News from the Conservatory of Flowers

BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE CONSERVATORY

As one walks through the Conservatory's galleries, one notices the incredibly lush atmosphere, the shedding of outside thoughts as one gets deeper and deeper into the galleries. In the Highland Tropics, it truly feels as if one has stepped into a Cloud Forest, with trees branching overhead, and orchids hovering just out of arms reach. But, these plants did not actually grow here - and those branches are not actually extending from trees! Nursery specialist Eric Imperiale took the time to reveal a few of the fascinating ways that this Victorian greenhouse is transformed into a forest.

We start in his greenhouse - where he shows me how he typically starts to build a display. From a bucket of New Zealand moss, he retrieves a clump of the textured fluff. This keeps the roots moist, or creates a stage for them. He then determines the right branch for attaching the plant. Most branches are Manzanita, from the Conservatory's neighbor, the Strybing Arboretum. These are best, because they provide hard, dense wood. The typical display branch lasts 1-5 years in the Gallery. Eric uses fishing line (monofilament) to attach the New Zealand moss to the branch. Another layer of green moss may be added to disguise the branch. As he attaches the plant with the fishing wire, he is observant of the plant's orientation, to be aware of where the bloom will be.

With the display prepared, we head into the Highland Gallery to view installed branches. Here, Eric points out how the display plants root on the branch, and then grow. In the southwest corner of the gallery, the New Guinea specimens provide a great example of the procedure Eric has just demonstrated. In this space, one can also discover that many of the 'trees' are poles, that have transformed into natural looking objects. These can be removed, or rotated through out the gallery. In the pit in the center of the room, there are opportunities to observe older branches, that support rooted plants, but will soon need to be replaced, due to aging and exposure to the gallery's mist, visitors and climate. The plant will need to be transported onto another habitat, and begin the cycle of rooting again. Says Eric, of his creations: "The plants do most of the work, you just get them started."

It's worth a closer look, paying special attention to the details that contribute to the jungle experience, next time you visit!