During the cold Northeast winters, it's nice to head south and visit gardens flourishing with lush green foliage.
During a short weekend trip to Florida, my head gardener, Ryan McCallister, visited Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, previously known as Villa Vizcaya, the former winter residence of businessman James Deering of the Deering McCormick-International Harvester fortune on Biscayne Bay. The extraordinary early 20th century estate includes Italian Renaissance-inspired gardens, statues, fountains, and a beautiful collection of plantings.
Here are some photos, enjoy.
Platycerium is a genus of about 18 fern species in the polypod family, Polypodiaceae. Ferns in this genus are widely known as staghorn or elkhorn ferns because of the uniquely shaped fronds. Staghorn ferns like this one, abound throughout the estate.
Here is a map of the Vizcaya grounds. Villa Vizcaya was originally 180-acres and included the Main House, the gardens, and the Village—a cluster of buildings that housed the residence staff, machine shops, and domestic farm functions. Today, approximately 50 of those acres still remain as part of the Vizcaya Museum & Gardens, now maintained by Miami-Dade County.
James Deering built his winter home between 1914 and 1922. This is the east façade of Vizcaya’s Main House, which was designed after an Italianate villa.
This fountain is one of the twin cascades, leading from the entry piazza to the arrival court.
Known as the Barge and built by Alexander Stirling Calder, this structure is located in the water outside the Main House. It was meant as a breakwater to protect the mansion from rising tides. Shaped as a boat, the Barge is decorated with carvings representing mythical Caribbean creatures.
The gardens of Vizcaya are reminiscent of gardens created in 17th and 18th century Italy and France. The overall design includes a series of outdoor “rooms.”
There is a formal pool flanked by clipped native oaks. These hedges protect the gardens by blocking wind and rain coming from Biscayne Bay.
The wall pots of the Secret Garden were created to hold plants from Vizcaya’s orchid collection, but proved unsuitable. Now they hold succulents, which thrive in the bright sunlight and salt air.
Dripping over this planter is the threadlike Rhipsalis baccifera, commonly known as the mistletoe cactus, an epiphytic cactus which originates from Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Florida.
The Secret Garden features grottoes. Their interiors were created to resemble the grottoes of Italy.
Here is a view from the Secret Garden through the gazebos of the East Statuary Walk.
Atop what is called the Garden Mound is collection of gnarled Live Oak trees, some of which are about 200-years old. These trees were dug from other properties as mature specimens and brought to Vizcaya.
Here is a waterfall in the formal gardens leading to the Mound. It is flanked by parallel staircases.
These stairs, which also lead to the Mound, are framed by rusticated stucco and stone walls. They were originally designed with ramps to accommodate gardeners’ carts and wheelbarrows.
The statues, busts, vases and ornamental urns range from antiquity to the Renaissance and Baroque periods, and also include various art pieces from Deering’s time.
Deering wanted the gardens to have an aged and mature look, so he used old and weathered architectural pieces wherever possible.
Designed to complement the estate, the David A. Klein Orchidarium was created and features tropical orchids and other native plantings.
Majestic palm trees dot the gardens and offer much-appreciated shade from the hot Floridian sun.
If you follow my blog regularly, you may recognize these blue agaves. I have a large collection of agaves at my farm. Agaves are exotic, deer-resistant, drought-tolerant, and make wonderful container plants. And, do you know… tequila is distilled from the sap of the blue agave? Agave tequilana has sugars named agavins, mostly fructose, in the core of the plant that are suitable for the preparation of alcoholic beverages. In fact, the blue agave is an important economic product of Jalisco, Mexico, where tequila is produced.
In this corner is a potted Silver Saw Palmetto, Serenoa repens ‘Silver.’ It is a small, slow-growing palm tree native to the southeastern United States. It is known for its striking silvery-blue fronds, which can reach up to five-feet long.
And here is a Strangler fig, one of several stunning specimens at Vizcaya. Strangler fig is the common name for a number of tropical and subtropical plant species in the genus Ficus, which all feature a common “strangling” growth habit. If you’re ever in the area, do stop by Vizcaya Museum & Gardens. I have been there many times myself and enjoy every visit.
For serious and passionate gardeners like myself, gardening is about color, form, and variety - I especially like rare and unusual plants.
During my recent business trip to Florida, I purchased several specimens from Excelsa Gardens in Loxahatchee Groves, a wonderful and charming nursery specializing in hard-to-find exotic tropicals. Among the plants I brought home - Euphorbia stenoclada, Licuala grandis, Dieffenbachia 'Camouflage', Philodendron 'Black Gold', Medinilla magnifica, and a Bismarckia nobibilis palm.
Here are some photos.
One of the most important outbuildings here at my farm is this large greenhouse. This is where I keep many of my potted plants. I’m always on the lookout for new and unusual houseplants to add to my collection.
It’s exciting to bring home new specimens to see how they fare. I always recommend that inexperienced gardeners go to nurseries to find what they love and then learn as much as they can from them.
This is Medinilla magnifica – a species of epiphytic flowering plant, of the family Melastomataceae, native to the Philippines.
This plant is also known as the Rose Grape, Philippine Orchid, or Pink Lantern Plant. In spring and summer its flowers bloom in shades of pink, ranging from pale pastels to deep magenta, and dangle like elegant chandelier “grapes.”
Medinilla magnifica plants have leathery, dark green leaves with a distinctive leaf vein.
Ryan hangs it up where it can receive bright light, but be shaded from the hottest sun when needed.
This is Philodendron melanochrysum ‘Black Gold.’ This plant produces leaves of iridescent black-green with pale green veins.
Though different types of plants have varying preferences in terms of pot size and needed root space, most grow well when pots are at least two-inches larger in diameter than the plant’s original pot.
Ryan places the Philodendron into the pot so its root ball top sits just under the lip of the container.
And then he pats it down to establish good contact.
After planting, Ryan adds a sprinkling of Osmocote fertilizer – made of small, round coated prills filled with nutrients.
Philodendrons like to be kept in warm temperatures and indirect light near a window. This spot in my greenhouse is perfect.
And look at the spectacular leaves, which can be up to two-feet long when mature.
This interesting plant is Euphorbia stenoclada ‘Silver Thicket.’ It is a species of plant in the family Euphorbiaceae, native to Madagascar and the Mozambique Channel Islands. It is best described as a large, upright well-branched leafless succulent shrub or small tree which can grow to be 12-feet tall and up to six-feet wide when mature.
The name “stenoclada” means “narrow-branched” and refers to the short spine-tipped leafless branches.
Ryan carefully pots this variety and other tall specimens in heavy bottomed containers, so they do not tip over. Euphorbia does well in pots that drain well and can be kept in south- or west-facing windows.
Dieffenbachia ‘Camouflage’ is an eye-catching plant with uniquely patterned lush chartreuse-colored leaves. It does best in bright indirect to full indoor sunlight. This plant also prefers moderately moist soil, but should be left alone to let the top layer of soil dry out between waterings.
Each leaf is divided by a white central midrib with specks of green throughout the leaf.
Some of you may recognize this plant, the Bismarckia. I have several of these Madagascar natives. These plants need lots of space. The palm itself grows slowly up to 30-feet or more and each thick, fan-shaped frond can reach 10-feet in diameter.
And this is one leaf of Licuala grandis – the ruffled fan palm, Vanuatu fan palm, or Palas palm, a species of palm tree in the family Arecaceae native to Vanuatu, an island nation in the Pacific. It features a trunked palm tree with wide, pleated leaves in vibrant green.
The licuala grandis does best in full sun, but prefers indirect light. I am so very pleased with these additions to my greenhouse. I am looking forward to seeing them all mature and thrive.
It's no secret that I love gardening and plants of all kinds. I have a particular fondness for potted specimens and over the years, I've amassed quite a collection here at my Bedford, New York farm.
Among my favorites is the alocasia. Alocasia is a genus of rhizomatous broad-leaved plants from the family Araceae. Currently, there are about 90 species native to tropical and subtropical regions of Asia and eastern Australia. Alocasia is also known by the common name elephant's ear because of its enormous arrow-shaped leaves. Many species are popularly grown for their bold markings and prominent veins. Last week, I added a few more varieties to my greenhouse from Excelsa Gardens in Loxahatchee Groves, Florida.
Enjoy these photos.
Most alocasias are loved for their striking foliage. This is Alocasia reginula ‘Black Velvet’ – a dwarf Alocasia with velvety broad dark leaves and silver veining.
‘Black Velvet’ is one of several Alocasia species native to Southeast Asia, likely from the jungles of Borneo. It was collected during the 1860s by English plant collectors.
Ryan pulled pairs of like pots to transplant my new Alocasias. I like to use clay pots because they allow proper aeration and moisture to penetrate through the sides and to the plant. These pots are made by master potter, Guy Wolff.
Unfortunately, pots do break, but don’t throw away the shards. They come in handy for potting plants.
There is a drainage hole at the bottom of each pot. We place shards over the holes to help with drainage and to prevent soil from falling out.
Here, Ryan sizes up the potted Alocasia with its new pot. When choosing a container, select one that is about two-inches larger than the current pot.
Alocasias prefer soil that is well-draining and loose. Choose a tropical mix with bark, sand, and loam.
Here, Ryan begins to fill the pots with the appropriate soil medium. The root ball will also be surrounded with soil, so leave enough room so the base of the plant can sit just under the rim of the vessel.
Just remember, this type of Alocasia is toxic to both humans and animals. Like all of the Araceae family members, this plant has calcium oxalate crystals, which can cause illness when chewed or eaten.
Ryan removes the plant from its pot and gently loosens the soil around the roots with his hands to stimulate growth.
Once it is in its new pot, Ryan tamps down to ensure good contact with the soil. ‘Black Velvet’ thrives in dappled, bright but indirect light. It does best in north or east-facing windows, where morning light isn’t too intense.
I am a big believer in feeding all plants – if you eat, so should your plants. My houseplants are given Osmocote. Each granule is covered with an organic resin that regulates the daily release of nutrients.
Before going on one of the long tables in my main greenhouse, Ryan gives them all a good watering. When caring for Alocasia ‘Black Velvet,’ water deeply, drain away any excess, and allow around 20-percent of the topsoil to dry before watering again.
Other new alocasias in my collection include this variegated variety. Alocasia odora ‘Variegata’ is a dwarf Alocasia that grows to approximately three feet tall. Every leaf is different, showing off its interesting green and white markings.
Variegated alocasias may also have variegated stems of light green to white in color.
Alocasia sumo is a new hybrid between Alocasia ‘Portora’ and ‘Purple Cloak.’ The dark leaf stems are reddish-black.
This is Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Lutea’ with its large dark green leaves with bold yellow petioles and stems.
Alocasia tyrion prefers dry environments. When mature, the edges of the leaves are wavy and heart-shaped.
This is a unique and interesting Alocasia macrorrhiza ‘Stingray.’ It grows best in warm, humid conditions and dappled sunlight. The distinctive “tail” combined with the “wings” looks very much like the boneless batoid fish. What are your favorite Alocasia varieties?
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