sam@mtuxo.UUCP (d.lewan) (08/07/85)
I'd like to assemble a list of botanical gardens open to the public along with descriptive information (specialties, cost, etc.). Some gardens I'm already familiar with include: The NY Botanical Garden, The Bronx, NYC, NY The Brooklyn Botanical Garden, Brooklyn, NYC, NY Longwood Gardens, Kennett Sq. Park, PA Arnold Arboretum, Wellsely, MA (?) The National Botanical Garden, Washington, DC Doris Duke Gardens, Somerville, NJ I'd like to be able to submit (or receive) such descriptions over the net. The immediate personal concern: What gardens are worth seeing in Hawaii and Australia? I'd like to see orchids in particular. With luck a series on botanical gardens can start soon. Doug (...!ihnp4!mtuxo!sam)
geopi@hou2h.UUCP (G.COTSONAS) (08/09/85)
I saw the Foster Botanical Gardens right in Honolulu last winter. Amazing trees! (If you've never seen Banyan trees, you're in for a treat, and if you get to Lahaina, they have a monster Banyan there that takes up a square block!) In Foster Gdns, there was an orchid section in a rock garden setting. I recommend a visit, but didn't get a chance to see other (formal) gardens in Hawaii... Interested in the posting of the gardens list, when it comes along... - George P. Cotsonas AT&T Information Systems Holmdel, New Jersey (201) 834-1046 ...houxm!hou2h!geopi
donn@hpfcla.UUCP (08/09/85)
A couple more in Hawaii, first: Moir's gardens on Kauai. Primarily cactus (no kidding) and other dryland stuff. It's been years, so don't count on it still being there. There's a Hibiscus garden on Paki street just behind the zoo near Diamond Head. Do NOT miss Foster Gardens! I don't know if it's open yet, but there was a plan to make a "pacific wide" garden of the old Walker Estate in Nuuanu. I forget the name but try something like "The Botannical Gardens of the Pacific" or (the place they held) "Flora Pacifica". In Seattle, the University of Washington administers Washington Park, but no-one knows that name; it's the "Arboretum". Rare plant sales in the spring, and other stuff as well. (Wall to wall rhododendrons.) Adjacent is a wetlands trail that might be interesting. On campus is the "drug plant garden". It was fairly complete until the 60's, but they had do to some selective editing at that time.(!) Seattle also has a large public display greenhouse in Volunteer Park, and there are similar in Golden Gate Park (San Francisco) and Balboa Park (San Deigo). In Victoria BC: it's not a Botannical garden, but rather a display garden, but DO NOT MISS Buchart Gardens. Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver is nice too. Donn Terry HP Ft. Collins.
kolling@decwrl.UUCP (Karen Kolling) (08/09/85)
> I'd like to assemble a list of botanical > gardens open to the public along with > descriptive information (specialties, cost, etc.). There's a wonderful general botanical garden in Cambridge, England. Free admission. I've forgotten it's name, but Cambridge is small enough so that anyone would know where it is. Of course, just walking around in the residential areas of Cambridge is a gardening treat too, if you're into herbaceous borders. I have a new lavender hedge flourishing away in my yard, inspired by the ones I saw in Cambrdge. Karen
jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman) (08/11/85)
> > > I'd like to assemble a list of botanical > gardens open to the public along with > descriptive information (specialties, cost, etc.). > over the net. > Berkeley has two botanical gardens open to the public: the UC Botanical Garden and the Tilden Botanical Garden. I don't know much about the latter except that it is in Tilden Park, is devoted to California native plants, and is free. The UC Botanical Garden is located on Centennial Drive behind Cal Memorial Stadium. It is divided into sections, each one containing plants from a different part of the world. There is an Asian hill, an African hill, a California area, a new world desert area, a Mexican area, and an Australian area. There are also areas devoted to types of plants: a "Plants for Mankind" area (containing mostly food plants), a rose garden, a tropical greenhouse, a greenhouse containing ferns and insectivorous plants, a greenhouse containing an extensive collection of cacti and succulents (with some orchids thrown in), and an herb garden. Admission is free, and it is open almost every day of the year (used to be every day but Christmas, but they've broken that rule a few times in recent years). > The immediate personal concern: > > What gardens are worth seeing in Hawaii and Australia? > I'd like to see orchids in particular. > I was impressed with Olu Pua Botanical Garden in Kauai. This is a privately owned garden, and is open only for tours, which don't happen every day. The advantage is that the people who give the tours are botany students in residence, and they really know something about plants. This garden doesn't have much in the way of orchids, though. You have to pay to get in; I think it cost me $3.00, but I'm not sure. The Nani Mau Gardens on Makalika Street in Hilo on the Big Island have much more in the way of orchids. You have to pay to get in; I don't remember how much, but it was pretty cheap. There is a self-guided tour: you walk along a path at your own pace. If you really want to see Orchids, go to the Akatsuka Orchid Nursery in the town of Volcano on the Big Island. This is not a botanical garden; it is a commercial orchid nursery. Their indoor display is stunning. I spent a long time wandering around looking at their large variety of orchid plants, and didn't feel any pressure to buy anything (I did eventually buy three plants). This is a must-see for orchid lovers visiting the island. Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens is different from most gardens. It has the feeling of a natural jungle. It also goes right down to the water's edge, which is unusual for a botanical garden, even in Hawaii. This garden is a privately owned, non-profit botanic preserve. When I went there last October, it had only been open for about three months; the workers there told me that it was founded by a California businessman who fell in love with the spot, quit his job, and spent six years and a million dollars developing it. To get there, take highway 19 north from Hilo for about 5 miles, then go on the scenic loop. There is a yellow church which they have converted to an office. Stop there, pay the fee (I don't remember how much), and they will drive you to the garden for a self-guided tour. Again, this is not a typical botanical garden; the plants aren't labeled, and it feels mors like an uncultivated state park. However, it was one of the most beautiful places I saw on my trip to Hawaii, and was well worth the stop. > > Doug > (...!ihnp4!mtuxo!sam) -- Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.) aka Swazoo Koolak {amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff {ucbvax, decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff
dkatz@zaphod.UUCP (Dave Katz) (08/12/85)
In article <857@mtuxo.UUCP> sam@mtuxo.UUCP (d.lewan) writes: > > >I'd like to assemble a list of botanical >gardens open to the public along with >descriptive information (specialties, cost, etc.). > >With luck a series on botanical gardens can start soon. A definite must is the Bouchard Gardens near Victoria on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. Story has it that the land was originally a great huge pit mine which the wife of the owner decided to replant. There a wonderful pictures of Mrs. Bouchard sitting in a bosun's chair half way down the face of the mining cliff, planting it. A beautiful MUST. D.Katz
adm@cbneb.UUCP (08/14/85)
Two more that are a "must" on your list: The Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis (Home of the Climatron) The Morton Arboretum, Chicago (actually in a suburb whose name escapes me)
ludemann@ubc-cs.UUCP (Peter Ludemann) (08/15/85)
In article <329@zaphod.UUCP> dkatz@zaphod.UUCP (Dave Katz) writes: > >A definite must is the Bouchard Gardens near Victoria on Vancouver >Island, British Columbia, Canada. Uh... I grew up in Victoria, and we always called it Butchart Gardens. Anyway, it is nice. There're also quite pleasant evening concerts with all kinds of flood lighting - summer only. The VanDusen Garden in Vancouver is more sedate but it does go quite a bit into more local flora. Also, the University of B.C. has various plantings around the campus plus an authentic Japanese garden done using local plants (for Japanese gardens in Japan, the list of good ones is rather long. If anyone is interested, I can recommend a few). -- ludemann%ubc-vision@ubc-cs.uucp (ubc-cs!ludemann@ubc-vision.uucp) ludemann@cs.ubc.cdn ludemann@ubc-cs.csnet Peter_Ludemann@UBC.mailnet
dmm@calmasd.UUCP (David M. MacMillan) (08/19/85)
If you're ever in Northern Italy, by all means see the
Villa Taranto. It's a large and wonderful botanical garden
begun by a Scotsman (I think) in the 1930's. Yes, they do
label species, and will even sell you a hardbound volume listing
all of the plants.
It's on the Lago di Maggiore. Take the train up to Stresa
(go in the off season! Stresa has been an *expensive* resort
town for many years). Tickets on the lake steamers are sold
by maximum distance travelled, so if you get one for the Villa
Taranto, you can also stop off at the Isola Bella and the
Isola Madre on the way. Both are worthwhile; the Isola Bella
is more (very grand) architectural, while the Isola Madre
is more botanical.
There are *NO* laundromats in Stresa, and the second language
is French, not English.
David M. MacMillan
P.S. There's a nice (small) botanical garden in Padova (Padua).
There are also some captivating non-botanical gardens near
Lucca.dmm@calmasd.UUCP (David M. MacMillan) (08/20/85)
Two more possibilities are the Conservatory in
San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, and the Arboretum
(I think that's what its called) at U.C. Santa Cruz.
I don't know what a serious horticulturalist would
think of the Golden Gate park Conservatory, but the building
itself is lovely - a 19th century glass-and-iron structure
imported by (I think) James Lick. I confess I have never been
to the UCSC site, even in four years of attendance at said
university. I seem to recall that they had South African
plants, and were only open a day or two each week. My details
could be wrong, but it does exist.
I once found a book in the library which covered, with
pictures, all of the gardens operated by the National Trust
in England. Not all of them were "botanical", of course. You
might look for it - shouldn't be too hard to find.
David M. MacMillan
Spelling correction to my (self-referential flame?) last
posting: ... grandLY) architectural ...
dmm@calmasd.UUCP (David M. MacMillan) (08/22/85)
In Monaco, there is an "Exotic Garden" (I shall not
attempt the French spelling). The location is spectacular
(the side of a cliff), but it consists almost entirely
of cactus. Coming from the southwest, this is perhaps
less impressive to me than it might be to a Monaco native.
They label species.
Remarkably (I'm serious about this), there is a large
limestone-type cavern beneath the gardens. Worth a visit
(no plants in it, though :-) ). Perhaps the last thing
you'd expect in Monaco.
You cannot get to the gardens by walking directly up
the mountain from Monaco Ville - the only road starts
somewhere around Monte-Carlo.
The only other thing worth seeing in town is the
Aquarium - Cousteau is based there. Marvelous.
Not many plants, though.
David M. MacMillan