Monday was a good day for a road trip to Tower Hill Botanic Garden, because it was the only day of the week that predicted to be rain free. I was anxious to visit in April in time to see the Daffodil field in full bloom.
I have my suspicions about the presence of poison ivy in the field. I suspect that this is ruse created as a result of people trampling flowers. Note the kinetic sculpture by George Sherwood, one of many that dotted the gardens.
I was inspired to create a pollination house as a result of seeing this structure near the main entrance.
Pollination House for Mason Bees
Mason bees do not live in hives, they are solitary creatures. Fertile females lay eggs in the holes and crevices of these wooden pieces, after that they deposit some pollen/nectar as food for the developing larvae. The bees seal the holes are with clay, sap or mud. Male bees are the first to emerge and after mating they die and the process repeats. Nature is not kind to the male gender.
The Greenhouses
I have visited Tower Hill in the winter to enjoy the two greenhouses, the Limonaia (Lemon House) and the Orangerie (Orange House). It follows logically that I saw a lemon fruit in the Limonaia and an orange fruit in the Orangerie.
Truly, Tower Hill should be a destination for anyone who loves gardens. There are 171 acres to investigate and I only scratched the surface.