[ad_1]
That is your GPOD editor, Joseph, from my frozen backyard in northern Indiana. Winter has properly and really arrived for me right here, we’ve had a number of snows, good arduous freezes. Not a lot is happening within the backyard outdoors, however fortunately for me, I stay a brief stroll from a beautiful public conservatory. I like public areas like these, a bit of magical escape from the winter chilly into a pleasant haven of vegetation. Right here’s a bit of style of some issues that caught my eye on my final go to:
The place you’ll often discover me within the conservatory… that little set of desk and chairs is a good place to work when working from house is beginning to get a bit of outdated.
I like seeing the fowl of paradise (Strelitzia reginae, Zone 10 – 11) in bloom. These big flowers are structured to be pollinated by sunbirds of their native South Africa. In contrast to hummingbirds, sunbirds can’t hover, so the bottom of the flower could be very sturdy to offer them with a perch whereas they get in on the nectar and pollinate the blooms.
This big plant is one other bird-of-paradise, this one with white flowers (Strelitzia nicolai). THey’re simply as cool trying, however the vegetation are so huge it’s a lot tougher to really get take a look at the blooms.
A number of the oldest vegetation within the conservatory began as houseplants that got here to stay their finest lives right here. That is the acquainted jade plant (Cassula ovata), however I’ve by no means seen it get half this big on a windowsill!
I like these plant stands, which show a wide selection of cool succulent vegetation. It’s all the time enjoyable to take a detailed take a look at every of those residing sculptures.
This specimen caught my eye immediately – a variegated agave (Agave victoriae–reginae ‘Golden Princess’).
The desert dome is a favourite a part of the conservatory. The large dwelling covers a variety of dry-adapted vegetation and actually makes it really feel like I’ve stepped out into one other world.
Most dramatic are these big agaves (Agave americana, Zone 8 – 11). I ponder how outdated they may be… they actually have been right here some time, and simply look wonderful.
All alongside the sting of the desert dome are extra potted treasures. It is a cool cactus grafted onto one other cactus rootstock. Grafting troublesome or fussy cactus onto a extra vigorous selection is a surprisingly simple approach to make them loads simpler to develop.
I’m in love with this paper backbone cactus (Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyracanthus). How cool are these lengthy, flat spines?
An assortment of cool cactus filling an enormous planter. Many of those species are very gradual rising, and these large specimens are really particular and great to see.
How are you escaping with the winter decelerate in gardening? Visiting conservatories? Having fun with your houseplants? Or do you simply stay someplace heat sufficient that gardening goes on all yr? Please ship in your images! These of us in a chilly local weather want some vicarious gardening to get by way of the snowy months!
Have a backyard you’d wish to share?
Have images to share? We’d like to see your backyard, a selected assortment of vegetation you’re keen on, or a beautiful backyard you had the prospect to go to!
To submit, ship 5-10 images to [email protected] together with some details about the vegetation within the footage and the place you took the images. We’d love to listen to the place you’re positioned, how lengthy you’ve been gardening, successes you’re pleased with, failures you discovered from, hopes for the long run, favourite vegetation, or humorous tales out of your backyard.
Have a cell phone? Tag your images on Fb, Instagram or Twitter with #FineGardening!
Do you obtain the GPOD by electronic mail but? Join right here.
[ad_2]
Source link