LanternAsia

     For the past month the Norfolk Botanical Garden, where I work, has been closed to the public while a show called LaternAsia has been set up. Late in January shipping containers began arriving and were unpacked into a massive, seemingly disorderly, colorful pile in our parking lot. A week or so afterwards, Chinese nationals moved into the garden, living out of our cafe, as well as in several campers set up in the horticulture compound. The first things they built were a giant tented workshop in the parking lot, and a cooking tent; they brought their own chef too. Next they made order out of that chaotic pile, and turned silk, wire, wood, steel, and glue into something very special. Working from sunup to sundown, in rain, cold, and even snow, it was amazing watching how they transformed the garden. I would leave work in the afternoon at my normal 3:30, and by the next morning a temple would have been constructed or a menagerie would show up where the day before was just turf. I was able to enjoy the show on Thursday when it was opened just for employees, their families, and friends. Today the show opens to the general public, and the garden itself reopens as well. I must say I have missed seeing our guests in the garden, but after watching the construction process, I can understand why we had to temporarily close. Once people see the show, I also hope they will agree the wait was worth it.

     I think the most impressive structure is the Porcelain Pagoda, made from tens of thousands porcelain spoons, bowls, cups, saucers, and plates, all of which were individually attached by hand to pieces of armature. These armatures were then craned into place creating a complete structure that is 3-4 stories tall.

     It is hard to tell from the photo, but this dragon is over 200' long and the head is over 20' tall.

     LanternAsia runs through the end of April, and unlike our holiday light show it is a walk-through. Speaking of walking, my Winter Walk-Off is in progress now, and ends on 3/19 at midnight. I am sure some of you would love to take a walk and clear your head. Take your camera with you; I would appreciate more entries.

(If you are interested, there are additional LanternAsia photos on my Flickr page.)

Summer Color 2015 II

     This is the second part of a review of what my team and I designed and planted at the Norfolk Botanical Garden last summer, part one is here. One of the plantings I was most pleased with were the containers in front of our Administration Building. The bromeliad is Aechmea blanchetiana, and I love the color it turns in the sun. It was combined with Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart', Dichondra 'Silver Falls', and vinca 'Cora Lavender' (Catharanthus roseus), which was more pink than lavender, but like others from the Cora series resisted the funk that vincas can get in periods of heavy summer rain.

     On the backside of the same building, surrounding a fountain, we planted Cordyline 'Red Sensation', more Tradescantia pallida 'Purple Heart', surprisingly durable and florific Crossandra 'Orange Marmalade', and a new coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Henna'), which did very well for us.

     There are few petunias that do well for us all season, but one that has is 'African Sunset'. We used it at the Café, along with 'Sedona' coleus (Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Sedona'), Solanum integrifolium (a.k.a pumpkin-on-a-stick), coral Stachytarpheta, and yet more Tradescantia (I may have to impose limits on myself with this plant). On the adjacent patio we filled pots with some of the same plants, and anchored them with 'New Zealand' castor bean (Ricinus communis) and foxtail palms (Wodyetia bifurcata), which were lousy anchors as they caught the wind and the pots blew over several times.

     At the entrance to our Tropical Garden we used more of the Cordyline 'Red Sensation', Asclepias 'Silky Gold', golden shrimp plant (Pachystachys lutea), 'Black Pearl' ornamental pepper (Capiscum annuum 'Black Pearl'), a red New Guinea impatiens (Impatiens hawkeri), 'Macho' fern (Nephrolepis biserrata 'Macho'), and 'Marguerite' sweet potato vine (Ipomoea batatas 'Marguerite').

     For the bed in front of our Children's Garden, the horticulturist responsible for that area created a family from clay pots, enjoying a picnic, including the family dog and a bird. I couldn't believe how many parents stood there and watched their children walk right into the bed to touch the pot people - or worse. Until the plants filled in thickly, she had to repair the creations constantly. No home training! Anyway, I can't remember all that went into this bed, but I do know it included Ageratum (probably 'Hawaii Blue'), Melampodium, an upright Celosia, cape plumbago (Plumbago auriculata), Echinacea 'Pow Wow', Dahlia 'Mystic Fantasy', and a dwarf yellow Cosmos.

     Despite its location in our Perennial Garden, the channels that radiate from the central fountain are always planted with annuals. Last summer we used an odd mix of plants, most of which are more commonly known as edible or commercial crops. The planting included 'Black Madras' rice (Oryza sativa 'Black Madras'), red okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), roselle hibiscus (Hibiscus sabdariffa). black-leaved cotton (Gossypium herbaceum 'Nigra'), ornamental peanut (Arachis pointoi 'Golden Glory'), coleus 'Gay's Delight' (Plectranthus scutellarioides 'Gay's Delight'), and a new for us vinca, 'Jams 'N Jellies Blueberry' (Catharanthus roseus), which didn't look like its picture and didn't play very well with the other colors.

     The only garden that disappointed me last year was the Circle Garden. We had carefully selected a color scheme, and a key component was a particular Torenia, and at the last minute our plug supplier could not supply, so we had to take a substitution that threw the whole thing off. However, I loved the 'Lime Zinger' elephant ears (Xanthosoma aurea 'Lime Zinger'). Every time I entered the garden I thought I was catching a glimpse of the South Pacific.

     I have one more group of photos from last summer which will show our bridge baskets, and some succulent plantings which came out really well. I will post these later. Until then, if the weather is nice and you feel like a taking a stroll with your camera, I would love to see you enter my 2016 Winter Walk-Off.