Spring Flower Show Started

We opened the spring flower show last Saturday March 21st. This year we chose a color theme of yellows, reds, peach, salmon and white. The show features many spring bulbs and cool season flowering plants, including Tulips, Daffodils, Ranunculus, Hyacinth, Freesias, Snapdragons, Pansies, Primula and Crocus. We will be replacing the spring bulbs two times during the show. After about 12 days a new group is planted to keep the show fresh. The spring show runs through April 26.

Spring has Sprung

Sunken Garden Show Change

Spring is almost here! This week we are in working in the Sunken Garden installing the Spring Show. Besides removing the flowers from the old show and installing the Spring flowers, there are many other maintenance activities that we try to squeeze in that week. The pictures show two of the projects the Horticulture Staff and some of the Tradesmen are working on. We clean the reflecting pool out twice a year. The Tradesmen are replacing a bad motor that controls the opening and closing of the vents. Other routine maintenance that we do during the show change includes pruning the Italian Cypress, cleaning the decorative star lights, and occasionally replacing all of the soil with new soil.

Vanilla Orchid

We are excited to see our Vanilla Orchid has started blooming in the North Garden. There are 5 buds in this flower cluster and 3 have opened so far. Vanilla is a vining orchid which needs to be mature and at least 30 ft. long to bloom. Ours has reached ~ 35 ft. in length and these are the first flowers we have had in many years . The staff has attempted to hand pollinate the flowers and we hope to see pods in a few months.

The beginnings of Victoria Water Platters

The horticulture staff has planted the Victoria Water Platter seeds. Once the seeds have been planted they are put into a tub of temperature controlled water. The temperature is kept at an average of 80 degrees. It takes several weeks for the Victoria seeds to germinate. It's hard to believe that those tiny seeds produce such a large plant. The Victoria pads can span 6 feet in diameter! You can see the Victoria Water Platters at the Visitor Center pools starting in June!