Today I'm sharing some of the interesting plants that caught my eye during my February visit to the Amazon Spheres. In case you haven't heard of them, the Spheres are three spherical conservatories, part of the Amazon headquarters in downtown Seattle. These buildings serve as an informal employee workspace and lounge area, the public can tour two Saturdays a month—I shared photos of the outside of the buildings
in my last post.
Most of today's plants are ones outside my area of "expertise", in other words—I have no idea what they are, but that doesn't stop me from drooling....
There's a trunk under there somewhere, supporting all those epiphytes.
Plants growing on plants, one of my favorite things.
I swear that looks like an epiphyllum with a jagged or toothed margin.
That might be a plant covered rock?
Ditto
We'll see that epiphyte covered stump from the other side in a bit.
I really wish I knew what those thin, dark, leaves belong to...
Ditto for those three-pronged, puckered leaves.
I have to admit it is kind of fun to just admire, and not have a clue what it is you're looking at.
The promised epiphyte covered stump from the other side.
I do know that's a passion flower.
And the wide dark leaves in the center here are Elaphoglossum metallicum.
Yep.
Huperzia squarrosa (the trailing plant, I think I've got the ID right?)
Kerriodoxa elegans, the white backed palm
Triangle leaves! The closest thing I could find online was Asplenium hemionitis, but I don't think that's right.
There are pyrrosia leaves in that crazy planting.
These next three photos are the odd perspective you get when you lean over the side of one of the upper floors and look down on the densely planted foliage.
And lastly, a sweet planting of species from South Africa staring the Kumara plicatilis (aka fan aloe). If you ever get the chance to visit the Spheres you should definitely do it!
All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
For any foliage lover, this place is as thrilling as Disneyland is for a kid.
ReplyDeleteI last visited in January 2023 as part of my "Good Riddance to Covid" victory celebration. If I'm not mistaken, there was a time limit on my stay and I wish I could linger. I'm determined to see it next in a season other than late winter. If nothing else, the tree ferns outside will have a substantially different presence.
Chavli
Okay good, I'm glad to know you've been in. We were asked to limit our stay to an hour, but I don't think anyone came around checking on us.
DeleteWhat an interesting job maintaining that space must be! I loved the 3 overhead shots. Was it humid and warm inside? I'm assuming it had to be to support many of those plants but then I suppose such an enclosed space must generate its own climate.
ReplyDeleteI don't recall being too warm, it felt perfect in there. I know (from my book research) that they've worked the climate to be perfect for humans during the day, and plants at night.
DeleteThanks for the tour! I really want to visit some day. I think the trailing pleated leaved plant in the first photo and especially featured in the second photo, may be a neotropical blueberry------Ceratostema rauhii.
ReplyDeleteYes! Thank you. I had that idea that it was a blueberry relative but couldn't find anything that looked right.
DeleteI know far less of the names, but found myself saying "ohhhh" many times. Brilliant. I need to try a Kumara plicatilis in the shade. Mine are in full sun, but the shade brings out a stretching I like.
ReplyDeleteYou are SO SO SO lucky to be able to grow that plant in your garden.
DeleteI wonder how many employees they have taking care of this and for how many hours per week. And how on earth do they keep mealybugs and mites and scale from taking over and destroying everything.
ReplyDeleteYa, I don't even want to think about the mealybug possibilities!
DeleteWow things have really grown in. I visited in 2020 when the lobby was just opening. If I had been early in my career this would have been my perfect workspace though not sure how much work would get done while you gawked at the gorgeous surroundings. Hopefully NWFGS will happen next year and will get a chance to visit again.
ReplyDeleteYes! If you do make it to the NWFG Fest hopefully the days will line up (and I would love to meet you finally!)
DeleteYes, drooling is a good way to put it. ;-) That's what's happening here, just from viewing your photos. LOL. Thanks for the tip on another great place to visit during travels.
ReplyDeleteSo many great gardens to see...
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