon candy. 
Hardy cactus expert John Spain admires the rock garden. Next month, the CCSS is meeting at John's house, where he will lead a workshop on making hypertufa troughs like the ones seen here (well, probably they won't turn out quite that nicely, but you can try). 
The Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, home to a world class collection of exotic plants. The Victoria plants and other tropical water lilies weren't really out yet. 
The Lithops, Conophytum and other mesemb plants were in a glass case in the Old World Desert house. I think the glass is to prevent visitors from swiping or molesting them. 
Theobroma cacao, the chocolate tree. The fruits were all pretty high up. 
The Conservatory is slated for major renovations soon, so we got in our trip just in time. In the corners of the palm house there were some recently moved specimens, possibly intended as replacements for some of the old palms that are getting too large. 
Cavendishia grandifolia, a blueberry relative in the highland tropical greenhouse. The NYBG has a long history of research in the neotropics (Central and South America), and their living collections from this area are especially good. Nobody else grows some of the plants they grow.
There is a huge area of gardens outside the Conservatory, too. The Rockefeller Rose Garden was just about at its peak. 
The rose gardens were completely redone about 20 years ago. 
Everyone who knows about carnivorous plants is always aghast at the Sarracenia (North American Pitcher Plants) growing on a seemingly dry slope in the acid-loving plant beds in the rock garden. The plants have persisted there for several years; I suspect the soil below the gravel stays pretty wet. 
Trunk of Prunus serrula, the Birch Bark Cherry: the bark looks and feels like ribbon candy. 
Hardy cactus expert John Spain admires the rock garden. Next month, the CCSS is meeting at John's house, where he will lead a workshop on making hypertufa troughs like the ones seen here (well, probably they won't turn out quite that nicely, but you can try). 
3 comments:
Oh my gosh...what a wonderous place!!! Goodness. It must have been like heaven to be there and take it all in!
One day I will make some hypertufa bowls. I saw once where someone had used the styrofoam peices that came in electronic parts boxes (corner peices, etc) and they looked decorative when done because of the styrofoam shapes!
If I find that article and photos, I will give you the address here.
What a great place, thanks for the fascinating tour.
Yes, it's a great garden! There is a lot more to it than what I have photos of, too.
I'll have to see what I can do with hypertufa at the Ct cactus club next month. Maybe I'll post a photo of my creation, if it's not too crumby.
Post a Comment