Lego buffalo with a mane of sheared Podocarpus gracilior.
We and our visitors went to Legoland in Carlsbad a few days ago. We all enjoyed it, though I was the only one focused almost completely on the foliage and flowers of the park.
Sedum farming:
Carlsbad, California has one of the world's most mild climates. In winter, it might be a bit colder than 72 F (22 C) and in the summer, it might be a bit warmer than 72 F, but mostly it's sunny and 72 F, and it shows in the plants. The living is easy.
Not the Palms I was agog over:
The park's plants are grouped into temperate, tropical, desert, and woodland forest themes--of course, those themes had to do with the Lego displays. There is a plentiful supply of the standard not-too-big-tree-for-commercial-landscapes Pittosporum undulatum, and the standard tough-evergreen-shrub Pittosporum tobira 'Cream de Mint', but there is also no shortage of beautiful, less common specimens for the plant lover to enjoy. I was swooning over multiple superb specimens of Cupressus cashmeriana:
Tree sized, thriving Duranta erecta:
All types of Carex, all of them looking great:
Healthy, happy native Sycamores and Oaks:
Bonsai Myrtles:
I was happy to see, in a climate so amenable to wonderful plants, that wonderful plants were being grown. I'll first survey the tropical and subtropical plants, not quite so happy in my area 75 miles or so north, but which find San Diego's slightly more mild climate ideal.
Pisonia umbellifera 'Variegata', aka Heimerlodendron brunonianum 'Varigatum',
from the South Pacific:
The Pisonia's odd flowers:
There were several Caryotas (Fishtail Palms), which are not true palms--they are more like bananas--blooming once and dying, but leaving offsets behind to carry on. I do not know the species. This next specimen (on the left) was blooming. The foliage was from another adjacent Caryotas (on the right):
Plant lovers must work at Legoland--there were little touches like Bromilliads and Tillansias tied to Palms:
Lots of Strelitzia nicolai, and a Spathodea campanulata:
A Ginger of some sort:
A Platycerium superbum tied to a blooming Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), with more Caryotas behind:
A good backdrop for a Lego Elephant. I found animals were the most sensitively rendered in Legos. Look at the way the head is crafted:
Bamboo, a shrub Vitex, Caryotas again, and a Scheffera(?)
Bromilliad bloom:
A big Crinum and a mass planting of Clivia in front of a wall of bamboo:
Breynia nivosa doesn't much like the Santa Ana winds in my neighborhood. It loves Carlsbad:
Philodendron, Schinus molle, and a beautiful bronze foliage plant I don't see much around here--do you know it? It looked tender.
A fair sampling, then, of the tropical/subtropical plants at Legoland. I'll have to do another post of more beautiful Legoland plants when I get another break.
Gorgeous Tibouchinas...
Massive Begonias...
Oooh!
Oooh!
We and our visitors went to Legoland in Carlsbad a few days ago. We all enjoyed it, though I was the only one focused almost completely on the foliage and flowers of the park.
Sedum farming:
Carlsbad, California has one of the world's most mild climates. In winter, it might be a bit colder than 72 F (22 C) and in the summer, it might be a bit warmer than 72 F, but mostly it's sunny and 72 F, and it shows in the plants. The living is easy.
Not the Palms I was agog over:
The park's plants are grouped into temperate, tropical, desert, and woodland forest themes--of course, those themes had to do with the Lego displays. There is a plentiful supply of the standard not-too-big-tree-for-commercial-landscapes Pittosporum undulatum, and the standard tough-evergreen-shrub Pittosporum tobira 'Cream de Mint', but there is also no shortage of beautiful, less common specimens for the plant lover to enjoy. I was swooning over multiple superb specimens of Cupressus cashmeriana:
Tree sized, thriving Duranta erecta:
All types of Carex, all of them looking great:
Healthy, happy native Sycamores and Oaks:
Bonsai Myrtles:
I was happy to see, in a climate so amenable to wonderful plants, that wonderful plants were being grown. I'll first survey the tropical and subtropical plants, not quite so happy in my area 75 miles or so north, but which find San Diego's slightly more mild climate ideal.
Pisonia umbellifera 'Variegata', aka Heimerlodendron brunonianum 'Varigatum',
from the South Pacific:
The Pisonia's odd flowers:
There were several Caryotas (Fishtail Palms), which are not true palms--they are more like bananas--blooming once and dying, but leaving offsets behind to carry on. I do not know the species. This next specimen (on the left) was blooming. The foliage was from another adjacent Caryotas (on the right):
Plant lovers must work at Legoland--there were little touches like Bromilliads and Tillansias tied to Palms:
Lots of Strelitzia nicolai, and a Spathodea campanulata:
A Ginger of some sort:
A Platycerium superbum tied to a blooming Queen Palm (Syagrus romanzoffiana), with more Caryotas behind:
A good backdrop for a Lego Elephant. I found animals were the most sensitively rendered in Legos. Look at the way the head is crafted:
Bamboo, a shrub Vitex, Caryotas again, and a Scheffera(?)
Bromilliad bloom:
A big Crinum and a mass planting of Clivia in front of a wall of bamboo:
Breynia nivosa doesn't much like the Santa Ana winds in my neighborhood. It loves Carlsbad:
Philodendron, Schinus molle, and a beautiful bronze foliage plant I don't see much around here--do you know it? It looked tender.
A fair sampling, then, of the tropical/subtropical plants at Legoland. I'll have to do another post of more beautiful Legoland plants when I get another break.
Gorgeous Tibouchinas...
Massive Begonias...
Oooh!
Oooh!
Wowzer!!!!! what a fabulous collection of plants. Those Breynia are amazing and gorgeous. Love the last shot of the acalypha. Also love the photo with the bridge and sycamore. Beautiful. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteHappy you enjoyed it! :)
DeleteWell, I would have never thought to visit Legoland for a plant tour..though San Diego is pretty hort-rich .
ReplyDeleteSan Diego is super hort-rich. I wasn't sure, but I suspected.
DeleteLegoland? Plants? Who knew? Thanks for the fun education.
ReplyDeleteIt made wading through hoards of small, screaming toddlers quite bearable. Though they were all passed out in their strollers by one in the afternoon.
DeleteYour mystery bronze leaves may be acalypha wilkesiana, aka copperleaf. Comes in straight bronze and also variegated, and yes, it’s frost tender. People overwinter it indoors even in zone 9, or take cuttings. In tropical, subtropical climates it can get quite large, 6 feet and up. Used a lot in the shady areas of the San Diego Zoo.
ReplyDeleteAcalypha, yes that's it. Thanks! We see them for sale very occasionally here, but I had doubts it would enjoy our winter nights under 50F. At Legoland they were 6x6 and looked flawless, sigh.
DeleteLego buffalo with a mane of sheared Podocarpus gracilior - Whoa! Great lego. These are stunning photos!
ReplyDeleteGreetings from Poland.
Thanks! Greetings from California! :)
DeleteI have to say I never would have thought that Legoland would provide interesting plant viewing opportunities - I'm glad you did. I have never seen a tree-sized Duranta!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a tree-sized Duranta before either.
DeleteI just assumed Legoland would have great plants. Lucky I guessed right.
For years I have been trying to identify a Legoland tree that I remember from years ago (kids are grown now so won't get back there) and thanks to you I have finally found it, the Cupressus Cashmeriana.
ReplyDeleteHappy to have helped!
DeleteIsn't it a beautiful species? If I lived in the appropriate climate with appropriate space, I'd plant one (They can't take strong winds or long stretches of hot dry weather.) The largest in the US was at the Huntington Library/Gardens. It was snapped off and killed by a microburst storm back in the 90's.
I visited with my little nephew, who was a Legomaniac...he's in college now!
DeleteDoes anyone know what succulent tree like plants are in the waiting line of the lost kingdom ride at Legoland.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous do you have a photo?
ReplyDelete