Olan Ray Creel has donated a major collection of endangered Florida bromeliads to Heathcote Botanical Gardens. The collection consists of over 180 Tillandsia fasiculata, commonly known as the giant air plant or Cardinal air plant because of their tremendous size (up to 24”) and showy red blooms. Florida has sixteen species of native bromeliads, nine of which have come under attack by an exotic invasive pest weevil Metamasius callizona. While locally abundant as recently as 1989, the Cardinal air plant is currently listed as an endangered species.
Mr. Creel collected the air plants under permit while assisting with University of Florida research on the invasive “evil weevil.” Over the course of twenty years, he sorted over several thousand plants, detecting and recording over 150 color forms and variations. In addition to red, the blooms in the Creel collection range through various shades of pink, orange, coral, yellow, purple and maroon. Although blooms normally occur in spring and early summer, the recently relocated collection began setting buds in late December.
Visitors will find the Olan Ray Creel collection at Heathcote Botanical Gardens in the Native Plant area. Mr. Creel continues to maintain the collection, which requires fumigation to protect it from weevil infestation. Learn more about Mr. Creel's work in an article published by The Florida Native Plant Society at http://fcbs.org/articles/weevil-creel.htm.
In October 2009, Bonsai Master Jim Smith donated 100 of his finest trees to Heathcote Botanical Gardens on the condition that they would be properly maintained, displayed and protected. Unlike a traditional bonsai display of trees lined up on benches with no competing scenery, Master Smith imagined a "Walk Through Bonsai" where visitors could stroll the beautiful Heathcote Botanical Gardens, and discover a unique bonsai tree at every turn. The horticultural requirements of bonsai made installing them into the existing gardens impractical, and so a unique and original garden was planned by Sam Comer of Hayslip Landscape, with guidance from Master Smith and Jim Van Landingham.
Master Smith pioneered the use of tropical species such as portulacaria afra, (the dwarf leaf jade tree) as bonsai, and used many Florida native species to interpret the ancient art of bonsai. Sam Comer's garden design and the architectural contributions of Peter Moor serve as a metaphor for Master Smith's work. Elements of a traditional Japanese Garden (stone, gravel, limited landscape palette) are interpreted through native Florida plants and building materials. "It's where sushi meets fried mullet!" says architect Peter Moor.
sai" where visitors could stroll the beautiful Heathcote Botanical Gardens, and discover a unique bonsai tree at every turn. The horticultural requirements of bonsai made installing them into the existing gardens impractical, and so a unique and original garden was planned by Sam Comer of Hayslip Landscape, with guidance from Master Smith and Jim Van Landingham.