Phantasea Tropical Botanical Garden

March/April 2015 Volumn 1, Issue 2

What’s Happening

It’s springtime in Inside this issue: the garden! New interpretive signage is always being added and installed through- What’s Happening 1 The orchids are blooming now out the garden along with new indi- throughout the garden. Several of vidual name tags. the large lavender cattleyas are What’s New 1 Our website is now up and running showing off their beauty up in so check back often to: http:// trees. The phalaenopsis www.stthomasbotanicalgarden.com What’s Blooming 2 orchids are blooming throughout tasea_Tropical_Botanical_Garde for other news and happenings. the garden. More Blooming 2-3 You can also “Like Us” on facebook The bromeliads are starting to at: http://www.facebook.com/ Upcoming Events 3 bloom and show off all their stthomasbotanicalgarden and keep strange and unusual shapes and up with what’s in bloom on a con- color combinations. tinuing basis. Tropical Treats 3 The heliconias are starting to And we are now listed on TripAdvi- Featured Plant 4 peek out with their new blooms sor. If you have had a chance to in reds and yellows and the sugar visit us, a review is greatly appreci- birds and hummingbirds are ated. anxiously awaiting their opening http://www.tripadvisor.ca/ what is a botanica l since they love to drink the nectar Attraction_Review-g147404- garden ? from their flowers. d7701018-Reviews- Phan-  A garden where a large variety of are culti- vated for exhibition and scientific purposes.

 Plants in a Botanical Gar- den are documented and What’s new: labeled. BOOKS!  Botanical gardens are open Thanks to Nancy—our resident to the public for the pur- book finder—we now have a few poses of education, and plant, garden, and bird related public display of conserva- books for sale. We also carry a few tion principles. local cookbooks and plan on adding more titles having more in

 Botanical Gardens provide the near future. For the kids we classes and workshops have ‘Question Time—Rainforest’ which promote gardening with great fun facts about the information and education. forest and brilliant artwork. Page 2 P hantasea Tropical Botanical Garden Volumn 1, Issue 2

What’s blooming—bromeliads

The genera Hohenbergia Hohenbergias grown in produce pups (baby includes 52 species. They sandy soils typically re- plants) before it dies. The Hohenbergia stellata are native to the West In- quire full sun. Other Ho- pups can be removed dies, the Yucatan peninsu- henbergias can grow in from the plant and trans- la, and South America bright dappled light. planted on their own or (Venezuela, Brazil, Colom- they can be allowed to bia) and range in habitat Like all bromeliads Ho- grow in clumps attached from dry, sandy areas to henbergias bloom once to the mother plant. cloud forests. usually with a very long- Hohenbergia produce large lived flower and then be- Because of their typically gins to die. A healthy Hohenbergia flower spikes that are typi- large size (3’ diameter and plant will produce pups Lanata Plot 14 cally branching. They can up to 8’ diameter) they be grown epiphytically or before it dies. They can are not typically grown in terrestrial. pots. Ananas comosus (Pineapple) Plot

What’s blooming—orchids

The genera Maxillaria Maxilaria tenuifolia is is a large group of orchid native from Mexico to Nic- species. Flowers are typi- aragua. It is also known as Maxillaria tenuifolia cally small but fragrant. the “Coconut orchid” due to it’s fragrance resembling Maxillaria elatior is na- coconuts. tive to the region from Cattleya hybrids Mexico to Costa Rica and Maxillarias prefer bright found growing in tree light and cool nights in the branches from 1300 to winter. 5000 foot elevations . Maxillaria elatior Plot 11

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More blooming—elsewhere in the garden

Vanda ’Ruth Bell Stromanthe lutea ‘Pico the heliconia family . species

Graham’ Phaleanopsis hybrid de Gallo’ (synonym for Blooming is in early Native to Dominica. Stromanthe jacquinii) is a Spring. Plot 11 member of the Maran- Propagation is by divisions taceae family – a part of of rhizomes. Plot 13 the heliconia family tree.

It is native to the area from Costa Rica to Venezuela. It is low growing (usually about three feet tall) and its leaves resemble those of Stromanthe lutea ‘Pico de Gallo’ Volumn 1, Issue 2 P hantasea Tropical Botanical Garden Page 3

More blooming - elsewhere in the garden

Alocasia amazonica Bulbophyllum elegans Epidendrum radicans Aechmea mariae- (African Mask) Plot 3 Plot 13 Plot 1 Plot 10 reginae Plot 1

A member of the Orchid species native to A reed-stem member of Species member of the family native to Eastern Aus- Sumata, Molluccas, Buru, the orchid family native to Bromeliad family na- tralia and tropical SE Asia. Ambon and other SE Asian Central America. Requires tive to Central America. Grown in bright shade. islands. high sunlight to bloom.

Upcoming events—Puerto Rico April 30-May 3 Dorado Orchid Fair Orchid Show -Fajardo, PR Near Mother’s day. No date yet. https://www.facebook.com/

sociedad.deseste

[email protected] Upcoming events - Florida / Caribbean

Orchids May 15,16,17 BromeliadsBROMELIADS Redlands Orchid Show April 18-19 April 4-5 Fruit & Spice Park Bromeliad Soc. Of South Florida Flamingo Gardens Orchid & Bromeliad Contact: 305-247-5727 Show and Sale—Fairchild Tropi- Show & Sale—Davie, FL cal Botanic Garden Contact: 954-473-2955

Tropical Plants April 18 April 11-12 Seminole Bromeliad & Tropical Central Florida Orchid Society Show & Sale April 11 Plant Society Sale Contact: 407-884-2950 Fairchild Garden Spring Plant Festival Sanford, FL [email protected] Coral Gables, FL Contact: 305-667-1651 April 11-12 www.fairchildgarden.org Tallahassee Orchid Society Show Contact: 850-459-9516 May 9 [email protected] Tropical Flowering Tree Society Show & Sale April 25-26 Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden Vero Beach Orchid Society Show Contact: 305-667-1651 Contact: 772-778-6625 www.fairchildgarden.org [email protected] Phantasea Tropical

Botanical Garden

7D-5 Lerkenlund St. Thomas, VI Mailing Address: 6501 Red Hook Plaza, Ste 201 St. Thomas, VI 00802 Phone: 340-774-2916 Fax: 340-774-2911 email: [email protected]

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Featured plant– Anthurium veitchii

protected from strong Anthurium veitchii winds. They do not toler- (Common name "King ate temperatures below 55 Anthurium") is a genus of degrees F. in the fami- ly Araceae. It is a tropical Propogation is by seed cre- perennial plant native to ated by pollination of the the rainforests of Colom- spathe (flower). bia. Located in Plot 2 and 23.

Best growth is between 65- 75° F. Bright indirect light is best but it can be grown in constant shade and as a houseplant. Anthurium veitchii Individual leaves can reach Flower (spathe) up to three feet in length. Anthurium veitchii They are very delicate when young and should be “King Anturium”