Touring the UC Davis Conservatory

As I mentioned when sharing photos from Gerhard's garden, I was recently in Davis, CA, for a PacHort board meeting.

That meeting took place in the conservatory office, and lucky me, included a tour of the conservatory...

Euphorbia cylindrifolia
Euphorbia decaryi

Melocactus matanzanus, a double! 

And the regular old version.

Welwitschia mirabilis subsp. namibia

I could have spent hours in here examining all the treasures.
UC Davis Staff Horticulturalist Marlene Simon, aka "the plant lady" (in the cranberry t-shirt), led the tour and held us all in rapt attention with her incredible knowledge and entertaining stories, as evidenced by fellow board member Saxon Holt's expression.

Very few of my fellow board members had ever smelled a Stapelia flower, but they all have now, and I doubt they'll soon forget it.

Here Marlene is talking about the remarkable ability of cactus segments to attach themselves to human flesh. PacHort Editor Lorene Edwards Forkner and Secretary Monica Martin look a little unsure that this is a good idea.
Sweet! I had one of these Cleistocactus winteri for awhile. It's since passed on without ever blooming.

Moving from the arid room to one with a moist tropical vibe...

And carnivorous plants!

We were encouraged to taste the sweet, sticky, substance surrounding the pitcher of the Nepenthes, and if memory serves of the "dew" of the Sundew, Drosera binata, as well. Don't read this as an endorsement of such behavior!

The largest Staghorn fern I've ever seen was hanging in another greenhouse. Marlene told us about its being donated and how they had to break it into smaller pieces to house it it.

I've never been a fan, but this one, I would proudly call it mine.

There was more tasting (actual cocoa beans!) and exploring (exploding seeds!) done but I'm skipping over those photos (they weren't very goo anyway) to bring you...

Extended coverage of the amazing outdoor Sarracenia collection.

I was rather enthralled...

And can you blame me?

Gotta keep those special strains pure...

Such flouncy blooms!

I need to track down a white one.

That's a wrap on the conservatory portion of this visit, but I've got more from UC Davis to share in upcoming posts...

Weather Diary, June 10: Hi 58, Low 50 Precip .19”

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