Green thumbs putting their own gardens to bed for the year can still get a dose of the growing season by checking out Como’s GardenCam to watch the installation of the Fall Flower Show.
In advance of Friday’s opening, the public can see staff and volunteers transport and install plants and other touches in the Sunken Garden at Como Park’s Marjorie McNeely Conservatory. It’s been quite the process, with flatbed carts and ladders and lots of sweating in the recent extreme heat.
“We did a post on our social about the end of the Summer Flower Show,” said Horticulture Supervisor Ariel Dressler on Wednesday. “It had grown lush and full and tropical — it was hard to imagine starting over with a clean slate, but we did a post on Monday morning and sure enough, we removed everything from the room (except the Cypress trees), topped the beds with fresh potting soil, and it looked very empty and vacant for the new design.”
Dressler said they started planting for the fall show Tuesday and were nearly finished Wednesday.
“We’ll put finishing touches on it Thursday, in time for the first wedding in the Sunken Garden on Thursday night,” Dressler said. “It’s a pretty tight turnaround, just four days.”
On Wednesday, the cam — which started up as an option during the pandemic — showed gardeners wearing hats, gloves and summery shorts and T-shirts as they planted garden beds and climbed ladders under the glass sky of the conservatory. (Note: With the recent hot temperatures, the conservatory’s camera sometimes shuts off, so check back often as staff work through the issue of technology overheating).
During the show, online visitors can people-watch as well as watch the blooming 24 hours a day at Comozooconservatory.org/mmc-sunken-garden-live/.
A 110-year tradition
The annual Fall Flower Show has been a tradition since the conservatory opened in 1915. Currently, the conservatory hosts seven seasonal flower shows.
While the staff works together to brainstorm each show, they take turns serving as lead designer. This fall’s show was designed by horticulturist Rylee Werden and features candy-like pops of color for its debut.
The first half of this Fall Flower Show, through Oct. 19, will feature a colorful palette of orange, pink and purple chrysanthemums, with cheerful accent plants including celosia, marigolds and zinnias.
The second half of the show, from Oct. 24 through Nov. 30, will have a moodier vibe with darker colors and creamy accents. Think chrysanthemums of crimson red, deep purple and pale pink, framed by dark foliage and complemented by pops of cream and light rose from dahlias and other classic fall flowers.
There will be some “unique curiosities” growing around the room as well, the conservatory teased in its announcement.
The curiosities include a unique plant with a spooky flair.
“It’s called ‘Bed of Nails’ and it’s going to be a real treat for people,” Dressler said. “The thorns really do look like nails.”
Fall Flower Show
The conservatory’s flower show, located within Como Park at 1225 Estabrook Drive, will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except for Oct. 20-23, when the Sunken Garden will close for a mid-show change (all other rooms of the conservatory will remain open to the public).
Admission to the Como Park Zoo and Conservatory is always free, although voluntary donations are appreciated.
Get info about sponsoring a garden at comofriends.org/support/sponsorship/garden/ or an animal at https://comofriends.org/support/sponsorship/animal/.
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