Terraria Exhibit at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden

Terrarium landscapes designed by Jennifer Williams, on display in BBG's Steinhardt conservatory. Photo by Elizabeth Peters.

An exhibit dedicated to terraria in all shapes and sizes is currently running at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden.  Follow the link for more photos and information about the show Terrarium, running until February 26th.

Jae Hi Ahn’s art manipulates, shapes, and ultimately reimagines nature. She looks for a hidden life in synthetic materials. By seeking out the biological potential of man-made objects and places, she creates new environments that are evocative of botanical forms and landscapes, tributes to the many wonders of the natural world.

Terrariums provide the ideal conditions for growing a wide variety of plants indoors, including orchids, ferns, mosses, and carnivorous plants. As part of this exhibit, Jennifer Williams, BBG’s curator of interior displays and the Washington Avenue gardens, has created artful displays showcasing these miniature environments under glass.

The Violet Barn, Online Plant Supply

In my ongoing coverage of potential online terrarium plant suppliers I share with you today the Violet Barn (https://www.violetbarn.com/).  True to their name, the Violet Barn specializes in all manner of violets (miniature, trailing, standard etc.)  However take a gander at their selection of plants suited for terrarium life and conveniently organized by plants suited for dish gardens and for enclosed terraria. 

The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland at NYPL Digital Collections

Woodsia ilvensis. B. W. alpina. [The oblong woodsia - The Alpine, or Deltoid woodsia] (1857)                                                                     

When I have some time to kill around a computer I love browsing the Digital Collection at NYPL.  They have a wonderful variety of images and illustrations but my favorites are the naturalist images (butterflies and birds) and of course the botanical illustrations like the above image from The ferns of Great Britain and Ireland by Thomas Moore  and illustrated by Henry Bradbury.  Oh to come across this book in a Goodwill.

Polystichum aculeatum. B. P. aculeatum argutum. C. P. aculeatum alatum. [The common prickly shield fern] (1857) 

Terraria du jour by Robotguy

Peperomia Orba
Pilea Microphylla Prostrata
Selaginella Krausiana Aurea
Syngonium Podophyllum "Berry Allusion"

 

 

I'm excited to share some terrarium photos from F&M reader Jeff.  He informs me the above terrarium contains plants ordered from glasshouseworks.com (for more info see earlier post on glasshouseworks.com).  I love the variety of foliage shapes and sizes combined in one large container.  To see more of his varied terrariums see his flickr photo stream.

Moss Monday: UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden in Danger

Longtime Bel-Air resident Michael Rich visits the UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden in Bel-Air. (Los Angeles Times / January 18, 2012)

Today my Moss Monday post has the unique opportunity to share a story about two circumstances near and dear to my heart: the struggling University of California system and beautiful gardens.  The UCLA Hannah Carter Japanese Garden is a hidden gem of the UC system.  Due to its remote location in Bel Air UCLA is forced to restrict guests to a limited number per year.  Unfortunately due to horrible budget constraints placed on the UCs in the past few years UCLA is selling the property.  This action brings in to question many concerns about the security of property endowments to universities etc. but I am mostly concerned with the continued availability of the garden to the public. 

Garden advocates say they hope an aficionado of the Japanese aesthetic — tech magnate Lawrence Ellison's name has been floated — might buy and maintain the property. "The garden is nationally significant," said Judy Horton, president of the California Garden and Landscape History Society in Los Angeles. "It should not be altered or destroyed."

Enviro-Cakes: Terrarium in a Cake Stand

I have seen a few bloggers posting reviews of complimentary Enviro-Cake terrariums from Florida-based http://envirocakes.com.  I have to admit these look quite cute, savvy, and completely mail-able in kit form.  Has anyone grown an Enviro-Cake?