This season in Hortus
In the Hortus you’ll find a diverse range of events and activities all year round. Discover what’s on this season.
Discover our full programme
👀How many babies can you spot?
Quietly growing among the trees in our conifer garden is this 𝘞𝘰𝘰𝘥𝘸𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘢 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘭𝘪𝘧𝘦𝘳𝘢 fern.
Like other ferns, this species also produces spores on the underside of its leaves. So it has two ways to spread: cloning itself through baby plants and creating genetically diverse offspring through spores!
Did you know ferns could do this?👶🏻
🔮Out of the bare earth, the 𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗺𝗻 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 (𝘊𝘰𝘭𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘶𝘮 𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘶𝘮𝘯𝘢𝘭𝘦) suddenly sends up these delicate lilac flowers. Almost as if they’ve been conjured overnight!💜✨
The autumn crocus is sometimes called `naked boys` or `naked ladies`: because the flowers emerge from the ground long before the leaves appear.
Not ready for autumn yet? Neither are we. 🌿☔
While the rain pours outside, our tropical greenhouse is bursting with life, colour and jungle vibes. Your green escape is waiting!
📸👉🏽We love seeing the Hortus through your lens, and these dahlia portraits are simply stunning! Thank you for sharing these beautiful photographs with us @saraballiu. 🌸
Have any pictures to share? Do send us a message!
If only Instagram had smell-o-vision… 👃🌿
🤔❓Why do some plants smell so good when you rub their leaves?
Plants use smell as a form of communication. Their scents come from volatile compounds and essential oils: they do this to attract pollinators and repel predators.
When you gently rub the leaf, you release some of these compounds - and suddenly your fingers smell like mint, basil, lavender or even apple! 🍃
However, what smells delicious to us might be a very effective “please don’t eat me” message to someone else. 😏
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Had Instagram maar geurtelevisie… 👃🌿
🤔❓Waarom ruiken sommige planten zo lekker als je over hun bladeren wrijft?
Planten gebruiken geur als een vorm van communicatie. Hun geuren komen voort uit vluchtige stoffen en etherische oliën: ze doen dit om bestuivers aan te trekken en vijanden af te schrikken.
Als je zachtjes over het blad wrijft, komen sommige van deze stoffen vrij – en ineens ruiken je vingers naar munt, basilicum, lavendel of zelfs appel! 🍃
Maar wat voor ons heerlijk ruikt, kan voor iemand anders een heel effectieve boodschap zijn: ‘eet me alsjeblieft niet op’. 😏
Red on the outside, yellow on the inside… and absolutely impossible to miss. ❤️💛 The 𝘄𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗿𝗼𝗼𝘁 (𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢) is native to the southeastern United States and produces wonderfully bright, tubular flowers.
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Van buiten rood, van binnen geel… en absoluut niet te missen. ❤️💛 De 𝘃𝘂𝘂𝗿𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗮𝗻 (𝘚𝘱𝘪𝘨𝘦𝘭𝘪𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘳𝘪𝘭𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘪𝘤𝘢) komt oorspronkelijk uit het zuidoosten van de Verenigde Staten en produceert prachtige, felgekleurde, buisvormige bloemen.
💙Have you ever stopped to look this closely at a passionflower? The 𝗯𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿 (𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘢) produces stunning flowers - made up of layer upon layer of intricate structures.
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💙Heb je ooit de tijd genomen om zo goed naar een passiebloem te kijken? De 𝗯𝗹𝗮𝘂𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲𝗯𝗹𝗼𝗲𝗺 (𝘗𝘢𝘴𝘴𝘪𝘧𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘢 𝘤𝘢𝘦𝘳𝘶𝘭𝘦𝘢) produceert prachtige bloemen – die bestaan uit laag na laag van ingewikkelde structuren.
WE`RE SO EXCITED 🎶
because... this Victoria bud is expected to open tonight! Meaning you can still see the flower tomorrow morning. 🤍
Book your visit and see you tomorrow - early bird gets the worm (or: a spectacular flower). 👀👀
