THE GREENHOUSE

CACTUS & SUCCULENT HOUSE

     

The central ground bed in this house contains a wide array of large and small cacti and succulents. Along the walls of the greenhouse grow more desert flora. Many specimens are grown in trough gardens constructed of hypertufa. Hypertufa is made by combining portland cement, sphagnum peat moss, perlite, and water. 

Late fall and early winter are particularly interesting in the arid greenhouse. Many cacti and other succulents send up flower stalks this time of year that should bloom in mid-December. The Kalanchoe and Aloe produce bloom stalks and many of the Crassula species are forming flower buds this time of year. And, of course, the iridescent flowers of Schlumbergera (Christmas cactus) brighten up the room with shades of orange, white, red, and pink. 

Bring a book or a sketch pad and enjoy the quiet beauty of the autumnal changes. 


DISPLAY HOUSE

Display House at Christmas

Seasonal floral displays fill this greenhouse. Breathtaking displays packed full of flowering and foliage plants are always on display. Depending on the season you may see spring flowering bulbs, chrysanthemums, poinsettias, lilies, and a host of other beautiful plants in this house. Many fine examples of topiary are also on display in this house. 

The chrysanthemum display has progressed from the pinks and whites of summer to the oranges and yellows of fall. There are many color combinations as well as flower forms including pompom, decorative, button, spider, paintbrush, and daisy trained in standards and spray styles. Several of the pot mums are new introductions for the fall of 2001 and will be available next year for sale. 

PRODUCTION HOUSES

All of the crops used in the display house get their start in the production houses. The entire outdoor annual display is produced in the greenhouse. Many plants are propagated and grown on for our sales area. 

SALES AREA

The sales area is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.. We sell a wide variety if plants from houseplants to perennials. Flowering plants are always available if you want to take someone a nice gift or treat yourself. During the outdoor growing season a wide array of perennial plants is in stock.

The sales area is particularly well stocked this fall. The new Floriculturist, Jeff Russell, has brought in a wide assortment of new selections, many of which we have never been offered for sale before. 

GREENHOUSE COURTYARD

The Greenhouse Courtyard is enclosed on all four sides by the greenhouse providing a special microclimate suitable for otherwise tender plants. During the growing season, the small pool in the center of the courtyard is full of water, fish, and aquatic plants.

The Potting Shed is off limits to the general public. This is our work area. The Potting Shed contains our two mist benches where most of our vegetative cuttings are rooted. Two timers in the basement control when and how long mist will be sprayed on the unrooted cuttings. More mist is required in the hot summer months than in the winter time. Most of our cuttings are taken by volunteers. Also in the Potting Shed is our sweat box. Most of our seed is sown in the sweat box. The sweat box has a heating pad to provide warmth, which aids in germination.


TROPICAL HOUSE

A large collection of rare and exotic tropical plants can be discovered in the tropical house. In the center of the house are three ground beds. You will find dwarf bananas, huge elephant ears, and a multitude of other interesting specimens. The rest of the plants are grown in old-fashioned concrete greenhouse benches. We are constantly on the lookout for new and different plants to add to this collection. Insect and pest control is always problematic in a tropical house. We do not us chemical pesticides in this house, but use predators, parasites, and mechanical means to control the insect population. If you are lucky, you may see one of our lizards munching on a bug.

Plants may be winding down outside, but in our tropical house we have a wide variety of plants from around the world that provide a colorful display of flowers, fruit, and foliage for the fall and winter season. The following list is just a sample of the plants in out tropical collection with late fall and early winter interest:

Justicia brandegeana (shrimp plant), Acalypa hispida (chenille plant) Athurium (flamingo flower), Dichorisandra warscewicziana (blue ginger), Cordyline terminalis 'Fire Brand' (ti tree), Jatropha integerrima (spicy jatropha), Codiaeum (croton), Acalypha wilkesiana 'Obovata Cristata' (copperleaf), Ficus deltoidea (mistletoe fig), Rivina humilis (blood berry).    

ORANGERY

This narrow building was constructed in 1980. We use the Orangery as a display area. Displays change seasonally.  Teak benches located in the Orangery are a favorite resting spot for our visitors.

A new addition in 2007, this great aquarium features plants! (We have fish also). When is the last time you saw an aquarium with thriving plants. 

The aquarium brightens a dark spot in the Orangery and is a great addition.