The new paths will complete the loop trail along the northern edge of the property and will also complete a service road reducing vehicle traffic on public and pedestrian pathways. New and updated paths will provide access to more than half an acre of gardens to the public. The Desert Garden Improvement Project will open new areas of the upper Desert Garden showcasing more of this world-renowned collection with the construction of new pathways, a renovated Desert Conservatory with all new infrastructure, and new opportunities for learning and enjoyment. Cacti are from the Americas, while succulent euphorbias are mostly Old World plants from Africa. How do you tell one from the other? Cactus flowers are large and showy the blooms of euphorbias are small and inconspicuous. Aloe vera is known for its healing qualities, although not all aloes have the same medicinal properties.Īt first glance euphorbias and cacti look alike. Aloes and agaves are rosette-shaped succulents similar in appearance. Aloe bainesii, which can grow fifty feet high, is the tallest. About 200 of the world’s 300 species of Aloe reside in the upper garden. This tree-like cactus is the largest on the grounds it was a mature specimen when planted in 1905. Weighing in at twenty tons is Cereus xanthocarpus. In spring they burst into bloom with stunning flowers, the former blue-green and the latter chartreuse. You’ll also see here two terrestrial bromeliads from Chile, Puya alpestris and P. In the early 1900s these yuccas surrounded a reservoir that was subsequently drained and filled. Specimens of Yucca filifera dominate the landscape of the lower portion of the garden, with some reaching a height of sixty feet. Many of the golden barrels you see here were planted from seed before 1915 and now weigh several hundred pounds. The ribs of the golden barrel cactus resemble an accordion, expanding and contracting as the plant stores and uses water. It is said that when the first English botanist saw Fouquieria columnaris, he thought it resembled the fantasy creature from Lewis Carroll’s The Hunting of the Snark and dubbed it “Boojum.” After a rain this Baja California native sprouts small leaves, that are soon lost if the weather turns dry. Many protect themselves with sharp spines or thorns, and some have waxy or woolly protective coverings to reflect sunlight and decrease water loss. Most retain water in their leaves, stems, or roots. Look closely to discover the different ways succulents have adapted to cope with drought and defend themselves against enemies. Plants are labeled with their scientific name and geographical range. The desert garden features more than 2,000 species of succulents and desert plants in sixty landscaped beds.
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