US Botanic Garden Field Trip Report
Tucked in near the US capitol is a gem, the United State Botanical Garden (USBG). Renovated several years ago, it reopened in 2001. The garden is a beautiful glass conservatory chock full of exotic plants, from orchids, to desert plants, cycads (dinosaur trees), endangered species and a rotating exhibits of flowering displays. The garden also has an outdoor component, also fairly recently renovated, but I haven’t been there during the growing season in awhile (go to http://www.usbg.gov/ for more information.)
The conservatory of the USBG is especially delightful on a cold winter day. You step inside to tropical summer, to huge green leaves, fragrances, flowers and vine. The anteroom of the conservatory is full of seasonal flower displays and has a long waterfall running down the width of the room. On either side are rooms are special displays, from vintage garden books to food and medicinal plants in the tropical rain forest. The main room of the conservatory, with its high, arched glass ceiling, is full of large-leaved tropical plants and palms that about touch the high ceiling. The plants in this room were a particular challenge during the floor to ceiling renovation, as were some of the desert plants. The botanists at the garden had to decide which plants to dig and transfer to the production facility, which plants could not be transferred, but could be propagated, and which plant had to be culled. Needless to say, rare, endangered and unusual specimens were conserved. But just imagine moving a 15 foot tall, tree-like cactus with 2 inch spines that had had already injured some staff! Ouch!
One particularly delightful aspect of the USBG is the catwalk, about 24 feet off the main conservatory floor, and you ascend into increasing heat and humidity of the tree canopy. A large, pink bougainvillea vine was in bloom when we visited in February and it was a pleasure to be at the tops of the trees! Another favorite room (surprise, surprise) is the orchid room. This room is small, but full of beauty.
On one visit I spoke with a botanist at the garden. He was identifying an insect that had just started to infest a plant. He showed me and my son the bug through a magnifying glass, and discussed the organic methods the USBG uses for bug control. As the USBG is open daily, it cannot close to use inorganic control methods and cannot expose the public to pesticides. Organic! Hooray! And it is a delight to talk to the enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff, if you can catch them!
Happy garden viewing! As I write this, it is snowing heavily, we will get 3 to 5 inches (though VA weather is notoriously fickle and predictions inaccurate) and I am worried about my seedlings in the cold frame….brrrr! Might be down to 14 tomorrow night!
Tucked in near the US capitol is a gem, the United State Botanical Garden (USBG). Renovated several years ago, it reopened in 2001. The garden is a beautiful glass conservatory chock full of exotic plants, from orchids, to desert plants, cycads (dinosaur trees), endangered species and a rotating exhibits of flowering displays. The garden also has an outdoor component, also fairly recently renovated, but I haven’t been there during the growing season in awhile (go to http://www.usbg.gov/ for more information.)
The conservatory of the USBG is especially delightful on a cold winter day. You step inside to tropical summer, to huge green leaves, fragrances, flowers and vine. The anteroom of the conservatory is full of seasonal flower displays and has a long waterfall running down the width of the room. On either side are rooms are special displays, from vintage garden books to food and medicinal plants in the tropical rain forest. The main room of the conservatory, with its high, arched glass ceiling, is full of large-leaved tropical plants and palms that about touch the high ceiling. The plants in this room were a particular challenge during the floor to ceiling renovation, as were some of the desert plants. The botanists at the garden had to decide which plants to dig and transfer to the production facility, which plants could not be transferred, but could be propagated, and which plant had to be culled. Needless to say, rare, endangered and unusual specimens were conserved. But just imagine moving a 15 foot tall, tree-like cactus with 2 inch spines that had had already injured some staff! Ouch!
One particularly delightful aspect of the USBG is the catwalk, about 24 feet off the main conservatory floor, and you ascend into increasing heat and humidity of the tree canopy. A large, pink bougainvillea vine was in bloom when we visited in February and it was a pleasure to be at the tops of the trees! Another favorite room (surprise, surprise) is the orchid room. This room is small, but full of beauty.
On one visit I spoke with a botanist at the garden. He was identifying an insect that had just started to infest a plant. He showed me and my son the bug through a magnifying glass, and discussed the organic methods the USBG uses for bug control. As the USBG is open daily, it cannot close to use inorganic control methods and cannot expose the public to pesticides. Organic! Hooray! And it is a delight to talk to the enthusiastic and knowledgeable staff, if you can catch them!
Happy garden viewing! As I write this, it is snowing heavily, we will get 3 to 5 inches (though VA weather is notoriously fickle and predictions inaccurate) and I am worried about my seedlings in the cold frame….brrrr! Might be down to 14 tomorrow night!
