Our NC Zoo

19 years ago

My DH and DS1 (grown, not a kid) and I spent yesterday at the NC Zoo. There are so many interesting plants all along the trails. I think most people just go there for the animals, but we spent a lot of time looking at the plants, trees, shrubs and ornamental grasses. My son said he'd never really noticed the plants and he was glad that DH and I were pointing out all the varieties. We especially noticed all the Poncirus trifoliata 'Flying Dragon' around the African trails.

I stopped to chat with the volunteers in the butterfly garden (kid's area)and we exchanged ideas and information.

Anyway, just thought I'd mention that it's a great place for gardeners, too. A good outing.

Cameron

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Comments (4)

agrowingpassion
19 years ago
So funny that you would post this about Flying Dragon. I just saw one this weekend for the first time in Northern VA. I researched it to get the name. It was very large. I read that they are extremely slow growing. This one was in the middle of a old house's yard. Long since deserted and not maintained at all. The tree was at least 10-12 ft. tall and was full of fruit. The man said they make wonderful lemon pies because the fruit is very small and tart. I'll have to visit the zoo to see how they compare.
tamelask
19 years ago
they are easy, too. i have one in a big 32 gal tub along my driveway and it's been happy as can be. lots of fruit this year. i'm curious how he made pies with them- the fruit is mostly seed & skin - very little pulp or juice. and sour! we always get comments on it when people pull in the drive. esp in winter when the leaeves are off and you can see the structure. the do come true from fruit, so if you grab one & plant some seeds, you'll have it before too long.
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rootdiggernc
19 years ago
Been noticing the plants there for a long time! Between plants and birds I can spend the day just in the Aviary! It was also there (zoo) that dh and I fell in love with the pinecone gingers and black bamboos. I'm still not certain what cultivar the ginger was but it had little yellow bee hive looking blooms in the early spring. Saw my first iris cristata there as well and there's an epiphyllum that winds all over the place in the Aviary. It's a monster, but such a pretty one!
amyflora
19 years ago
This thread makes me laugh. I worked at Niche Gardens and had the honor and pleasure of helping to propagate some of the plants for the North American area. And just recently, I saw lots of plants we had helped grow at BBs that were doing beautifully in the Africa area. And, speaking of the black bamboo, I too have always drooled over it, and at a recent trip, I saw some of the horticulturists pulling out a whole stand of it. I spoke with them and begged for a little smidgen. They gave me some (I used my plant person cv, and was very careful that no one saw me hide it in my jacket), and it is a little ol' thing so far, but I know it will get going, so it's in a container. On another note, sorry I can't make the swap. Hope you all have a great time!!! -amy