Desert Conservatories in the Mid Atlantic States
Cactus and Succulent Collections Housed Indoors at Public Gardens
Dec 19, 2008
The cactus and succulent house at Kingwood Center in Mansfield, Ohio and the world desert conservatory at the United States Botanic Garden in Washington DC are two places to visit while in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States. Indoor desert gardens are warm and less crowded during winter, when other plant displays are more popular.
Kingwood Center’s Cactus and Succulent House
The rectangular greenhouse at Kingwood Center, filled with the cactus and succulent collection, includes a display of garden planters made with hypertufa. The rugged looking containers complement succulent and cactus plants; however the appearance is deceptive as they are much lighter than any original farm troughs.
The plant collection included in the cactus and succulent house includes aloe, barrel cactus, wooly rose, orchid cactus and an elephant foot tree. Schlumbergera, Christmas cactus is also found in this area.
During the winter holidays a collection of flowering Christmas cactus are also found grouped with poinsettias in the nearby seasonal display greenhouse. These mixed garden displays provide good ideas for combining plants at home.
World Deserts House at US Botanic Garden
In the world desert house at the United States Botanic Garden a variety of cactus and succulents include the Parodia warasii cactus and the rare owl’s eyes cactus. The collections are displayed in group-plantings among rock and gravel, as they would appear in native lands. Like in other parts of this botanic garden the International Union for Conservation of Natives designation plant markers are evident.
For example, the Echinocactus grusonii, golden barrel cactus is listed as critically endangered. This cactus is a native of Mexico and among other reasons, has been threatened by illegal collecting. Cactus and succulents like these are part of a separate greenhouse called rare and endangered species located near the west gallery.
Holiday events are going on at the United States Botanic Garden including musical performances on Tuesday and Thursday evenings during the month of December. Walking through favorite garden collections to the sounds of holiday music makes a special garden visit.
More Desert Plant Collections
Away from the eastern United States, the desert southwest is the logical place to see succulent and cactus collections. The Denver Botanical Garden has two collections worth the trip; the hardy cactus and succulent collection outdoors and non-hardy collection housed in a greenhouse.
The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino California have many gardens to wander around. The desert garden is approximately 100 years old with 10 acres of outdoors cactus and succulents to visit.
Permission received for all photos used in this article.
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