Hi, folks! I went to USF Botanical Gardens today so I'm here to torment...er...delight your senses with a bevy of bromeliads! I added as many as I could to the database, but not all had name tags. Or they did, but I didn't have gloves on and wasn't feeling brave. Sometimes I think I should bring gloves and then I wonder if that would make me look suspicious?
Now, the main bromeliad garden is literally at the front of the garden. They built it in between the little turnaround the cars use to go in and out. So I generally start there first. But it's my favorite part of the gardens so I'm glad it's up front. I like butterflies, but their butterfly garden could use some sprucing up. And I already volunteer at MOSI so USF can't have me!
Really showing off right now are the Aechmea blanchetiana. We'll see some more later in the tour, but these are the ones up front.
NOID
Billbergia saundersii
NOID, but I feel like I've seen this one before and know it. Just can't think of it.
Quesnelia testudo
Aechmea hybrid
NOID, but I'd say this is an Aechmea. Looks kind of like 'Little Harv' which we'll see later.
Neoregelia pauciflora
NOID, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE
Nidularium fulgens
NOID
Variegated Red Pineapple (Ananas bracteatus)
Here's a few more that lacked tags.
Aechmea aripoensis 'Raspberry'. Had to get this one added to the database because we didn't have it and it's AWESOME!
Okay, now I'm over by the fence that borders the road that runs parallel to the front of the garden. Nearly all the bromeliads in the garden are planted in light shade because Florida sun is not like other sun.
Billbergia brasiliensis
Some Vriesea hybrids
Some more Aechmea blanchetiana. These used to be more reddish orange. I think they're getting more shade than they used to. I'll have to look up next time and see what trees are growing.
Aechmea 'Little Harv' This is really common around here. You can buy it at almost every USF sale.
NOID, but doesn't it look like one I posted earlier? They have some duplicates around the garden. They also sell some in the plant shop as they separate the pups.
Billbergia 'Casa Blanca'
Billbergia 'Fascinator'
Billbergia 'Hallelujah' Another one you can find at pretty much every USF plant sale. It must pup a lot.
Aechmea weilbachii Wait, isn't this the one I've posted twice now? I think I just figured out some NOID plants!
Bromeliads on fences, on trees. We just put 'em wherever.
No tags, but these are Aechmea mexicana that have been there forever. Look how big they get!
And they have another one (well, two) on the other side of the tree. And they're both blooming!
As I mentioned, they usually have some bromeliads for sale in the plant shop, but the real time to buy is when the Bromeliad clubs sell during the spring and fall plant festivals. But I did find this nice mounted Tillandsia stretophylla (red form). You can see it bloomed, but it has a pup on top. It was $15 and I got 10% off because I'm a member.
Hope you enjoyed the tour and it brightened up the cold winter day!
