Garden Photo of the Day

GPOD on the Road: Centennial Park Conservatory

Visiting an indoor garden in Canada

centennial park conservatory

Barry Severn is taking us along on a trip to Centennial Park Conservatory in Toronto. As you’ll see, these greenhouses are packed with all kinds of beautiful plants. I’m sure they’re a much-appreciated oasis of beauty during the long, cold Canadian winter.

mass planting of yellow daffodilsIn a prelude to spring, masses of daffodils (Narcissus hybrids, Zones 3–8) bloom inside the conservatory.

garden bed full of different spring bulbsThey are joined by two other classic spring flowers: tulips (Tulipa hybrids, Zones 3–8) and hyacinths (Hyacinthus orientalis, Zones 4–8).

tropical plant with white flowerMore exotic flowers bloom as well, like this white bird of paradise (Strelitzia nicolai, Zones 10–12).

fern with lots of spores on the leafSmall details reward those who take a closer look. These small spots are on the underside of a fern frond of sori, which will release spores to produce the next generation of ferns.

conservatory full of cacti and succulentsThe arid wing may be dry, but it is overflowing with greenery and flowers from all sorts of plants adapted to the dry climates of the world.

succulent planting with red flowersIn this beautiful planting of succulents, the red flowers are from Kalanchoe blossfeldiana, a tender succulent originally from Madagascar but now grown all over the world for its beautiful flowers.

plant with strange orange fruitThese very unusual fruits are from Pereskia aculeata, which, despite not looking like it, is actually in the cactus family! Yes, some cacti actually have leaves, not just the thickened, leafless stems we’re used to seeing on most members of that family. These orange fruits are edible.

Aloe with light orange flowersThe colorful blooms of an Aloe species

unusual stem of a plantPhilodendron is a familiar genus of houseplants, and this is the very unusual-looking stem of Philodendron bipinnatifidum, which gets to be huge, and as each old leaf drops off, it leaves this beautiful pattern behind on the stem.

water feature with koi fishA quiet moment in the conservatory—still, green, and beautiful.

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 03/11/2022

    Thanks for sharing!

  2. User avater
    simplesue 03/11/2022

    Your "quiet moment" photo with the maiden hair fern and statue is just gorgeous they way you capture the moment and the gold fish swimming around!
    Wow those Pereskia aculeata fruits are so unique!
    Thanks for sharing your day at the conservatory...Phipps Conservatory near me is almost $20. to visit or I would go more often.

  3. btucker9675 03/11/2022

    Wonderful escape!

  4. user-5117752 03/12/2022

    Fabulous photos! Certainly brightened my day here in WNC - snow and fierce icy winds! Hard to pick a favorite but the succulents with the Kalanchoe comes close. I really don't remember ever visiting a Conservatory that was so full of color and unusual blooms. It's all in the timing, I suppose. Thank you for taking the time to share your delightful day!

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