2011-38 Volunteer Park Conservatory, Washington
Hello All,
Following our cruise to Alaska we chose to kick back in the Seattle area for a few days to recharge our energy batteries. As the mood hit us we checked out various sites in the local area. Late one afternoon we decided to take a ride through some of Seattle’s parks. One of the parks we drove through was Volunteer Park.
In 1876 the city acquired about 45 acres for $2,000 without specifying a purpose for the property other than for “municipal” use. An ordinance in 1885 defined the purpose as a cemetery but two years later it was changed to “Lake View Park” and the gravesites were ordered removed. By 1893, six acres of timber were cleared and a greenhouse built. In 1901 it was renamed Volunteer Park to honor the volunteers who served in the Spanish-American War. Between 1887 and 1912 the park was improved with paths, lawns, beds of flowers, drives, a high pressure reservoir, lily ponds, music pavilion and a conservatory building. The conservatory was first proposed in 1893, but was not completed until 1912. In 1922 greenhouses were built to grow and propagate plants in support of the conservatory.
It was such a lovely park to drive through, and when we came to the Volunteer Park Conservatory we decided to stop and check it out. Unfortunately, it was 4 pm and it closed at 4:30 pm so we were rather limited on time for seeing what they had to offer.
Wow, were we blown away with the flowers and plants they had on display. Some were familiar to us, while others we had never seen before. It was exciting! There is no color pallet better than that of Mother Nature.
Following our cruise to Alaska we chose to kick back in the Seattle area for a few days to recharge our energy batteries. As the mood hit us we checked out various sites in the local area. Late one afternoon we decided to take a ride through some of Seattle’s parks. One of the parks we drove through was Volunteer Park.
In 1876 the city acquired about 45 acres for $2,000 without specifying a purpose for the property other than for “municipal” use. An ordinance in 1885 defined the purpose as a cemetery but two years later it was changed to “Lake View Park” and the gravesites were ordered removed. By 1893, six acres of timber were cleared and a greenhouse built. In 1901 it was renamed Volunteer Park to honor the volunteers who served in the Spanish-American War. Between 1887 and 1912 the park was improved with paths, lawns, beds of flowers, drives, a high pressure reservoir, lily ponds, music pavilion and a conservatory building. The conservatory was first proposed in 1893, but was not completed until 1912. In 1922 greenhouses were built to grow and propagate plants in support of the conservatory.
It was such a lovely park to drive through, and when we came to the Volunteer Park Conservatory we decided to stop and check it out. Unfortunately, it was 4 pm and it closed at 4:30 pm so we were rather limited on time for seeing what they had to offer.
Wow, were we blown away with the flowers and plants they had on display. Some were familiar to us, while others we had never seen before. It was exciting! There is no color pallet better than that of Mother Nature.
Flowering plants from all
areas of the world were on display. It was truly awesome seeing those exhibited.
Here are a few of the more
unusual flowering plants we came across.
They have an outstanding
orchid collection of over 600 varieties. The collection began as a gift from
Anna H. Clise in 1921 and has continued to expand over the years.
We found it interesting to
learn that the conservatory is a registered US Fish & Wildlife Department
repository for confiscated plants seized from attempted illegal import
activities. Restricted plants such as orchids, cacti and cycads are received
from USFW agents, kept in quarantine for 30 days, then must remain in the conservatory
collection thereafter. They may not be sold--only traded to other botanical
gardens and used for propagation.
There were so many unusual
color patterns.
There were lots of cacti being
exhibited. We found this one with reddish colored thorns to be quite unique.
Ponds were full of Koi and we
just can’t pass a water lily without snapping a photo or two.
Without a doubt we thoroughly
enjoyed our 30-minute visit to Volunteer Park Conservatory. It will be on our
list of places to visit again someday.
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns
Until next time,
Dave & Barb
The Traveling Browns