Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh

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One might wonder what there is to see in a botanic garden in northern Europe in January. This is about it, right?





a cheerful sign of life



I'm sure it is quite lovely during the other seasons. Luckily I was headed to see something specific.



In any case, the gardeners still found work to do.

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a dead garden for a dead Queen Mum





It's interesting to see what blooms in the dead of winter.







Here is my destination at last... the glasshouses!

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Welcome to the tropics.







My camera steamed up.





















There are ten glasshouses hermetically sealed from each other.



I was joined by a companion part of the way. He patiently waited for me to open the doors for him.

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A cactus house is always fascinating.



























but moving on...

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The carnivorous plants were in glass cases to prevent them from attacking the visitors.

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As I left, there was a group of about a dozen ladies busily sketching away.





Then I was back outside admiring the palm trees of Edinburgh.



The glasshouses continued their steamy morning without me.















I went out the East Gate, which was a work of art.



Maybe I'll return some day when more plants are alive.

[mickthecactus]

I rather like visiting Botanic Gardens in winter.

[Deleted]

I was just about to say the same thing Mick. Winter gardens, especially after a fresh snowfall are so tranquil.

It also gives one an idea of the layout and design of the garden.

And, I rather like bare trees.


I loved the greenhouses. Very reminiscent of many other botanical gardens that feature the same Tropicana and exotics.
(these very same plants thrive out of doors here).


Thanks for the tour!

[mickthecactus]

I love winter trees.

[bixaorellana]

Casimira perfectly said what I was thinking throughout this lovely photographic tour of the gardens.

Both the water with the ducks and the tumbling stream seem particularly beautiful in this cold part of the year.

And Kerouac, the plants are dormant, not dead -- quietly waiting to burst into Spring transformation.

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Anyway, I am counting on all of you to post an update in a different season.

There were also a bunch of squirrels, but you know how they pretend to pose and then scurry away just as you are finally getting the focus.

[lugg]

The contrast between the plants and trees outside at this time of year and then moving to those in the hot houses is so effective. Clever cat seeking out the warmth. Love the close up photo of the red flower towards the end of the section before the cacti- not sure what it is though ?

[tod2]

I enjoyed looking at the plants in the photos as much as you did Kerouac. So many are growing wild in my garden - except for those carnivorous tubular ones. The 'air plants' hanging down reminded me of the photos htmb has posted over the years.

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That's the famous Spanish moss. All of the trees were absolutely buried in it where I grew up. But on my last visit to the region, I saw that Hurricane Katrina had removed all of it. I don't know how many years it takes to grow back, because obviously it is not a fast growing plant with no soil, no roots and no chlorophyll.