WHAT'S BLOOMING AT PLANTATIONS?

Winter is still hanging on here in the Finger Lakes region of upstate New York. But within weeks there'll be lots of activity in the gardens at Cornell Plantations. Whether it's summer or winter, this is my favorite place in Ithaca.

Though you couldn't tell from the name, Cornell Plantations is the botanical garden of Cornell University.

I'm a volunteer at Plantations. Soon we'll be busy potting up the seedlings that will be planted out into the herb garden once the danger of frost is past.

At Plantations I've learned so much about herbs and other plants. It's an opportunity to see varieties I've never grown before. I also get ideas about landscaping with herbs.

There are over 500 kinds of plants growing in the Robinson York State Herb Garden at Plantations. Each bed has a different theme. Some deal with the historical use of herbs. For example, near the main entrance are herbs in literature and herbs of the ancients. Other theme bed topics include potherbs, herbs used by Native Americans, herbs with edible flowers, dye plants, and fragrant herbs.

From the herb garden I enter the Decorative Arts Flower Garden, which is planted with species that are often used as cut flowers and other decorative purposes. This garden is particularly interesting because the curator in charge has spent countless hours researching how these plants have appeared in art. Depending on what is in bloom, there is a weatherproof book containing pictures of the flowers and stories of their historical uses. Herbs grown in this garden include beebalm, and lavender.

Next I find myself in the Mullestein Family Winter Garden. My favorite time to visit is in early morning while frost is still on the stems of the red-twig dogwoods and yellow-twig willows. Winter weather spotlights the beauty of the colorful dwarf conifers. This garden also features woody species with interesting bark or twigs, such as the corkscrew willow and trees with papery, peeling bark.

By exiting the Winter Garden through the parking lot, I make my way to the Peony Garden. The best time to visit this garden is in the spring when the peonies are in bloom. Yet this is one of my favorite gardens because it features many wonderful perennials. Among the species planted here are herbs, such as joe-pye-weed. Gardeners may get many valuable design ideas from this garden. One thing I learned was how to make terraces on sloping land. Only after you walk down the steps and reach the bottom do you realize that the garden is enclosed. Some trees and shrubs, such as a purple smoke tree, planted alongside the garden form a hedge.

Go To Page: 1 2

Articles in this Topic    Discussions in this Topic