Freycinetia
This time of year, my house plants start sending out bright green leaves and cheery flowers. They recognize the longer, sunnier days and, since I don’t heat my house excessively, they revel in the warmth pouring through my south-facing windows. In the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory, the tropicals are responding to the same signals, with new growth and blossoms in plenty just now. A few tongue-twisters for you this week:
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Iris reticulata
An early morning, early March walk reveals surprising delights.
• Colors: the muted greys and browns of late winter are ever-so-slowly
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First Crocus at the Gardens
I checked my gardening journal this week. (I start each spring with good intentions, but writing in the journal occurs in inverse proportion to the amount of work that needs to be done in the garden!) I have been imagining that this winter has been longer and colder than recent winters. I wanted to verify that perception, using my crocus-o-meter.
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In the Sun
A picture, don’t they say, is worth a few words, so this week, I’ll entice you into the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory with snapshots of a sunny morning in the rainforest….
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Golden Shrimp Plant
This week has been grey and nippy, and I’m in need of a splash of color. Where better to find it than in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory! Many flowers will catch your eye as you stroll through. Here are a few that caught mine:
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Magnolia Buds
Some people coming to the Gardens this time of year are disappointed, because everything on our grounds is “dead.” (Perhaps they expect that we are located in a different climate from their own backyards?) Of course, our Gardens are not dead at all, merely dormant, lying in wait for an extended stretch of longer, warmer days before they spring forth again. If you look carefully, you can see this burgeoning life everywhere.
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Fox Tracks on the Ice
Cold, sunny days offer a wonderful experience in the Gardens. With few other visitors, the place is yours to wander. This time of year, form is everything. Look for beautifully twisty tree branches, intricate ice patterns, single seed pods set off against the snow, conifers covered in white.
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A festive holiday spirit abounds in the Boettcher Memorial Tropical Conservatory—that is, green and red are everywhere! Take a look at these Christmas-colored gifts:
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