Horticulture Blog

We are starting something new on this web site. I've been asked to write a blog. The blog will be an opportunity to pass along information about plants in the garden, special areas of the garden, some inside information about the projects staff members of the Living Collections and Garden Landscapes and other departments are working on and a chance for you to make comments and ask questions. I will also talk about our staff and what they do to create and maintain Fairchild.

I have worked at Fairchild since 1973, first as plant recorder, then horticulturist in charge of our three annual plant sales, the intern program, and various other duties. I am now still working on the plant sales and manage our plant records with the very able assistance of Marilyn Griffiths. I hope you will find the blog an opportunity to learn more about our plants and the beautiful Eden we call Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.

- Mary Collins, Senior Horticulturist

Text and photos by Mary Collins

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We have lots of birds in Fairchild!

Fri, Jan 15, 2010 at 11:43:48 AM

 

 

   
   

 

 

We've had very cold temperatures from January 7 through January 12.  This meant that the temperature of our lakes has also cooled.  Certain exotic (bad) species of fish, such as tilapia, have been killed by the cold water.  Well, wading birds such as Ibis, Egrets, and a very special visitor, a Wood Stork, are feeding on the fish!  Come to our lowlands and see the birds taking advantage of a "buffet" of tilapia.

 

 

 

 

 
Wood Stork grooming himself (or herself) in front of a bench  

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It was “snowing” in the lowlands this morning…..

Fri, Aug 28, 2009 at 01:09:06 PM

Early this morning, I was collecting seeds of our pineland crotons to grow on for sales and special projects.  As I was walking from our pineland back to my office, I noticed that the sign for Mark di Suvero’s ‘She’ had “snow” on it.  I also saw that the grass in the area had “snow” as well.  I looked up, up, up, into the crown of the nearest royal palm and saw that it was flowering.  The huge inflorescence of the palm was a creamy white hue, buzzing with bees which were knocking off pollen in the process of moving from one flower to another.  The “snow” was royal palm pollen!   No snow in August in Miami, just palm pollen!

I took these photos about 7:30 this morning, during the time when the first touch of the sun casts a golden glow.  The royal palm inflorescence is actually much whiter than it appears in the photo. 

 

 

 
royal palm inflorescence full of pollen and bees!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
The pollen drifting upon the sign looked like snow  

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Its a Friday night and I'm writing this blog - why?

Fri, Aug 07, 2009 at 07:45:05 PM

I don't normally write a blog on a Friday evening, but I just can't contain myself.  I feel compelled to shout from my rooftop - Everyone should have this plant in their yard!!!! What plant, you ask?  I have a Lady of the Night, Brunfelsia nitida planted near the east side of my house.  It has been there about five years. It is absolutely, positively one of my favorite plants!  It has been blooming for the past week.  The flowers are tubular, opening white and gradually turning shades of yellow.  Masses of flowers are produced by the 4' tall shrub.  The leaves are a deep green, always dark green.  You see, this shrub blooms many times a year.  I should keep a diary about this plant!  It never shows any insect, disease or nutritional problems.  It does not grow huge and need constant pruning.  This shrub is called Lady of the Night because of its incredibly spicy fragrance, usually present only after dark, but I've discovered that as the flowers age over a few days, the fragrance is produced earlier each evening.  Just 45 minutes ago, I was on the west side of my house, trimming my Petrea volubilis.  Suddenly, while working on the petrea, I noticed a wonderful, spicy fragrance carried to me by a southeasterly breeze on a lovely August evening.   My Brunfelsia nitida has turned on its fragrance for the evening!  I wish that I could bottle this wonderful essence and keep it with me always. 

Brunfelsia nitida is a great shrub for anyone's garden.  It remains a tidy size, is not demanding in its care, can be in sun all day or half a day and produces masses of flowers throughout the year. When it is not in flower, it is just a small shrub with dark green slightly glossy leaves.  We will be selling the Lady of the Night  and its fragrant sister, Brunfelsia plicata at the Members' Day Plant Sale, October 3.  I don't know why it is not commonly available in local nurseries, but part of what we do at Fairchild is make these really special plants available for our members through our plant sales.  We will always sell Brunfelsia nitida. a really special plant in my opinion!

 

 

 
Just a few of the many flowers on my Brunfelsia nitida  

 


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Members' Day Plant Sale coming soon....

Thu, Aug 06, 2009 at 11:47:37 AM

MEMBERS’ DAY PLANT SALE PRIMER

Distribution of rare, unusual plants to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden members has had a long rich tradition in south Florida. In 1939, Fairchild Tropical Garden had the first Members Plant Distribution. To quote David Fairchild from the first list of plants:

“In accordance with our policy to grow and distribute plants and palms which are more or less rare in this section, we have now on hand and ready for distribution a limited quantity of plants, a list of which is attached herewith. Small plants are ready for delivery to members only at the Garden, not more than a total of three plants are available for any one person.” That first distribution listed 37 species of palms and 31 species of trees, shrubs and vines. The first Members’ Day took place in April, 1939.

In 1943, Dr. Fairchild wrote: “There are two ways of looking at this year’s distribution of new plants from the Garden. One is that we are presenting to our members plants they cannot buy in nurseries anywhere, - rare things they should want for their yards and patios. The other is that we are hunting homes for some young plants which must be taken care of this year or they may perish. Many of these plants come from remote localities in the Dutch East Indies now no longer open to collectors. Decades may pass before they can be secured again. Necessary conditions, such as the shade afforded by patio or the shady side of a house are limited in the Fairchild Tropical Garden. We do not have suitable places enough to take care of all these young plants. While they are small, they need careful watching; a plant lover should have them close at hand.”

During World War II all plants were delivered by truck. Where truck deliveries were impractical plants were sent by express collect if members desired. In 1943 there was a charge of 35 cents per plant or 3 for $1.00! This was the cost of plants, no charge for delivery! In 2009, prices are a bit higher.

Currently, the plants grown for sale to FTBG members are carefully considered before propagation takes place. In recent years most of the plants offered for sale are propagated from plants growing in Fairchild or in the gardens of staff or volunteers. Many of the plants we offer are not available in local nurseries. The selection of plants for our sales is never far from our minds. We constantly observe plants growing in the Garden, noting their characteristics. For example, "Are they adapted to South Florida soils, or do they need regular applications of iron?" Then there are questions we must ask to make sure that we do not introduce an exotic plant that will invade our natural areas. "Does the plant (if not native to South Florida) produce many seeds? Do the seeds germinate readily under the plant? Have we noticed seedlings elsewhere in the Garden or in areas surrounding the Garden?"

In some cases staff members plant newly introduced exotic plants in their own yards to observe their growth, seed production and proclivity to produce seedlings – anything which would increase their chances of becoming a pest plant. We also observe them to determine how successfully they grow in our soils and climate. Are they adapted to our alkaline soils? Do they show cold damage when exposed to temperatures in the 40's? Our intent is to distribute plants that are easily grown in our climate yet do not pose the risk of becoming a pest plant, displacing native flora.

We have a large number of species native to South Florida and the Caribbean growing in the garden. After years of observation, I have become increasingly drawn to the Bahamian plots, Plots 164 and 166. Many of the Bahamian plants also are native to South Florida. We are also growing native wildflowers and grasses, collected from cultivated specimens, so we can see how they are adapted to conditions not exactly like their native habitats. Their beautiful flowers, red, yellow, purple, blue, have the potential to give more color and interest to our landscapes. We use the knowledge gained from this project to increase the number and variety of native wildflowers available at our sales. I have collected seeds from native wildflowers growing on private property with permission from the owner. If you own property with native species present and would be willing to share seeds with us, I would appreciate hearing from you.

Members’ Day Plant Sale now takes place on the first Saturday of October from 9:00 am-1:00 pm.  This year's sale will take place in the Palmetum on October 3.  Plants which are designated “distribution plants” are those grown in larger quantities, described and with photos in our Members’ Day Plant Sale brochure. Members may chose up to 4 species from the list of distribution plants to purchase. During the sale, the distribution plants are arranged in Plot 117 in numerical order, according to their listing on the distribution list. Members line up and go to a table where they tell our staff which species they wish. The plants are then handed out to the members.

The “sale plants” are plants which are available in smaller quantities than the distribution plants and may or may not be mentioned in our Members’ Day Plant Sale brochure. We offer trees, shrubs, vines, ground covers, palms, and wildflowers which have been propagated especially for members. Occasionally we will have just a small number of rare, choice species that we put “blue tags” on, meaning that they are available one per membership. Otherwise, the number of “sale plants” one may purchase is not limited.

Members should plan on getting to the sale early. Plants sell out quickly. If you have your heart set on a distribution plant or one of the described sale plants, it is a good idea to be in line at 9:00. We actually open our lowland field for parking at 8:00 am. Members may park in the lowlands, then walk up to the cycad vista, just west of the palm glade and wait in line until 9:00. Many people bring their own nursery cart or wheelbarrow. We do have some plant valets with carts. The distribution plants are placed in the northern and middle portion of Plot 117, arranged in the order of the Distribution List as printed in the Members’ Day Plant Sale mailer. The sale plants are placed in Plot 119 with native plants placed in the southern end of Plot 117. Usually by 11:00 am, most of the plants have been sold. The sale ends at 1:00 pm. Plants leftover from Members’ Day will be offered at the Ramble.

In the near future, I will post photos and descriptions of some of the plants available at the 2009 sale.  A special Members' Day Plant Sale brochure will be mailed to FTBG Members in September.  More descriptions and photos will be included on our Web site.  I am working on this currently and will upload the information as soon as possible.  I know there are many devoted Members who come to our Members' Day Plant Sale excited about the possibilities of planting their own yard and garden with these special plants.  If you are not currently a Member, this is an excellent time to join and partake in one of the many special benefits of belonging to the Fairchild family!  For more information about becoming a Fairchild member, click here.

 

 

 

Two members with their new plant.  "Decisions, decisions, what plants shall we choose for our garden"

 


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What is that purple flowering tree in our rainforest?

Thu, Aug 06, 2009 at 07:02:11 AM

In recent days I've been asked about the tree in the rainforest which is currently flowering.  Showy purple flowers appear in the canopy of the Fairchild rainforest.  It is Carpodiptera ameliae, a member of the Tiliaceae family, native to Central America.  Commonly called mountain pear, it is a  30-40' tall tree with large evergreen leaves.  In July and August, a profusion of  panicles with many small lavender-rose colored flowers are produced.  If you want to see Fairchild's mountain pear, stand near Glade Lake and look west toward plot 151.

 

 

   
 Carpodiptera ameliae - mountain pear flowering now in Fairchild's rainforest in plot 151  

 

 

 

 


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This week in Fairchild

Wed, Jun 24, 2009 at 05:49:46 AM

We are truly in the midst of our rainy season.  So far during this month we have received 6.34 inches of rain.  The total for the year is 19.11 inches, most of that occuring the last two weeks of May and this month.  As many of you know, we have our own weather station.  It is located on the roof of the Garden House and the data is sent to a computer station in the plant records office.  Check out the current conditions online via our Web site.

This week three of our horticulture staff are in St. Louis, attending the annual meeting of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA).  This is a wonderful opportunity to meet staff of other gardens, attend discussions of various public gardens topics, and visit local institutions.  I hope to have our attendees report on some of the information they gleened from these meetings in a future blog.

 

 

Albizia niopoides and cleaned area next to pergola

Some of the Hort staff have removed some plants adjacent to the north end of the vine pergola to open a vista so that the impressive buttressed roots of the Albizia niopoides may be seen by visitors as they walk up the brick pathway between the Visitor Center and the pergola.  Next time you visit, check it out.  Some of the removed plants were relocated to other locations in the garden.  Yesterday, before the deluge of rain, my volunteer, Ginny, and I took cuttings of the Ruttya fruticosa before it was moved.  R. fruticosa produces pretty orange flowers which have a large black dot near the center.  This shrub is a very good hummingbird attractant.  We placed 108 cuttings on the mist bench in the nursery .  Look for this species at future plant sales.

 

 

 

 

 Yesterday we also planted seeds of Anthurium clavigerum a beautiful species with incredible lobed leaves.  These will be grown for future sales.  Tuesday afternoon I wanted to take a photo of the plant from which the seeds were collected.  As I walked through the rainforest to take the photograph I saw that our grounds crew and their supervisor Ricardo were busy spreading mulch and opening areas up to make the stream more visible.  If you haven't ventured down our paved rainforest trails, you must do so during your next visit!  Our rainforest is one of my absolute favorite areas of Fairchild.  Although we called the two acre location the rainforest for many years, in 1999-2000, paved paths and a stream with cascades and waterfalls were added.  It is so incredible!  We worried a bit about the affect of the slightly brackish water in the stream (from Glade Lake) on surrounding vegetation, but plants along the stream are thriving.  We periodically have to thin out some of the plants along the stream so visitors can see it.  As you walk on the paths, you can hear the stream flowing over and around rocks and under the tram roads.  The rainforest is a really "cool", shady place to visit any time, but especially during our warm summers.

 

 

 Zebra longwing butterfly depositing an egg on Passiflora

suberosa 

We are sprucing up the Lisa Anness Butterfly Garden in anticipation of the Butterfly Days, July 25 and 26.  More coonties, corky-stemmed passionflowers, red pentas, buddleias and milkweeds are being planted.  The passionflowers, Passiflora suberosa arrived with caterpillars munching on their leaves!  Oh well, this will bring even more butterflies to this beautiful exhibit.   Visit this exhibit mid-day or in the afternoon to see the most butterflies.  It seems that butterflies prefer to visit flowers to gather nectar or leaves upon which they lay eggs in the warmest part of the day.

 

 

 

 

 


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We are getting ready for the Members' Day Plant Sale

Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 02:15:56 PM

I propagate plants for Members' Day Plant Sale, the Ramble and the Spring Plant Sale all year long.  In fact, nearly every Monday and Tuesday morning my volunteers and I collect seeds and cuttings from Fairchild then clean and plant them at our nursery.  This time of year, when many plants have new growth, is the best time for taking cuttings.  Most plants root well from either young tip growth or semi-woody stems.  We take the cuttings early in the morning, wetting them immediately to keep them fresh.

In addition to propagating plants, I am putting together the 2009 Plant Distribution List for the October 3 Members' Day Plant Sale.  I am not ready to divulge the list at this time, but I feel compelled to mention one of the special palms that will be available at the sale.  

Schippia concolor, silver pimento palm, is an elegant, small species native to the open, dry pinelands and moist forests of Belize. The slender trunk has an open crown of deeply divided two-foot palmate leaves with leafstems two to six feet long. Showy, white inflorescences are followed by clusters of white fruit one-inch in diameter. This dainty palm may be grown in full sun to light shade. They are growing in Fairchild in Plots 106, 107, 111.


Schippia concolor in full bloom

   
   

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You can almost hear the plants growing.....

Tue, Jun 09, 2009 at 05:54:03 AM

Our summer rainy season has begun.  Our winter and spring at Fairchild was sunny and dry; extremely dry.  Now that we've received more than 10 inches of rain since mid-May, the plants in the garden are bursting with new growth and lots of flowers.  You can almost hear the plants growing!  Our lawns are carpets of green, creating enticing pathways to investigate, off-road, other inner portions of Fairchild.

I believe that Fairchild is at it's absolutely most beautiful during the summer!  Come visit!  Temperatures are warm, but there are lots of shady places in the garden to visit.  Plot 27, behind the Madagascar Spiny Forest, has many gingers and ginger relatives which are bursting forth with beautiful flowers and foliage.  During the dry season, many are completely dormant.  Walk under the shade of our beautiful vine pergola and drink in the sight and fragrances of the tropics.  Our ylang-ylang trees, one adjacent to the Visitors Center, and the other in our rainforest, are full of flowers which have a heavenly, much sought-after perfume.

Speaking of the rainforest; this is the best time to walk on the shaded pathways, along our special stream with cascades and waterfalls.  Did you know that the stream uses water from Glade Lake?  Water from the lake is pumped uphill, underground along the cycad vista.  It then emerges in plot 133 at the beginning of the stream and flows back down, under the tram roads and eventually back to Glade Lake.  Come explore the rainforest and sit awhile on a bench to watch the stream cascade or just to read a book.  Fairchild is at its best right now.  Don't miss it!

 
The stream in Fairchild's rainforest  

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Attracting birds to your yard

Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 06:21:48 AM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


A pair of painted buntings visiting my feeder which is hanging in an Alvaradoa amorphoides.

I have planted many native trees, shrubs and palms to re-create natural habitats in my own yard.  I created a hardwood hammock, palm and grass savannah, and a pineland area all in a less than 1/2 acre size lot.  One of the main reasons I planted native species was to attract wildlife. 

Birds require food, shelter, and water.  I am especially pleased with the many birds who visit my yard, especially painted and indigo buntings.  Birds like to hide in shrubs and small trees.  I have a bird feeder on the sunny edge of my hammock and a large clay pot saucer used to keep water for birds to bathe in or drink.  The birds like hanging out in the Alvaradoa amorphoides and Lantana involucrata before they fly to my feeder.  I use a bird seed mix which includes sunflower seeds, millet, and other small seeds.  Millet seeds are eaten by the buntings.  Both the painted buntings and indigo buntings spend the dry season in South Florida.  In a few weeks, the buntings will fly north to their summer nesting areas.

At this year's Spring Plant Sale we will have many native species to plant and create habitats for birds and butterflies.  We will have some small sized Lantana involucrata, Chromolaena odorata,  Passiflora suberosa and Alvaradoa amorphoides  to get you started on creating your own wildlife habitats in your yard.  Plant them and they will come! 


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Spring has arrived in Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden!

Thu, Apr 02, 2009 at 11:07:20 AM

 

                                                                   Brownea capitella in our rainforest

Spring at Fairchild means lots of amazing flowers are here for you to enjoy.  Some flowers are only fragrant at night.  Tonight and every Thursday night in April, there will be special walking tours in the Arboretum to visit flowers which are fragrant during the evening hours to attract  insects, mostly moths, which only fly at night. There may be fewer moths than there are of daytime insects, but there are also fewer nighttime flowers, so less competition. The flowers have a fragrance because that is a signal which works at night, when visual signals as used by many daytime flowers don't work.

Do moths have a sense of smell? Most definitely. Nearly all insects have a very good sense of smell - or, to be precise, sensitivity to minute amounts of complex chemicals, and moths particularly so. Moths are known for the huge variety of shapes and forms in their antennae, which are their main smell sensors. I know that there are several angel's trumpets (Brugmansia spp.) blooming now.  They are incredibly fragrant at night.  Try to visit Fairchild soon to enjoy Spring!  Visit on a Thursday evening this month and you might even see a moth!

 

 

                                                                   Brugmansia aurea in the Arboretum

 


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