Tuesday 22 July 2014

ABC Wednesday, B for Botanic Gardens


Cooktown Botanic Gardens. Established in 1878 the Gallop Botanic Reserve encompases 62.3 Ha (154 acres) on the edge of Cooktown and contains the Cooktown Botanic Gardens and walking trails to Finch Bay and Cherry Tree Bay.


Natures Powerhouse


Natures Powerhouse

Nature’s Powerhouse is an innovative building located in the beautiful, heritage listed Cooktown Botanic Gardens and includes the Cooktown and Cape York Peninsula Visitor Information Centre, Vera’s café, a shop, Charles Tanner Gallery and the Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery.

The Cooktown and Cape York Peninsula Visitor Information Centre provides comprehensive visitor information and accommodation and tour booking services.

The Vera Scarth-Johnson Gallery displays the only collection of original botanical illustrations of flora from the region. Many plants can be found in the gardens.





 Walking with my daughter in these gardens is always a wonderful experience. She tells me about the trees and bushes. In all the years she has lived in Cooktown she has learned a lot about the vegetation of Queensland .
Foxtail Palm

 Everywhere we see those signs with extra information. The gardens have changed every time I came to see them.


Vanilla Orchid, the vine of which grows in a zigzag pattern.


Like many orchids, the vanilla bean orchid is an epiphyte, and lives on a host tree without drawing nutrients from it. The vine clambers up to the treetops in a zigzag fashion, exhibiting long succulent lance-shaped leaves. Each blooming branch will bear one to two dozen creamy blooms, for a total of several hundred flowers on a mature vine.

Native Country
Mexico
Size
In its native habitat, a mature vanilla orchid vine can grow to 300 feet or greater. However, you can keep your vine to a manageable 20 feet in greenhouse conditions. Training the vine laterally instead of straight up allows you to get more vine in a smaller space.
Growing Conditions
The vanilla orchid grows best in bright filtered shade and high humidity. Ideal temperatures are between 60-70 degrees F at night, and 80-95 degrees F during the day. The plants are not frost tolerant.




Corkwood tree






.

Bush Food of the Corkwood, Freshwater Mangrove.





With thanks to Denise Nesbitt, who created ABC.For more interesting ABC posts click on the logo in the sidebar. This week we are looking for words beginning with B.

We often have a meal here in the Nature Powerhouse


 This is my favourite part of the Botanical Gardens


22 comments:

Indrani said...

A relaxing nerve soothing walk. Thanks for the pictures.

Leslie: said...

It looks so beautiful and lush. Thanks for sharing this, Wil.

Leslie
abcw team

Cloudia said...

This has been fun! Not unlike Hawaii's jungle-ier places



ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= <3

Marja said...

Love the corkwood tree and I can see why the last ones is your favourite part of the garden. Looks beautiful

Roger Owen Green said...

B is for BEAUTIFUL.

Anonymous said...

Looks like a great garden to visit. I really enjoy it when they put little signs up to explain what you are seeing...

Anita Sabat said...

Feels like back-to-nature & earth :)
Great pics, Wil :)

Hildred said...

Thank you for taking us with you to visit, Wil - a beautiful garden.

Jane Hards Photography said...

Lovely virtual walk round the Botanical gardens, and in formative as always.

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

My wife and I love visiting botanical gardens, but do not have one in town. Their beauty is often awe inspiring, and you can learn so much about plants as well. May Bountiful Blessings Be Bestowed upon you!

Susan Moore said...

Nature is amazing and always intriguing to observe. I had never seen a vanilla orchid before - so interesting, now I need to go see one for myself. When I go hiking I spend a good deal of time just looking at how plants grow, the various details, and watching insects - small wonders. Nature is the greatest theater!

Uppal said...

How interesting to be in the midst of such natural beauty! Love the pictures.

Your profile is so inspiring!More power to you.:-)

Gattina said...

What a beautiful place !
Gattina
ABC Team

GreensboroDailyPhoto said...

What a fabulous botanic gardens.

lotusleaf said...

Beautiful place- after my own heart!

Tanya Breese said...

how beautiful!

Lmkazmierczak said...

Great B post...thanks for sharing your day♪ http://lauriekazmierczak.com/bumblebee-5/

SamuraiFrog said...

I've never seen vanilla orchid before, but it's quite pretty. Thanks for sharing. Botanical gardens are lovely, and I never get out to many places like that anymore because the agoraphobia keeps me inside.

Reader Wil said...

Hi Laurie! I have no access to your site.! Sorry!
Wil

fredamans said...

I love your photos. Botanical gardens are so peaceful and beautiful. Thanks for sharing with us.

Ann said...

That is a stupendous garden, the orchid climbing the tree is gorgeous
Ann

Black Jack's Carol said...

Always so much to learn from your posts! The Vanilla Bean orchid and the term "epiphyte" was quite a revelation. Thanks, Reader Wil :)