One of my favorite places in all of Seattle is the Conservatory at Volunteer Park.
My earliest memories of the Conservatory were when I visited it with my dad in 1965----when he was giving a lecture to the American Gloxinia & Gesneriad Society (Now The Gesneriad Society). One of his many claims to fame was hybridizing gloxinias----developing many new colors and variations on the theme.
I used to love to take the kids there when they were little. It is a great place to go to relax and unwind and be transported wherever one needed to be----especially on a cold and rainy day. Back, then there was a large pond with several large Koi Fish in it----now it is just a wishing well with a bunch of Koin in it.
One of the things that stand out the most about the Conservatory is the smell. All I have to do is "think" about going to the Conservatory and wherever I "actually" am seems to be flooded with the smell. It is not the smell of any one plant, but the combination of plants, flowers and humid conditions that create a smell that is recognizable every time I go there.
Another thing is the
While most of the greenhouses are tropical or subtropical in theme, there is one that has always been a desert greenhouse, with all manner of cactus. Some of the plants are a hundred years old I am told.
One of the things that stand out in the desert greenhouse is the patterns. While all life forms have distinguishable patterns, they become very apparent in the cactus----and painfully apparent if you get too close.
Here are some of the pictures inside the Conservatory (as always with my posts, the pictures will tell you more if you hold your cursor over them).
Now here are some artsy-fartsy pictures of color, shapes and patterns.
There are several species of "Pitcher Plants" at the Conservatory. While one might associate these plants with the tropics----or subtropics, there is one species that can actually be found in Connecticut. My dad owned a peat bog in Thompson, Connecticut and we used to find them there.
In this next picture one can see the tiny downward pointing hairs that would make it difficult for an insect to work their way up the slope. Gradually the insect would end up at the edge where they would slide into the primordial ooze and be turned into nutrients the plant can absorb.
While admission is free, one is encouraged to leave a donation of $3.00 and sign the guest book.
Charles Buell
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My WORDLESS WEDNESDAY pictures and some selected POEMS & STORIES.
Nice, Charles. The only one I cannot name is the orange flowers in the two pictures after the orchids. Some of the leaves in the picture are crotons, but I don't think that specific flower belongs to the leaves that I can idnetify.
Thank you for the accompanying photos. And, they lend tesitmony to the fact that cactus can grow anywhere if proper environment is maintained.
I see Michael's comment after editing my own. Any plant can grow anywhere if the proper environment is maintained. That's what I like about San Diego. Our Mediterranean climate here means that the proper environment exists naturally for a range of plants from cactus to citrus to tropical. As I like to tell my home inspection Clients, "Anything will grow here if you meet its water needs."
Hi Charles-Absolutely gorgeous flowers. Great photos. Thank you so much for sharing. I can see why you like them. have a great day.
Russel, I don't know the name of the plant either.
Michael, too true
Pat, thanks---glad you enjoyed this little visit to the Conservatory.
Beautiful colors and pictures! This is somewhere I'd like to visit as well.
I just love your artsy fartsy photos. I almost feel like I had an actual visit and it makes me want to run out to the botanical gardens in Athens, GA. But at only 38 degrees outside it will be a few weeks before I actually do it.
Celeste, you probably have some of these plants growing "wild" where you live:)
Thanks Tammy---glad you enjoyed the vist.
what a joyous burst of colour, in our unbelievably bleak winter landscape... thanx
Alan, I figured you could use that about now:)
I used to love to visit the Bloedel Conservatory in Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park, when I lived there. I don't think it's still around. Next time I visit Seattle, will add this to my list of places to go. Thanks!
Li, thanks for commenting. I am pretty sure the Bloedel still exists.
Just what I needed on this nippy day - tropical visions! Thanks.
Liz
PS -And now you've got me checking all your pictures, etc for the messages - pretty tricky!!
Thanks Liz---glad you enjoyed it.
Charlie, Interesting and beautiful plants. I do enjoy gardening, but am not very plant literate. Its also interesting your dad had a connection to Seatle. Is this in anyway how you eventually ended up clear across the country?
Jim, I am sure it had something to do with it. That and my best friend moved here 10 years before I did----he was obviously smarter than me:)
Well there must be many things you find more appealing about WA than CT since you made the move.
Honestly James---both states are incredibly beautiful. Some time the two of us will have a nice cup of coffee and discuss all the "reasons":)
Amazing pictures! I love the orchids. I wish I had a greenhouse.
Man, it sure is a long way to the bottom of this post:) Lizette, thanks for taking the journey through. Since you liked the orchids, here is another one for you.
I really do love to go to the arboretum (Krohn Conservatory in Cincinnati), relaxing. Don't know much about the plants, etc. though.
Jack, you should do a post about the Krohn Conservatory----wanna see, wanna see:)
You are a talented photographer! Thank you so much for the gorgeous photos and the time it took to put this all together. How beautiful! -S
Stephanie, thanks---and you are welcome----it is all fun:)
I'll look into it. Don't know if I can make it in this snow to get pictures. We'll see.
Jack that sounds worthy of a post all its own:)