plantpictorial A visual commentary about our favorite plants | JULY 2013
Garden Spotlight
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Pictorial Showcase Stephanie Flowers
+ Reader Pictorial
DFN commerci print cards.
ial packaging
INDIAN HARBOUR BEACH, FLORIDA Coco nucifera
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Plant Pictorial Showcase
Stephani Flowers
Harry P. Leu Gardens
Beauty and History in the City Beautiful, Orlando
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6 Letter from the Publisher................................................ 5 Reader Plant Pictorial....................................................16 Last Page.........................................................................29
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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER
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The maiden issue
My obsession and profession combined Thank you for making it this far into the first issue. My goal is that Plant Pictorial magazine is fun to read, includes stunning photography and is a platform for others to contribute their knowledge.
in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A magnificent zone 5 climate with long cold winters and short summers. Fall clean up included digging up the bananas, cannas, helconias and anything that was not cold hardy.
A little bit about myself, I’m a plant fanatic and a graphic designer by trade. Living coastal central Florida (zone 9b/10a, I have the opportunity to focus on my favorite plants, Palms and Bananas. Bananas were my gateway plant. Specifically the Red Abyssinian Enste Ventricisum. This led dozens of other Musa, then to Heliconia, Canna and finally to my current fixation, palms.
Plants are my escape, and after being in the yard for 30 minutes my mind goes somewhere else. A place of rest, relaxation and enjoyment. Of course this irritates my wife to no end, especially when an hour turns into 4 hours. It’s a manageable obsession that can be adjusted with lifes ups and downs, twists and turns. An obsession that brings you into contact with other obsessed plant growers, relationships are born, plants traded and life long friendships created all because of plants.
My location, separated by the Indian River creates an amazing microclimate for many more exotic and tropical plants to thrive, when in contrast only several miles west, many would not survive. It was not always this way. My obsession started 1,200 miles north
plantpictorial Issue 01, July 2013 On the cover: Coreopsis (Calliopsis) Photo by Stephanie Flowers Sterling, VA // Zone 6b Questions and Comments bob@plantpictorial.com Website www.plantpictorial.com ©2013 plantpictorial. All rights reserved.
If you have any suggestions, would like to contribute or simply want to say hello. Visit our website at www.plantpictorial.com. I look forward to hearing from you.
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PICTORIAL
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Plant Pictorial Showcase Photographer Profile Stephanie Flowers Sony DSC-HX300 Sterling, VA // Zone 6b Why do you love photography? I can capture a memory, a moment in time and I can go back and re-live it. How long have you been taking photographs? I’ve always taken pictures. One of my earliest memories is watching my father’s slide show of his time overseas and thinking I want to capture memories like that.
© sjflowers Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens) Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
Do you have a favorite subject you like to shoot? I enjoy landscape, micro and nature What’s the most interesting location you have ever photographed? The most interesting would have to be at the Talisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Only because, drink or shoot? drink or shoot :) Do you have any tips for plant photography? keep in mind your lighting and tripods are essential.
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Butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
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Š sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
PICTORIAL
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Purple milkweed (Asclepias purpurascens)
Š sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
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Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
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© sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
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Oxeye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)
Š sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6b
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Dill (Anethum graveolens)
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Š sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
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Polyporus versicolor (Trametes versicolor)
Š sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
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Dusty Miller (Senecio cineraria)
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Š sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
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Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
© sjflowers
Sterling, VA // Zone 6B
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PICTORIAL // READER SUBMITTED
Send us your best photos!
Share your obsession with the world. Want to be featured in the Pictorial Showcase? Submit your images using the photo upload on www.plantpictorial.com. Each month we showcase a reader pictorial showcase and an additional section of the best user submitted photos.
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PICTORIAL // READER SUBMITTED
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Royal Palm (Roystonea regia)
Vero Beach, FL // Zone 9b-10a
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PICTORIAL // READER SUBMITTED
Bismark Palm (Bismarckia nobilis)
Indian Harbour Beach, FL // Zone 10a
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Shell Ginger (Alpinia zerumbet)
Indian Harbour Beach, FL // Zone 10a
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PICTORIAL // READER SUBMITTED
Cutleaf Philodendron (Monstera deliciosa) Melbourne, FL // Zone 9b
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PICTORIAL // READER SUBMITTED
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Umbrella Tree (Schefflera actinophylla) Indian Harbour Beach, FL // Zone 10a
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FEATURE STORY
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Harry P. Leu Gardens
Beauty and History in The City Beautiful, Orlando. If the 100+ year old Camphor trees could speak you might hear about how in 1870, a feud between the Mitzell’s and Barber’s would end with David W. Mizell dead, an Orange County sheriff killed in the line of duty. The Barber’s would fair worse, eight family members and associates would be killed in revenge of Mitzell’s murder. Mitzell was buried at his homestead which is now Harry P. Leu Gardens. The property would be sold to businessman and socialite Duncan Pell in 1902. Pell a New Yorker, left his wife for young silent film star Helen Gardner and to make a name in the citrus industry. Four years later the property was sold to Joseph and Martha Woodward as a winter retreat. Woodward’s would name the estate, “LaBelle” after his Alabama iron business. Thirty years later in 1936 the Leu era began with Harry P. Leu and his wife Mary Jane purchasing the property. While traveling the Leu’s collected plants from all over the world. Many are still growing in the garden. In 1961 the Leu’s deeded the garden and house to the City of Orlando. Of the 50 acres, 15 are designated as a U.S. historic district. That includes the three historic buildings. I spoke with Eric Schmidt – Botanical Records, Harry P. Leu Gardens, about the ever changing garden. With twenty years at Leu, Eric is very knowledgable about all things Leu.
What are the difficulties of operating a 50 acre garden? From my position one of the main difficulties is keeping exotic pest plants, such as Skunk Vine under control. It is very invasive and persistent and quickly can overtake an area if not caught early.
Another is the Butterfly Garden. It contains many flowers that attract butterflies and hummingbirds. It also has many larval plants for butterflies and moths.
What’s new at the gardens? The last big addition to Leu Gardens was the Idea Garden, opened in 2003. This Garden contains several smaller themed gardens such as a Bird Garden, Fragrance Garden, Evening Garden, Bog Garden, Enabling Garden, and Wildflower Garden. But throughout Leu Gardens we are constantly adding new specimens to trial here in Central Florida.
What’s your top five favorite plants at Leu Gardens? These are probably the 5 favorite specimens here at Leu Gardens, in no particular order;
What’s the most popular plant, exhibit or area of the gardens for visitors? Several areas are very popular here. One is the Tropical Stream Garden. This is the first section you encounter going into Leu Gardens. It is a lush tropical rainforest type Garden with a running stream through the middle and contains tropical and subtropical plants that grow well in this area. It is lush and shady.
A third area is the Rose Garden. It is in the center of Leu Gardens and is a very popular site for weddings.
The 300 year old Southern Live Oak (Quercus virginiana) you encounter when you first enter the Garden The Roxburg Fig Tree (Ficus auriculata) in the Palm Garden with the giant leaves and fruit that grows directly out of the trunk The giant Camphor Tree (Cinnamomum camphora) growing in the Mizell pioneer cemetery and the row of Camphor Trees lining the original drive. These were all planted prior to 1900. The one at the cemetery is probably the oldest PLANTED tree at Leu Gardens. Camphor Trees are a major invasive plant in Florida. We have
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FEATURE STORY
The Mizell’s are buried in an old pioneer cemetary located here. removed all other specimens except these as they are historic specimens. The 30ft tall Bismarck Palm (Bismarckia nobilis) in the Palm Garden. This massive palm with silver blue leaves is the largest in central Florida. The large Yellow Trumpet Tree (Handroanthus umbellatus, formerly Tabebuia umbellata) adjacent to the Rose Garden. It is one of the largest specimens around and in March it flowers and is covered in bright yellow trumpet shaped flowers,. It is a real spectacular sight when it is in full bloom. What are the top five must see things in the garden? Again, in no particular order: The Camellia Collection. This is the main collection at Leu Gardens as this was Mr. Leu’s passion. These flower from November to March, depending on the species and variety. Cultivars of Camellia japonica make up a bulk of the collection. The Tropical Stream Garden. This contains collections of subtropical and tropical plants suitable for central Florida. It is planted in a lush, rainforest setting. Plants such as bananas, gingers, heliconias, ferns, bromeliads, flowering trees, aroids, tree ferns, banyan trees, palms, tropical conifers, traveler’s trees, bird of paradise, pandans, marantas, cycads, and bamboo are growing here. The Mizell-Leu House Museum and Mizell Cemetery. Prior to 1961, Leu Gardens was a private estate. The Mizell Family were the original pioneer settlers on this property as they came here in 1858. The house was originally built in 1888 by the Mizell’s. The Leus were the fourth (and last) owners and purchased the property in 1936. Both the Leus and the Mizell’s were both important names in the history of this area. The Mizell’s are buried in an old pioneer cemetery located here. 24
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FEATURE STORY
The Butterfly/Herb/Vegetable Garden and Citrus Grove. These 4 Gardens are located adjacent to each other and to the historic house museum/historic district. The Arid Garden. This is located at the far southeast corner of the property. It contains a number of plants that are suited to dry conditions and can survive in this area with no irrigation after they are established. It is planted in a desert type setting but not all the plants are desert plants. Here plants such as cacti, succulents, aloes, flowering shrubs and trees, palms, grasses, acacias, baobabs, and vines are found. Best time of year to visit? Being in a subtropical climate,year round visitation is possible. Spring is when many plants begin flowering heavy; citrus, roses,trumpet trees, azaleas, magnolias, jacaranda, and jasmine to name a few.
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Summer is when many tropical flowers are at peak; heliconias, gingers, bananas, hibiscus, tropical flowering trees, etc. Fall is still summer-like here with it cooling a bit. Many of the tropical plants are still flowering heavy. Floss Silk Trees also are flowering with their show pink or white flowers. Winter is peak season for the Camellia Collection. Camellia sasanqua cultivars flower late fall/early winter. They have smaller flowers but with some fragrance. In mid to late winter the larger, showier Camellia japonica start. We have hundreds of cultivars with different flower shapes/types in white, red and pink shades.
Harry P. Leu Gardens
1920 N Forest Ave, Orlando, FL 32803 (407) 246-2620 www.leugardens.org
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THE LAST PAGE
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Plants in Real Life Changing Priorities – Baby on Board I’ll talk to anyone that cares to listen about plants, gardens, garden design, soil amendments, rain barrels, blah, blah, blah, etc. Often times in return I’m told, “I had a vegetable garden once.” When does a hobby become an obsession, are all obsessions bad? I can admit I’m obsessed. I tell my wife I’ll be in the garden for an hour and four hours later I’m in the doghouse. Where does my head go during this time? I’m not sure where it goes, somewhere peaceful and quite, relaxing I guess. A Zen state of mind, a working meditation where the day to day tasks of life are forgotten. I can take a bad day into the garden and have it erased quickly, replaced with calm and tranquility. My wife gives me hell for the amount of time I spend on my “hobby”, I tell her I could be at the bar or sitting in front of the television. Not that there is anything wrong with those things, I partake in both occasionally.
Hobby dictates travel
My problem became apparent when our family travel plans started to involve side trips to botanical garden and nurseries. A recent birthday, I dragged my 5 month pregnant
wife around Harry P. Leu Gardens, located in Orlando, Florida, in July! Last December while visiting family in Madison, Wisconsin. I had to visit Olbrich Botanical Gardens, my wife stayed in the car. Nothing quite like an outside air temperature of 8°F and looking at tropical plants indoors. Why do our loved ones put up with this nonsense?
As the seasons change
As a new father of a eight month old son, you could say I have temporally downsized my hobby. I used to spend weekends outside in the garden as my wife read on the patio. Now it’s diapers, spit up and sleepless nights. My wife catches me staring out the window at the yard, day dreaming about the general maintenance needed on everything in the garden. It’s tough, but I realize that soon enough my son will be following me around in the garden, asking me a million questions about gardening and plants. Maybe one day he too will be obsessed with a healthy hobby like gardening. Maybe our loved ones put up with us because they can see how happy it makes us feel.
My wife gives me hell for the amount of time I spend on my “hobby”, I tell her I could be at the bar or sitting in front of the television.
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