tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post2501875594788868682..comments2024-03-28T16:38:10.153-07:00Comments on Late to the Garden Party: Highlights of my botanic garden visitKris Petersonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-32870245918584415542021-09-13T20:34:04.420-07:002021-09-13T20:34:04.420-07:00The Banyan grove does indeed offer a peaceful resp...The Banyan grove does indeed offer a peaceful respite.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-65061934550923055272021-09-13T15:01:12.731-07:002021-09-13T15:01:12.731-07:00Perhaps if the rollerskating bit remains an events...Perhaps if the rollerskating bit remains an events / for profit space, the garden can focus on kinder gardening in the rest of the space. Lovely to walk in the cathedral shade of tall trees on a hot summer day, the air refreshing and cool. Bliss.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-84598502825688006732021-09-05T13:03:10.557-07:002021-09-05T13:03:10.557-07:00It probably would have been more apt on my part to...It probably would have been more apt on my part to say the Geranium 'Rozanne' went underground and was never seen again, CGJ ;) <br /><br />I wish my community loved trees as much as you and I do. Not long after moving here, I discovered that there is a local "view conservation and restoration" ordinance. In essence it values the views of neighbors, as in effect in November 1989, over trees, requiring that the offending trees be cut back or removed entirely. I got pressured into removing 2 trees early on, until I declared "enough" and told the neighbor in question I'd fight her with everything I had before removing another. Luckily for me, she moved soon after. Given current circumstances with our changing climate, I'd take the battle beyond our community to the court of public opinion if push ever comes to shove again. As it is, we get our trees trimmed on a regular basis.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-77996153126108540492021-09-05T11:57:07.701-07:002021-09-05T11:57:07.701-07:00Hello Kris ! You gave me a great laugh with the re...Hello Kris ! You gave me a great laugh with the remark about Rozanne packing her bags twice in your garden .. that some how instantly projected a picture in my mind of a lanky blue geranium with bags in hand walking away ? LOL<br />Your tour here has been wonderful because I am a tree person and seeing these trees that are so different from what I am used to here is amazing.<br />Especially the Fiscus petiolaris "ghost tree" what a gorgeous tree !<br />I have a weakness for seeing cypres in a line .. photos of Italian country side pass through my mind. I'm sorry to know another tree is being strangled by a vine .. I understand your distress with that.<br />I have first knowledge about the change of temperature when under a structure of trees .. the degree of change can be shocking in fact. I have this ridiculous Pacific Sunset maple that double it projected size (I think due to consistent watering from the sprinkler system and a protected garden with the 8 ft. fence .. but wow .. we had no idea that would happen.<br />It provides a cool place for birds and small animals and makes oxygen galore. But the 2 detriments ? .. it blocks my skyline to take moon pictures and when Autumn comes it doesn't quite colour up the way it should, just too protected ! We love it anyways .. how can you not love trees !<br />Take care and stay safe ! CanadianGardenJoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18130452541076704075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-29929934056982396662021-09-05T11:07:47.650-07:002021-09-05T11:07:47.650-07:00Vertical gardens and living walls have gotten a lo...Vertical gardens and living walls have gotten a lot of attention here but big ones like that in SCBG do need regular maintenance to keep looking good. SCBG's wall was installed by a contractor, which I believes also takes care of the maintenance. Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-7051529724214921982021-09-05T11:04:48.575-07:002021-09-05T11:04:48.575-07:00If there are any oaks in SCBG, I can't say I&#...If there are any oaks in SCBG, I can't say I've noticed them. However, I understand that a lot of trees and other plants had difficulty with the heat generated by the ongoing decomposition of the garbage beneath the surface when the former landfill was converted into a garden so you may be on point on that score. I also have the impression that SCBG also got a lot of its tree stock as handoffs from the LA Arboretum (LA County owns the land at SCBG). The garden wasn't planned in the way one would hope.<br /><br />I'm sorry to hear that the OC may be foregoing its opportunity to build a botanic garden, especially as we need all the trees we can get to absorb greenhouse gasses. Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-49431900466884678802021-09-05T09:18:16.600-07:002021-09-05T09:18:16.600-07:00I love that Living Wall. What a great idea!I love that Living Wall. What a great idea!Nikki - Notes of Lifehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15116292112164268244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-16292962718968797072021-09-05T06:50:03.172-07:002021-09-05T06:50:03.172-07:00They do have a lot there--thanks for showing some ...They do have a lot there--thanks for showing some of it. Too bad a shortage of budget and strange choices by the people at the top can't develop it better. <br /><br />Banyan grove--unfortunate no one had the foresight to make it a native Oak grove instead. Maybe the landfill beneath was better tolerated by Ficus<br /><br />Very sad that Orange County's chance for a major public Botanical garden looks lost--there was supposed to be one at the "Great Park", but there's too much money to be made on cramming in more houses.Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-66177414160605356352021-09-04T12:36:27.498-07:002021-09-04T12:36:27.498-07:00I like the Trace sculpture because it's colorf...I like the Trace sculpture because it's colorful but I felt it looked awkward without any plants directly surrounding it to give it a better sense of being part of the space. I've seen One on One with children climbing all over it before, which didn't bother me at all as it seemed made for that. (Fuller, which appears more breakable, is a different story.)<br /><br />When I conducted tours, the kids generally enjoyed the strangler fig story, especially when I told them how that fig probably got planted in that palm. Ditto with the story of the Opuntia in one of the silk floss trees. Stories involving "poop" always seemed to be a hit ;)Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-59258296145136721662021-09-04T12:27:35.965-07:002021-09-04T12:27:35.965-07:00There are just too few gardeners to keep the garde...There are just too few gardeners to keep the garden looking its best, Kay. I was particularly distressed by the conifer being overtaken by the honeysuckle but many areas have received even less attention, including the one you'd tended so lovingly in the past. Maybe they've abandoned some areas due to future building plans - or maybe they're just stretched too thin and unable to pull in volunteers anymore. The One on One area did have a "door" but I was surprised that there were no plants surrounding Trace or Four Lines.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-59709097482471305752021-09-04T12:19:36.476-07:002021-09-04T12:19:36.476-07:00Those Moreton Bay figs hail from eastern Australia...Those Moreton Bay figs hail from eastern Australia so you're right on target with your impressions, Cindy ;)Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-9225100352475059962021-09-04T12:17:56.358-07:002021-09-04T12:17:56.358-07:00I restrict my visits (usually due to time constrai...I restrict my visits (usually due to time constraints) to the botanic garden's front area all to often, Lisa. The "back forty" is a nice place to walk. They're offering some dog-walking hours at the garden now - if I had a dog, I'd probably stroll that area more often!Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-74964025223069381422021-09-04T08:01:13.274-07:002021-09-04T08:01:13.274-07:00The shaded grove of Ficus macrophylla is just the ...The shaded grove of Ficus macrophylla is just the best! Not just because I love shade: those trees are spectacular. They outshine any of the sculptures. I don't mind art in a garden, but non of those appealed to me. If "One on One" was located in the shade, I could see having a relaxing moment with a glass of wine... (I'm sure it's not allowed, but it could give the piece a purpose).<br />The "strangler fig" takes vertical gardening to a new level, in a totally accidental way!chavlinesshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10907844942343152129noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-90285198180266625692021-09-04T06:22:02.976-07:002021-09-04T06:22:02.976-07:00Thank you for your post, because I have not seen t...Thank you for your post, because I have not seen the garden since our last visit there together. It has been exactly 2 years since the grand opening of “Hide and Seek.” The days before the opening, I had assisted with planting those Begonias around the ‘Duchess of Alba’: from your photos, it appears that some appear leggy and untidy. It appears that it is relatively recently that they planted Agave vilmoriniana around Firestone. It was intended that “One on One” was encompassed within a “room” delineated by the Italian cypresses: it looks like a success, but there should be one area devoid of a cypress or two to have an open door into the room. I’m surprised that ‘Trace’ no longer has the expansive wood chip mulch surrounding it or plantings to replace the mulch. The Japanese Garden and the Banyan Grove, including Ficus petiolaris as well as Ficus religiosa, bring back wonderful memories of being a docent with you there! Thanks again. Kay A.https://www.blogger.com/profile/18409324671756954457noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-65083088305872627662021-09-04T05:21:14.237-07:002021-09-04T05:21:14.237-07:00Looks like a wonderful place to spend a day. My f...Looks like a wonderful place to spend a day. My favorite part to is the Banyon Grove. It reminds me of what I think Australia would look like, or at least what I've seen in movies.Cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02814727241205425482noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-69383469232519624482021-09-04T05:09:56.006-07:002021-09-04T05:09:56.006-07:00I love to walk down lanes with trees and or shrubs...I love to walk down lanes with trees and or shrubs that make it feel like a tunnel or at least a canopy over the road. Lisa at Greenbowhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09310556337842514199noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-8277946814883783012021-09-03T19:07:21.984-07:002021-09-03T19:07:21.984-07:00I'm glad you're getting a break in the wea...I'm glad you're getting a break in the weather department, Eliza! You do indeed deserve one. We're headed into another "warm up" but that's really business as usual for us in September.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-33774289914525534392021-09-03T18:18:49.428-07:002021-09-03T18:18:49.428-07:00I can imagine any venue dependent on public revenu...I can imagine any venue dependent on public revenue these days is struggling, so trying new things makes sense. I'm not a big fan of modern art, but I do like the kinetic ones, which I will watch indefinitely, ha! <br />I like the new palm/agave planting replacing thirstier plants. Makes good sense.<br />Have a great weekend, Kris. Our weather looks pretty nice for a while– we deserve a break, it's been a rather unusual weather summer.Eliza Watershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06879335295393594236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-22491905472548427092021-09-03T17:35:41.581-07:002021-09-03T17:35:41.581-07:00I'm tempted to try growing a crape myrtle in m...I'm tempted to try growing a crape myrtle in my own garden. I've always loved them but mildew is a problem here. I understand there are some mildew resistant types and the fact that SCBG just 5-6 miles away can grow them has me thinking about it, though.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-81645459242687467462021-09-03T17:29:29.007-07:002021-09-03T17:29:29.007-07:00I love those Moreton Bay figs. Better to have kid...I love those Moreton Bay figs. Better to have kids climbing over and around their roots than clambering on sculptures too ;)Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-29881264076809480922021-09-03T17:25:43.839-07:002021-09-03T17:25:43.839-07:00I wouldn't be drawn to this botanic garden bas...I wouldn't be drawn to this botanic garden based on the art on display, Loree, but SCBG obviously thought it'd draw people in. I suppose that may be true among people who don't care much about gardens to begin with. (That also may have been the thought behind the disco rollerskating thing.) If there's been a recent survey of what draws visitors to the garden, I haven't seen the results but I'd be surprised if Hide & Seek rated high on the list.Kris Petersonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07097260283693156795noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-65987885499861316872021-09-03T14:21:22.907-07:002021-09-03T14:21:22.907-07:00Disco rollerskating, huh? It looks like a neat pla...Disco rollerskating, huh? It looks like a neat place; sorry there were a few disappointments, but it looks pretty nifty in some sections. I wish I could grow Crepe Myrtles here, but we're just a bit beyond their range. That "living wall" is pretty nifty. The Toronto Botanical Garden has a wall area like that. Awesome stuff!Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-25848034091354656892021-09-03T09:57:04.252-07:002021-09-03T09:57:04.252-07:00Those Banyan trees are very cool. The aerial root...Those Banyan trees are very cool. The aerial roots always remind me of swamp trees. Agree with Lori as would rather look at plants than abstract art. However, others obviously enjoy them. A great weekend for you too.luv2gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09883799040439283011noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8574540292918761182.post-63769423611131211372021-09-03T09:26:40.782-07:002021-09-03T09:26:40.782-07:00The plants themselves are so sculptural I will nev...The plants themselves are so sculptural I will never understand that addition of large distracting pieces of art. (yes I know... money... but still!)danger gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09227500551609537140noreply@blogger.com