Welcome to our tour.
We were a small but enthusiastic group. Gita,Nutmegnanna & husband Ron, HollyAnnS & husband Ric. This beautiful poinsettia tree display was set up in the Orchid Room. The Orchids were in full bloom, I think we could have spent hours in just that room alone.
These 3 huge balls are in the North Pavilion which is the Main Entrance. I understand that it took 4 huge guys to move them get them hung. I'm thinking about trying to make one of these in a much smaller version next year.
More of the North Pavilion display. There were 7 different varieties of red Poinsettia used in this display.
Gita is a volunteer at the conservatory & arranged our tour. Here she is with our guides. She hand crocheted the little wreath pins for all of us. Somewhere I have mislaid my notes so Gita will have to provide us with the names. Having a guided tour was a real highlight. The Palm House build in 1888 is one of the few Victorian Conservatories left in the world. The history surrounding it and a real insight into acquiring plants, transporting, planting & maintaining this Conservatory was wonderful.
South Pavilion & my favorite display.
This room was full of the most beautiful pink poinsettias.
more
I have more pictures to post later but I need to go now. Ron & Gita both took some pictures and they will be posting some of theirs here as well.
Beautiful, HollyAnn! I don't know what's prettier in the top photo, the tree or your wonderful faces.
Beautiful pictures, Holly!!!!
I uploaded mine a couple of days ago, but was waiting for you to start the new Thread so I could post them. Didn't want to "beat you to it".
Our 2 tour guides--Kate Blum (the short one) is also the director of the Rawlings Conservatory. Sorry, but I did not catch the other guide's name.
OK! I will post my pictures. Some, I am sure, will be repeats.
Here are the 5 of us again. Still holding those smiles.....
Gita
Took some pictures in the Palm House. Don't know the names....Holly! You took notes!
I do remember that this one was called "the Bottle palm"--for obvious reasons...
This was the Conifferous Sago palm. Obviously there are different kinds. it is about 30 yrs. old. The fact that the "cone" had split open was a big event at the Conservatory.
Did you know that the Sago Palm is one of the oldest living plants? it was around before the Dinosaurs! Another plant equally old is the Ghinko Tree.
Here's a close-up. Much like a pine cone, the sections pull right off. The seeds are the small bumps on the wide end.
Here isKate Blum--our main guide.
There are some huge, amazing Ginger plants in the Palm House!
This is a very beautiful Fan Palm of some kind. SO symmetrical!
This one is almost to the ceiling of the 5-story Palm House. I shot this one straight up.
Here's my Ric Rac--happily residing on the edge of a "cliff" in the Tropical House". They gladly adopted it. I bet it will bloom it's little heart out next summer. Sitting right above a pond--plenty of humidity--perfect temps., etc.
Here is the gorgeous Poinsettia Tree in the Orchid Room! Man! What an impact!
This was a large Poinsettia planting in the Mediterranean House. Kind of just sitting there. Added a lot of color.
Nice shots Gita, When we got home the DSL was down till Monday morning and I just couldn't get to it till this morning. Ric took all the pictures I'm posting BTW. As I mentioned earlier the Orchid House was in full bloom.
Nutmegnanna, Grows orchids and I very much want to acquire one. I think we could have spent hours in in just this one little room.
Here is my photo of the Christmas Tree in the North Pavilion. Right up against the window. Just beautiful! Surrounded everywhere by Poinsettias.
Here I want to tell you that the N. and S. Pavilions DO NOT actually have any beds. They are just open rooms with a few plants around the edges and in the corners.
When they have these big Shows, they create the beds by hand by edging them with the heavy, granite paver stones and then fill the beds with tons of mulch.
All the plants on display are still in their pots! They just bury the pots in the mulch and cover up any tell-tale edges peeping through.
A lot of this work is done by devoted volunteers. Not me! I cannot kneel or squat. The price I pay for 2 knee replacements.
Here's one of the two HUGE toy soldiers in the S. Pavilion. They are at least 8' tall!
The arms and legs were made from PVC pipe and the body from one of those concrete tubes. So clever--these people are! And--also very resourceful!
Well, I'm off to work, will check back later to see more of your wonderful pics Gita. One more shot from the Orchid Room.
Here is the choo-choo train, pulling cars-full of poinsettias. So clever!
Holly and I hip-hopping to show our pictures.
Now I will post my close-ups of almost every kind of Poinsettia in the displays. At least the less common-looking ones.
Sorry, I don't know all their names. Holly??????? Where's your list?
Here's some red ones....I think these were the "Jingle Bell" ones.
These were just SOOO unique! Amazing! Kate said this is a new variety. Hasn't hit the retail market yet--I don't think.
These were so serene looking. The foliage below was sage green.
Here's a close-up of the previous new variety one.
These were so tall! Sticking way above the ones below. Very interesting blooms!
Just a nice grouping.....
Here's a close-up of the tall ones 2 pictures back. I sure am not too organized here.....:o(
These are the "Winter Rose" variety. They are "fairly" new----maybe less than 10 years on the market???
This is the bloom of the Oncidium Orchid. They are smallish and look like little Dutch girls.
One more......Last one!
The other toy soldier in the S. Pavilian. He bids you all adieu and said to tell everyone to come back for the Spring Bulb Show.
Hey! I have been to that! You think you have seen all the kinds of Daffodils and Tulips????? Guess again! They get their bulbs straight from Holland and all the blooms are outstanding!
Did you know also that the Rawlings Conservatory is also in charge of decorating the City Hall and other prominent government buildings in the city of Baltimore?
The Conservatory IS under the Baltimore City Parks and Recreation Department.
WOW! I'm sorry I missed such a fun gathering, but I sure do thank you for taking and sharing such wonderful photos!
(O/T, my mom's procedure went very well, and it's good to be up here with my folks this week... she should be back home by the weekend!)
I'll just have to try all the harder to make it to the spring show... and of course I hope you've already penciled in the Groundhog's Day Tea Party and Seed Swap on your schedule! I'm making sure I have some extra seeds on hand for the occasion... but my place sure won't be half as colorful as the conservatory, no matter how cooperative my amaryllises are!
Jill,
Just WHEN is Groundhogs Day? Can you post a date please? Frankly----I don't want to hear the word "groundhog" after last summer....
I looked at your article and the glass/Botanical gardens. OH MY!!!!! Is that ever beautiful!!!!
I can't even imagine the plants there without all the glass architecture. Each and every one looks like it just belongs there. How on earth does this man do it on such a scale?
Nice job on all your articles!
Gita
Saturday, Feb. 2. I feel your pain regarding those pain in the tail critters... but I guess growing up in Pittsburgh was close enough to Punxy that I have fun with the day's festivities. If you've never seen the movie "Groundhog's Day," it's worth renting. :-)
Chuckles the Groundhog will not actually be on the menu, but rest assured I'll be serving something involving sausage -- it's a little tradition of mine. Our usual groundhog's day dinner the past few years has been fried potatoes with sausage, onions and peas... not exactly dainty tea party fare, but very tasty.
I'm glad you liked the Chihuly article... be sure to click on the link for the video tour of the Phipps exhibit!
Sorry i missed the tour. Beautiful I bet we can find time to stop in over the holiday, maybe even get my mom over there. wanted to take my mom and MIL together but just too much other stuff toujours.
