Field Trip: Conservatory of Flowers, Spring 2011

Conservatory of Flowers, Golden Gate Park

Lowland Tropics room, Conservatory of Flowers

Golden Gate Park in San Francisco offers a number of sites for the plant lover. In a view from the road, we see two sun-lovers sprawled on a blanket on the wide open lawn space. Annual garden plots set off a strikingly-bright white Conservatory of Flowers beyond. Small chaperoned troupes of delightful children are prancing about . . . taking in the fresh April air between potty breaks.

The Conservatory’s main center dome is flanked by a wing of two galleries on the right—Highland Tropics Plants and Aquatic Plants. The wing to the left of the dome offers a Potted Plants display and temporary special exhibit room. I cross the entrance threshold and immediately find myself in a moist Palm Court of towering green Lowland Tropical plants—a magnificent thick display of ferns, banana, cacao, Jurassic cycads and much more. Here and there blue and orange bits of color are randomly cast, source being the sunshine through the structure’s stained glass.

Through the next door, the Highland Tropics gallery recreates high elevation forests of the tropics. There’s a nice display of mosses and the epiphytes which I like—plants that grow on other plants. The room offers much to whet our appreciation of orchids. This is where a renowned collection of Pleurothallid orchids can be found. Through another door, the Aquatic Plants room is picture perfect as we learn about water lilies and lotus. Also on view is a collection of carnivorous pitcher plants and bromeliads.

This striking building is said to be the oldest public conservatory in the Western hemisphere—opening in 1879—as well as the oldest structure in the park.

Much thanks goes to recent restoration efforts and dollars to do so. With these plants well-established and in such a yesteryear atmosphere, I just might get inspiration for writing a Victorian historical novel. At this conservatory one can get close to specimens: smell the gardenia, inspect the fronds, study orchid details and view exotics from around the world. http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/

While others might prefer a huge botanical exhibit extravaganza as found in some other large cities, I felt this was just the right size with an ambiance for a mini-retreat—leaving time for other Golden Gate Park experiences. Next stop: Japanese Tea Garden.

Nancy R. Peck

Aquatic Plants room, Conservatory of Flowers

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Field Trip: UC Berkeley Botanical Garden, Spring 2011

UC Berkeley Botanical Garden

I’ve left the desk-nest this week and am touring the San Francisco area. Sunny weather. That’s always a nice gift to bring to one’s host.

Field trip to UC Berkeley Botanical Garden: Up up up the hill the car crawls past two flagmen. Grunting trucks are painstakingly choreographed  in the renovation/retrofit project going on at the old university football stadium. Destination reached and admission paid, we enter this very diverse 34-acre UC Berkeley research garden—13,000 varieties sectioned off by geographic regions of the world’s continents. First we enter the Arid House with its large collection of the quirkiest of cacti, sheltered, because they would not tolerate the Bay Area’s dampness. The collection dates back to the 1920s.

Exiting that shed, one is immediately struck by (photo above) the “Southern Africa” rocky hillside on the left dotted with oranges, yellow, purple annuals and bulbs and fan aloes. Turn around and there’s a view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay behind a gauze of atmospheric blue.

I’m always attracted by the sound of water features. The Japanese Pond (photo below) augments the diminutive Strawberry Creek which runs midway through the property. The pond is set off by a small waterfall framed by maples, empress tree and dogwoods. But the pool’s claim to fame is its breeding ground reputation for Taricha torosa (newts), native to upper Strawberry Canyon. I got to see several newt couples doing their thing which is always interesting. Ah spring.

The loudest aspect of the botanical gardens, I would say, is a chorus of frogs. They live in a pond ecosystem which lies between the Herb Garden and Chinese Medicinal Herb Garden. No need to follow path signs, just follow your ears.

There’s much to see and learn at this botanical garden but I did notice that some toddlers couldn’t be happier frolicking around a small man-built water feature next to the tour deck and rest rooms. Down close to the ground and with attention to details they were fascinated searching for the little slimy critters clinging for dear life to the concrete pond wall.

http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/

For a list of garden tours click here http://botanicalgarden.berkeley.edu/education/tours.shtml#children

Nancy R. Peck

Japanese Pool at UC Berkeley Botanical Garden

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Just who started garden gnomes anyway?

See the garden gnomes lurking in the corners of this Austrian garden?

The recent Gnomeo & Juliet animated feature film inspired a dear friend-reader to suggest I get to know garden gnomes a little better. Great idea.

Now I know in some circles garden gnomes are considered déclassé (banned from the great Chelsea Flower Show, UK for one). The mass consumerism associated with garden gnome ornaments—and their bold colors—make for cautious use in today’s residential garden.

But regardless of where they stand in our individual taste-meters, it is interesting to note that these figurines actually originated in the 19^th century in Germany, where they became known as Gartenzwerg (“garden dwarf”).

In addition, according to Wikipedia, Philip Griebel made these and “terracotta animals as decorations . . . based on local myths as a way for people to enjoy the stories of [their] willingness to help in the garden at night.” Popularity quickly spread across Germany and into France and were “first introduced to the United Kingdom in 1847 by Sir Charles Isham, when he brought 21 terracotta figures back from a trip to Germany and placed them as ornaments in the gardens of his home, Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire.”

Perhaps back in 1847 garden gnomes were smaller and of earthier tones. Can you imagine today’s gnomes here? http://www.lamporthall.co.uk/

My research seems to have hit a wall, but feel free to send in your gnome encounter stories.

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Ikebana International Flower Show

Tomoko Hayashida, Sogetsu School

Those in San Francisco are in for a treat this weekend March 19 and 20, 2011 for the Ikebana International biennial Flower Show. Much of the proceeds will be donated to disaster relief in Japan. The San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of Ikebana International, founded in 1959, is one of the most active chapters in the world and includes members from seven schools.

Pictured above is an arrangement by Tomoko Hayashida, Sogetsu School. The Sogetsu School, one of many Ikebana schools, has a more free-style philosophy with emphasis on the artist’s expression and message. The school was founded in 1927 by Sofu Teshigahara who believed anyone could make ikebana anywhere with anything.

Unlike the spherical mass of traditional Western arrangement, ikebana is based on the structural concept of an unequal triangle: with scarcity, minimalism, emphasis on shape, line and form. The Sogetsu philosophy: plants are beautiful just as they are and can be arranged in an effective style to be appreciated even more. The school encourages students to be individual and imaginative.

Other Ikebana International chapters in the U.S. are located in Boston, Chicago, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Detroit, Honolulu, Washington, DC, Minneapolis/St. Paul, New York City, Philadelphia, Portland OR and others.

Sources:

http://www.ikebana.org/index.html

http://www.ikebanahq.org/sogetsu.php

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Coral Gardens Initiative

In 1999 the Corals for Conservation program began in Fiji. The “Coral Gardens Initiative” uses hands-on methods and training to connect individuals in local communities to the restoration of degraded coral reef ecosystems.

As part of the coral program, we trim bits and pieces off of rare, and where possible temperature tolerant corals, and then grow them to several hundred times the original fragment size to create “mother corals”. Two-year-old mother corals are then trimmed to produce coral seed fragments that the communities grow in the coral farms and restoration sites. All of the coral farms thus produce only second and third generation corals, completely avoiding the negative impact of wild harvesting of corals.

Enjoy this video below and visit http://www.coralsforconservation.com/default.html

Picture source: ‘sheyneg’ Flickr Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivatives

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Generations of African Violets

When I was 12 years old, I unexpectedly walked in on a flower show. It was in my junior high school cafeteria. I remember thinking what on earth are these women doing here hunched over these tables of flower pots—every single pot was an African Violet.

My gosh, I wondered, what had driven these women to this kind of obsession. No, actually at age 12, it was probably more like “this is weird,” followed by a quick exit.

Nevertheless, I had recognized these plants because my mother had had some at home. The pots lived on a setting of small rocks in a tray, soaking up some sun in the day-bright TV room. In a good week we would see purple blossoms and light pink ones too.  

“Water them from the bottom, she’d say, don’t drip water on the leaves.” They were a first introduction to fuzzy leaves.

Another vague memory I have is inserting an African violet cutting into a jam glass topped by aluminum foil, I guess to hold the leaf in place. In about a month a root would form and we’d pot it. Months later there would be a bigger plant. Propagation is fun, see? That’s about the extent of my memory.

Recently, I visited a friend named Mary. In her living room window she has a large round and rustic wicker basket overflowing with a grouping of six very healthy Saintpaulia in a southerly window. They look as healthy as can be. She feigns horticultural nonchalance about their success, but I want to learn her secrets.

Today I explored an African Violet blog in Romania (she grows Buckeye Blushing, Bliznecy, Autumn Halo, Ma’s Winter Moon) and another blog in Sweden where I learned “There are about twenty wild species of African violets, some of which are endangered in their natural habitats in East Africa. In the range of 40-45,000 hybrids circulate among collectors and growers in the world!”  A translated Ukrainian blog reads “My violets are increasingly occupying space in my apartment, but nevertheless, I always bring home new varieties.”

If you are interested in growing AV’s to show, check out this website www.avsc.ca.  At Amazon dot com, there’s a few copies left of Pauline Bartholomew’s “Growing to Show . . . African Violets”. Other books about African Violets are also available.

There’s also the African Violet Society of America www.avsa.org. which incorporated in 1947 and has grown to be “the largest society devoted to a single indoor plant in the world.”

I got a kick out of a YouTube video walking the viewer through an entire African Violet show in Central New Jersey (2010). Great specimens. Click here to view it. Chet Atkins and Les Paul were at the show too (kidding).

Also at Youtube you can find short demos on how to propogate them, for example this one.

Isn’t it nice how memories grow fonder with the passing of each year? Viva la African Violets!  

I’d love to hear of your childhood memories having to do with houseplants or gardening. Do share.

Photo source: Wikimedia Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike by ‘Wildfeuer’

Nancy R. Peck

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The Dreaded Needle Drop

Does it seem like the conifers that you bring into the house are getting drier and drier—or is it my imagination? No sooner does the tree get into the house that the needles begin their fall-off—even as you’re cramming the trunk into its water trough or gingerly placing ornaments on the tree. A real indication that the days are numbered for this already dead tree. 

I keep my fingers crossed that the tree doesn’t lose its needles in unison in front of everyone. I know it is going to happen shortly. Will it be right after the last-gasp Vacuum of the Year? Or in the middle of the New Year’s Eve Epic Party of the Year. The anticipation rather reminds me of Cinderella waiting to lose her gown at the stroke of midnight EST. 

If you happened to be listening to National Public Radio on December 10 you might have heard an interview with Dr. Raj Lada, founding director of the Christmas Tree Research Center of the Nova Scotia Agricultural College. His research aims to increase needle retention where growing fir trees is a multi-million dollar commercial industry. Good news, Dr. Lada is said to be on the verge of doubling the life of the cut Christmas tree. At the facility they are working on a method that will block the release of ethylene. In basic terms, this would be like slowing or halting the ripening of a banana. 

His remedy isn’t here yet but in the meantime, I deduced these recommendations from the interview:

• The trauma of transport can trigger the start of the ethylene process. You might want to buy from producers closest to you, cutting down when you select it. In transport—the less shaking the better.
• If you do buy from a retailer, hope that they’ve been keeping them in a water vessel.
• Once you have your specimen home, re-cut the trunk at least one inch.
• Lights alter a tree’s metabolic function and they are also spectrum sensitive. White lights might be preferable and don’t turn them off at night. “When the tree is in the dark it will start “respiring” more, using all its carbohydrates too soon.”
• Keep your tree stand filled with water, checking it daily. A glycerin product in the water is pointless as it will not reach the necessary height due to its viscosity. Also adding sugar to the water or fertilizer will have little effect.
• Don’t use products that close stomata as they will shut down the carbon dioxide exchange needed for photosynthesis. It needs to have the sugar synthesized every day.
• Keep the tree in a cooler room if possible (but not at freezing temperatures). Keep it away from the kitchen.
• Finally, keep fruit away from the tree. Fruit gives off ethylene.

I wonder how Cinderella would deal with needle-drop? I guess she’d just get out her dustpan every hour on the hour. Or maybe she would have thrown in the towel and had a tree crafted of glass instead.

Here’s the transcript of the NPR interview with Dr. Lada.

Photo by Jean-Pierre Bazard, Wikimedia Creative Commons

 Nancy R. Peck

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Organic Farm Volunteer Opportunities

If you or someone you know is looking for an inexpensive volunteer abroad adventure, check out WWOOF.

World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF) http://www.wwoof.org/ publishes a diverse list of organic farms seeking extra help during peak harvest seasons. WWOOF volunteers do not pay for their stay and hosts do not pay volunteers for help. Volunteers select a host and arrange a stay with the farm host family who provide accommodation and food for volunteers.

Length of stay time varies and typically volunteers work four hours a day with time for field trips and taking in the culture. Best to check on the nature of the accommodation (tent, trailer, private room) and check as to number of meals provided each day. Be clear on type of physical work required, i.e. match stamina and labor ability expectations.

Real hands-on experience and cultural exchange. Ooh, Ooh, can I please drive the tractor?

Photo source: More photos of ‘strikeael’s’ summer farm experience in Japan can be found at Flickr

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Alpine Wonder

Ala-Archa National Park, Kyrgyzstan

This striking picture was taken at the Ala-Archa National Park in the Tian Shan mountains of Kyrgyzstan—a geographic attraction for rock hikers and horseback riders.

‘Archa’ translated is ‘colorful juniper tree’. I learn that the Kyrgyz people have traditionally and spiritually held the juniper tree in high esteem.

The gorge has more than 20 large and small glaciers and 30 mountain passes. Over 800 species of plants thrive here. Bird species number 160; 170 species of animals are here including sheep, wolves, bears, lynx, boar, deer, marmots, and snow leopards.

This photograph is attributed to ‘Tigr’ at Flickr. He was not able to identify the flower, but my guess is they are primula longipes. Anyone out there know for sure?

Nancy R. Peck

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Whopping Water Lilies

Giant water lilies at botanic center

Huge water lilies—Victoria amazonica and Victoria cruziana—have leaves that can measure up to nine feet in diameter. They are native to the shallow waters of the Amazon River basin. Flowers are white the first night that they open and become pink the second night and are pollinated by scarab beetles.

While the expansive leaves are delicate, the plant can support 70 pounds IF the weight is distributed across the surface. The girl pictured here stands on a wood sheet. 

The plant was named for the new Queen Victoria in 1837. . . It isn’t every day that someone names a gigantic plant after you.

Image:  Lily pond in front of the Linnaean House of the Missouri Botanical Garden, 1902.

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Safe Travels

Flower parade in the Netherlands

In April, the Bloemencorso van de Bollenstreek annual flower parade in the Netherlands travels 25 miles between Nordwijk aan Zee and Haarlem.

Photo source: Teun Spaans, Creative Commons

May your holiday travels be safe and scenic—views unobstructed.

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Floral Designer Rachel Cho

‘Tis the season when our favorite floral designers are in high gear. Design studios and floral shops are hubs of exhilaration. Ever wonder how they do it? Ever had some questions for a designer? I was fortunate to gain an e-mail interview with busy designer, Rachel Cho.

Floral design by Rachel Cho

Rachel is a favorite floral designer in much of New York City. Upscale, trendy, versatile—her arrangements are voluptuous. Her mission: To create inspired floral arrangements that leave our customers speechless. “Every arrangement we make is unique to one’s occasion, mood, style, and personality.”

I can’t do her talent justice here with one photo, so explore her website for arrangement visuals, ordering info, and tidbits about her background. Her fresh spirit shines through and her attention to service is evident. www.rachelchoinc.com

A highlight of the year is her participation in the unique Tulips & Pansies event, next one scheduled for May 19, 2011. Do tune into the Tulips & Pansies model runway video (link at the bottom of the post). And you thought Chiquita had amazing neck muscles! 

Let’s get right to it. I asked . . .

Are there particular flowers or other elements you would recommend for December? Anything new in the floral business or holiday flower styles this year that customers might like to know about?  Right now tulips, amaryllis, hyacinths and other bulb flowers and berries such as ilex and berzelias are starting to come in, which marks the start of the holidays for me. I love seeing

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Flora Fashion

Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa

While investigating online about the inventive re-use of materials, I ran across some images that wowed me. Let’s take a visit to where the borders of Ethiopia, Kenya and Sudan meet.

This is where the nomadic Surma and Mursi tribes of the Omo Valley express their artistic sense with skin pigments and found flora and fauna embellishments. As the naturally-made pigments dry quickly, rapid application spawns spontaneous self-expression. I love the result.

Respective of copyright issues, I’m not reproducing any of the many images here except as seen on the book cover. Here is a link toward purchasing the book Natural Fashion: Tribal Decoration from Africa or you may find it in a library. The images by photographer Hans Silvester are striking. The book includes 160 images he gathered from several trips.

To get a fuller sense of the artistry, I do encourage you to connect to Youtube (below) where a number of video makers have montaged many of the images. The accompanying music is his/her addition.

Let me know what you think.

Nancy R. Peck

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Raking My Way through Japanese Gardens

My first encounter with a Karesansui garden was at the Huntington Library/Botanical Gardens in San Marino, California. I’ve had some question marks over my head ever since.

Karesansui gardens are those made up of light colored gravel or sand, with some larger rocks in situ. You’ll probably see linear effects made by a wooden rake. The fine gravel is immaculately clean.

Shitenno-ji Honbo Garden in Osaka, Japan

When these staged scenes are encountered they offer a sense of calm and contemplation. So I thought it would be a tranquil afternoon learning about this type of garden. Peace was not to be had—conflict was.

There is much complex information about this type of garden, much theorized and debated symbolism, philosophical attitudes, and age-old historical reference to explore.

To boot, there is controversy about the term we wantonly use today—‘Zen Garden.’ How we often use the term may not be culturally consistent with the origins. And take note that we must not bandy about the terms ‘contemplation’ and ‘meditation’ when we speak of the Karesansui.

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