AROUND THE WORLD WITH PLANTS at the UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley, CA

View of San Francisco Bay from the UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley, CA.

Fifty years ago, my daughter Jennifer and I posed in front of the sunflowers I was growing along our garden fence in Millbrook, New York. Several weeks ago, on our visit to the University of California Botanical Garden in Berkeley, Jennifer posed in front of a sunflower again, planted in the Crops of the World section.

With Sunflower, 1974.

With Sunflower 2024.

When Jennifer was young and we lived in a house in the country, we planted a huge garden, growing flowers and most of our own vegetables. Today, I still enjoy growing flowers in pots on my patio, but I buy my vegetables from our local Farmer’s Market.

A trip to the Botanical Garden in Berkeley is always a favorite outing with family and friends when we are at our house in Oakland. The 34-acre UC Botanical Garden is the third largest in the United States, featuring more than 10,000 kinds of plants from around the world. It specializes in plants that thrive in a Mediterranean climate similar to that of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Cactus bloom.

After buying our tickets at the front gate, we began our walk, first visiting the exhibits of orchids, cycads and carnivorous plants in the glass houses located just beyond the entrance. 

Gunnera tinctoria, also known as Chilean rhubarb.

From there we followed the paved and gravel paths through the deserts of the Americas, then upward through the Africa, Asian, Australasian, Mediterranean and South American sections, ultimately reaching the garden of old roses with its magnificent view of the garden and San Francisco Bay beyond. It was a warm, but overcast day, perfect for photography. 

Here are a few of our favorite photos from our expedition.

Cactus fruits.

Cactus viewed from above.

The garden was abuzz with bees collecting nectar.

Eryngium Paniculatum, from Argentina.

Sundial in the Garden of Old Roses.

The UC Botanical Garden has a lovely gift shop as well as a garden shop with plants. It puts on many programs for the public, including a monthly Butterfly Walk in summer, which we enjoyed a year ago. (Click on link for my blogpost about the butterfly walk.)

For directions and more information about the UC Botanical Garden, go to their website.

 

DINOSAURS AND MORE at the Calgary Zoo, Alberta, Canada

Dinosaur at the Calgary Zoo with the skyline of the city in the distance.

How many zoos have both real wild animals AND dinosaurs? Not very many. But at the Wilder Calgary Zoo and Prehistoric Park in Canada you can not only see giraffes and hippos and a host of other wild animals, but also models of life-size dinosaurs lurking among the trees and bushes, just as they might have been in real life millions of years ago.

Like the sauropods of dinosaur times, giraffes use their long necks to reach their food.

On an overcast/occasionally rainy day in May, I visited the Calgary Zoo, dodging the raindrops along with groups of school children on class visits to see the animals. The zoo straddles the Bow River, with the Canadian Wilds (closed on the day of my visit) and Dinosaur Park sections on the same side as the entrance and parking area, and, on the other side of the pedestrian bridge, Destination Africa, the Dorothy Harvie Gardens, and Exploration Asia. All exhibits have both inside and outside viewing areas, making the zoo accessible in winter and on rainy days.

A wild Canada goose takes a stroll in the rain through the Calgary Zoo.

After buying my ticket, my first stop was at the Penguin Plunge where I watched penguins cavorting in their outdoor pool, perfectly at home on the cool, wet day. I then proceeded to Destination Africa to see the giraffes, hippos, porcupines, zebras, giraffes, ostriches and other African wildlife. 

Close-up encounter with a hippo in Destination Africa.

A group of children were clustered around the viewing window of the hippo tank, delighted by a young hippo who was just inches away.

Gorilla feet--note the black toenails!

While the enclosures give the animals plenty of personal space, they also allow visitors the occasional closeup encounter (on the other side of the glass.) One of the gorillas had chosen to nap so close to the window that you could see the details of its toes and fingers.

Lily pond in the conservatory.

By the time I got to the Dorothy Harvie Gardens, the rain was pouring down, so it was the ideal time to go inside and visit the conservatory. 

Swallowtail butterfly and chrysalis.

I n the same building I then went to the butterfly enclosure, where I watched a beautiful butterfly just emerging from its chrysalis.

Cryodrakon (wingspan 33 feet)

When the rain let up, I went back outside and followed the path to the Asian animals (gibbons, tapirs, a Bactrian camel and more) and then across a suspension bridge to the Prehistoric Park, where I was greeted by a giant pterosaur, whose wingspan in real life would have been the size of a small airplane. 

This dinosaur, whose name means "royal horned face" lived in Alberta 68-67 million years ago.

Dozens of dinosaurs line the paths through this part of the zoo, all with helpful signs and painted in bright patterns and colors. 

Corythosaurus grew to be 30 feet long.

We don’t yet know what color most dinosaurs were, but it is likely that their colors varied just like they do on the skin of lizards or the feathers of birds today.

Close, but of reach!

At the end of my visit I had a sandwich and cocoa in the zoo café near the entrance. The cafe is part of an extensive gift shop.  I enjoyed seeing all the animals at the Calgary Zoo, but what is truly unique about the zoo are the dinosaurs. With a little imagination one feels transported in time to millions of years ago when dinosaurs were alive.  

Getting there:

The zoo was a short taxi ride from my downtown hotel, but I could have taken the train. (There is a stop right at the zoo entrance.) I asked for a zoo map at the ticket window but found out that the zoo no longer provides paper maps. You can download a zoo map to your phone, or, as I did, refer to the large map signs posted at strategic spots around the zoo.

African porcupines.

 

 

SPRINGTIME IN SICILY, Part 1: Three Days in Palermo

View of Palermo, Sicily, from the roof of Monreale Cathedral

At the end of May my husband and I took a two week trip to Sicily, staying in Palermo, Erice and Catania, and taking day trips to the ancient Greek ruins at Segesta, Selinunte and Agrigento, to the 4th century Roman villa at Piazza Armerina, and to Mount Etna. The weather was warm, but not hot, and hillsides were covered with poppies, Queen Anne’s lace and a host of other wild flowers.  Here is the first of several reports of our trip.

Piazza San Domenico. Horse and buggy rides through the streets of the historic center of Palermo are a popular tourist activity.

We began our trip to Sicily in the capital city of Palermo, a bustling historic city dating back to pre-Roman times. We expected to find beautiful churches,16th century palaces, thriving street markets, and an abundance of restaurants as described in our guidebooks, but were surprised by the discovery of the hidden museum of hand painted tiles that was our B&B, the green retreat of the Botanical Garden and its art gallery filled with colorful ceramics, and a butterfly house tucked in a courtyard along the busy main tourist street, Via Vittorio Emmanuel.

Stanze al Genio, Ceramic tile museum and our B&B

On our first morning we shared a taxi with two other guests from our B&B (Stanze al Genio) for the half hour ride to Monreale to see the magnificent cathedral perched on the hill overlooking the valley of Palermo.

Monreale Cathedral. Christ Pantocrator is shown in the typical style of the Eastern Orthodox Church The gold background of the mosaics was created by sandwiching a thin piece of gold leaf between layers of glass.

Built in the 12th century, the Monreale cathedral is covered with glittering Byzantine mosaics reflecting the stories of the Bible but also with patterns and designs showing the Arab influence of the Muslim culture that preceded the Norman conquest of Sicily.

One of many stories of the Bible depicted on the Cathedral walls.

We rented wands with an English narrative to get an overview of the cathedral's history as we toured the inside. Then, climbing a winding staircase we went to the roof for a spectacular view.

Spring flowers at the Palermo Botanical Garden

In the afternoon, after a relaxed lunch back in Palermo, we walked to the Botanical Garden, a haven of greenery with shaded paths, benches for resting,  greenhouses, a water garden, and an art gallery filled with colorful ceramics.

Ceramic vase by Sicilian artist Giovanni de Simone, on display at the gallery of the Palermo Botanical Garden

On our second day we did a self-guided walking tour of the historical center of Palermo starting with a visit to the Piazza Bellini (also the location of the tourist information center) and its trio of churches–Santa Catorina, La Martorena and San Cataldo..

La Martorena, begun in the 12th Century, is a mixture of Baroque and Norman styles. The Baroque altar was added when the church was enlarged in the 16th century.

We paid the entrance fee and went inside La Martorena, filled with gorgeous gilded mosaics of the same period as Monreal, but feeling much more intimate because we could see them up close.

Close-up of one of the mosaics at La Martorena

A few steps down the street is another piazza and the Fontana Pretoria, or Fountain of Shame, notable for its statues whose private parts were removed (a long time ago) by nuns from the adjacent convent who were offended by the figures’ nudity.

Animal heads at the Fontana Pretoria

I was more intrigued by the variety of animal heads–a horse, giraffe, rhinoceros and more-- circling the fountain’s lower level, each spouting a stream of water into the surrounding pool.

Palermo Cathedral

Baroque architecture dominates the historic center of Palermo–from private homes and palaces to the massive Palermo Cathedral (actually a mixture of architectural styles.) Visiting the Cathedral is free (unlike most other churches) and provided a welcome place to rest during our walking tour. We made a point to visit the Regional Archeological Museum, hoping to see the ancient sculptures found at Selinunte (which we would visit later in the trip) but found that most of the museum was closed and the only exhibit was of items from Pompeii.

Ballaro market stall

On our last day in Palermo we visited the boisterous Ballero market, an open-air string of stalls winding for blocks through the neighborhood west of the train station. Vendors compete with one another, shouting out their wares–from slices of swordfish and  plates of octopus (cut up and marinated) to eggplants, oranges, cherries, giant zucchinis and more.  Food in Sicily is always fresh and delicious. From pasta and pizza to antipastos and pastries, it was difficult to choose what to eat.

Our lunch at Cavu, a neighborhood restaurant near our B&B

After three days in Palermo we were making progress on getting over our jet lag (nine hours from Los Angeles) and ready to go to Erice, where Art would be attending a conference for five days and I would explore the cobbled streets and historic sites. For more information about what to see and do in Palermo, click HERE.

Butterfly at the Casa della Farfalle on Via Vittorio Emmanuel in Palermo

Piedmont Nature Trails at the North Carolina Botanical Garden

A year ago in November we traveled to North Carolina to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with our family in Chapel Hill.  On Thanksgiving day, the weather was crisp and clear, and while the turkey was cooking we decided to get some exercise and went for a walk along the Piedmont nature trails at the North Carolina Botanical Garden. Following the marked trails through the forest, we took a circular route, crossing the Meeting-of-the-Waters Creek twice.  Although most of the leaves had already fallen, a few hardy remainders glowed in the afternoon sunlight.

A diversity of hardwood and evergreen trees, shrubs, and woodland wildflowers thrive in these woods. Interpretive brochures and a trail map are available at the entrance to the trail. The trail walk can take from 15 to 45 minutes or more, depending upon the path taken and your pace. We spent about an hour and went home with a healthy appetite for a delicious meal. For a trail map click here.

The Piedmont Nature Trails are open to the public every day of the year. 


The adjacent Botanical Garden includes an Education Center and numerous display gardens featuring native plant borders, a native water garden, a fern collection and more.
Visiting hours to the Botanical Garden are:
Weekdays: 8 am - 5 pm (administrative offices, gift shop, exhibits open at 9 am);
Saturday: 9 am - 5 pm; Sunday: 1 - 5 pm (open to 6 on weekends June - August)
Admission is free.

Other gardens and natural areas managed by the North Carolina Botanical Garden include the Coker Arboretum on the campus of the University of North Carolina. We have made many visits to the Coker Arboretum, which is especially beautiful in spring when the dogwoods and azaleas are in bloom.

UC Botanical Garden, Berkeley: A Plant Lover's Paradise

Oak Knoll in the California Section

Research and Conservation
Nestled in the Berkeley hills, just above the Cal campus, more than 13,000 different species of plants on 34 acres grow in the University of California Botanical Garden, a scientific collection of plants from around the world and a wonderful place to spend the morning or afternoon.  I recently went there for the first time.  The garden is a living museum, created as a research garden but open to the public.

Old Rose Garden with view of Berkeley and San Francisco Bay

A network of paths takes you through the garden, which is arranged according to the plants’ geographic origin. These include Mediterranean, South America, Mexico/Central America, Eastern North America, Australasia, Asia, Southern Africa, New World Desert, and California. The garden’s website cautions visitors that it is virtually impossible to see everything on one visit.  It says that to see every plant in one two-hour visit, one would have to see one hundred different plants a minute!

Edible Plants
One of my favorites parts of the garden was the section on crops of the world.  In one corner was the “Three Sisters Garden” so-called by Native Americans referring to the interplanting of beans, corn, and squash.  The beans fix nitrogen in the soil, which feeds the corn so it will be tall and healthy.  The corn provides a structure for the beans to climb on.  The squash plants provide ground cover to keep the soil moist and free of weeds.  Recent studies have shown that this method produces higher yields than the typical planting of a single crop (monoculture).

Tomatillos in the World Crops Section

Changes With the Seasons
Every season has its highlights, making the garden a worthwhile visit at any time of year.  We visited the garden in August, when late summer flowers were blooming, while earlier blooming varieties were reaching maturity.  In the garden of old roses, bushes were lush with old-fashioned varieties.  It was a warm afternoon, but paths through shady groves and along ponds and streams provided welcome places to stop and rest.

Japanese Pool in the Asia Section

The garden is also a haven for wildlife.  As we meandered through the various zones, lizards skittered across the path, hummingbirds hovered over the flowers, and bees and butterflies were abundant. Throughout the garden, helpful signs identify plants, sometimes with additional information.  But, even if you don’t want to know the plants’ names, you can enjoy them for their natural beauty.  It’s better not to try to see one hundred plants a minute, but to enjoy a few at a time.  I plan to go back in several months and explore some new paths and see what is growing at a different time of year.

Directions:  The garden is located at 200 Centennial Drive, Berkeley, CA 94720 (midway between the UC Berkeley Memorial Stadium and the Lawrence Hall of Science.) Phone:  510-643-2755. For directions and more information, go to the garden's website. 
Tours: Docent tours of the garden are offered at 1:30 on Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Smelling the Roses in the Old Rose Garden