The sensuous curves of skunk cabbage inflorescences brighten a swamp in early spring.
For those thirsting for some sign of rebirth after a long, cold winter, you need go no further than the closest swamp. Skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus) has been up and in flower for over a month now. In fact, skunk cabbage may be found in flower as early as mid-February in this area. While many people may not consider skunk cabbage to be a ”true” spring wildflower, that is, one that is sweet, delicate, and pastel-colored, it is, indeed, one of our native wildflowers, and a plant deserving of our attention and admiration. The floral parts have a certain sculptural beauty, and the deep maroon color is striking in the otherwise bleak landscape.
Keep an eye out for these saucer-shaped oddities in the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, flaunting reds, blues, and luscious purples! Passion flowers are perhaps most fascinating for the fact that, despite looking like some of the most exotic blooms in the glasshouse, they’re really very common–there are around 400 species in their genus, many of which grow along roadsides in the U.S. In this case, “diamond in the rough” sounds about right.
And growing passion flowers at home is as easy as giving your vine or shrub a pot to grow in. Be sure that you know what you’ve got, however. Many species are considered invasive depending on the region, so it’s best to check in with a local Cooperative Extension before committing to one breed or another.
Ravenala madagascariensis, better known as traveler’s palm, is a plant endemic to Madagascar which can be found in our very own Enid A. Haupt Conservatory (Palm Dome). In addition to its very attractive fan-shaped arrangement of leaves, it has another unique attribute that isn’t often witnessed.
Like a jewel box opening up, its dried brown fruit pod splits apart to reveal remarkable sapphire-colored seeds inside. The reason that they are blue? It can be considered a “tale of two endemics,” or the supposed co-evolution of the traveler’s palm with another species found only in Madagascar—the ruffed lemur.
The lemurs are astute pollinators of Ravenala; they use their long tongues to reach the nectar deep inside the flowers. In this way, they collect and transfer pollen on their snouts from plant to plant. Once pollinated, the flowers develop into seed pods, which mature and dry before splitting to expose the bounty inside. The fuzzy blue appendage, or aril, that is attached to the seed is edible—and it encourages animals to eat it and aid in seed dispersal. In this case the animal that it solely appeals to is the lemur, which is only capable of seeing shades of blue and green.
“In the spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours.”
— Mark Twain
Snow, sleet, or flighty sun, the plum blossoms seem to be taking spring’s early days in stride. The rest of the Garden, likewise, follows suit. I hope your Friday is as bright.
Prunus mume ‘Matsurabara Red’ — Photo by Ivo M. Vermeulen
Philip Haas has a knack. One that brings forests and gardens to life in ways you probably weren’t expecting. And, this coming May, he’s bringing his deft touch to The New York Botanical Garden. Keep an eye out for the inspiration of Arcimboldo in the Conservatory Courtyard, or, if you’d like a preview, hoof it up to the Library Rotunda. Trust me: you’ll never look at a fruit bowl the same way.
Just go ahead and ignore your outdoor thermometer on your way out the door; it’s for the best. Because while today may not feel like the first day of spring, I can promise you–with the backing of several astronomers and meteorologists, if necessary–that we’re no longer wading our way through the worst of winter! At least not officially. The Spring Equinox is in swing, and the Orchid Show is hard at work trumpeting all things fresh and colorful. Week after week, waves of wild blossoms make their way into the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory, packing each nook, cranny, branch, and epiphyte-friendly surface with neon perfection. It’s the spring phenomenon, and it’s more than just a greenhouse full of plants.
Kevin Character recently took the show to the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, where our staff now tends to the comings and goings of Little Landscapes, an Orchid Show sibling geared toward the little ones in your life. Terrariums are the new kids on the block when it comes to green thumb trends, but their history extends far, far beyond the delicate glass globes and mossy miniature landscapes seen on Pinterest. There was a practical purpose to the first Victorian terrariums of England–well behind the beautiful display and self-contained ecosystem that each terrarium provided.
Want to know more about this open house of tiny greens? Check out our interview and demonstration!
Despite today’s unfortunate weather, spring truly is right around the corner. Tomorrow in fact! And there is evidence all around. Just this morning I saw a robin–slightly disgruntled and a little damp, but a robin nonetheless–strolling around on Tulip Tree Allée.
In the Everett Children’s Adventure Garden, the cozy Discovery Center is home to the serious family fun of Little Landscapes. Little Landscapes allows children of all ages to explore the tiny world of terrariums with hands-on activities that includes making your own little terrarium to take home! If you would like to indulge in a more substantial bout of terrarium-making, MasterCard cardholders are invited to participate in an exclusive Priceless event where your child can create an adventure- or fantasy-themed terrarium to take home.
