City Gardener

Today at the greenhouse B... and Al... gave me the task of cleaning up the climbing vines in room C3. It didn’t take very long to accomplish. The room is kept fairly chilly since it represents temperate forests in winter dormancy. I was glad to be wearing two layers today. Vine bench in room C3 In the same room, C3, they had me climb up on one of the benches along the wall to prune a few of the climbing bushes clinging to a metal trellis. I also trimmed a few small bushes on one of the other low benches (I’m hoping I didn’t kill one of them because I think I removed a bit too much of the plant…50% or so). Finally, I scrubbed the leaves of one of the vines. They were partly covered in sooty mold, and looking unsightly.

My husband T... joined me for the drive to the greenhouse this morning. There, we met up with his friend from work-days, D.., for a tour of the greenhouse. The tour began with an introductions to the staff. I brought them first to the farthest end of the greenhouse, room C4, where the desert plants are housed. In particular, I highlighted the Welwitschia mirabilis from Namibia, and then pointed out the differences and similarities between euphorbias and cacti. I also showed them plants intermediate between those with leaves, and those with only needles. The intermediate plants have both needles and leaves. We talked about convergent evolution where euphorbias from Africa and cacti from South America followed similar adaptations (intermediate forms with both needles and leaves) although their genetic groups are completely different. Vanilla vine in room C2 We then toured the Temperate forest room, C3. This room houses examples of many of the plants and trees with which we are familiar.