The Shilin Gardens surround the official residence of past President Chiang Kai-shek and his wife Soong Mei-ling (Madame Chiang) in Taipei, Taiwan. The gardens contain ponds, rose gardens, fruit trees, orchid houses and native forest. The home itself is now a museum.
Shilin Gardens Pavilion
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Plants that sustained the British EmpirePlants that sustained the British Empire
There are many plants that fit this description, e.g. tea, anyone? or cinchona the source of the anti-malarial medicine quinine, but here is one I did not know. Gutta percha. By the late 1800’s the British Empire was the largest to have existed, spanning the globe from England to India, Malaya, Australia and Canada. Communication by boat took weeks or months. The invention of the telegraph and the unique properties of Gutta percha enabled the empire to remain manageable well into the 1900’s.
Enjoy this short video from the BBC
Portland International Rose Test GardenPortland International Rose Test Garden
If you will be in Portland Oregon this summer be sure to check out the rose garden. Admission is free. On 4.5 acres in Washington Park this garden displays over 10,000 plants from 550 varieties. Most varieties are new since the purpose of this garden is to test new hybrids to decide which are best for commercial release. Post provided by BB.
Toyon and Hollywood?Toyon and Hollywood?
It appears to be a favorable winter for the fruiting of red Toyon berries as patches of red have appeared on our chaparral hills. The berries while technically edible are very unpleasant if eaten raw. Heteromeles arbutifolia, Toyon, or California Holly is native to coastal ranges of California and southern Oregon. Although it grows on the hills around Hollywood that is apparently not the reason for the name.
California Holly: How Hollywood Didn’t Get its Name | Natural History Museum (nhm.org)