The Victoria Waterplatters are in the heated pool in front of Tropical Encounters. They are looking small at the moment but by the end of the summer, some of the leaves can reach five and a half feet in diameter! The spread of an individual plant can be up to 20 feet! The water temperature in the heated side is held above 80 degrees as these plants are native to the Amazon River.

The pool on the other side of the sidewalk is unheated and is being filled with marginal plants–plants that can tolerate moist to wet growing conditions.

Horticulture staff planted Bertha, the big butterfly form, on Monday in the high temperatures!

A sketch was used to help with plant placement. The same tool used for this planting is also used in the Gates Ajar planting.
Horticulture staff and a dedicated volunteer finished the planting in one day. The ground bed plantings will start next week so that they will look fabulous for the opening of the Blooming Butterflies exhibit on June 18th!
Planting at the Gates Ajar still had a way to go earlier this week!

The symbols represent faith, hope and charity. The Gates have been planted in this location for more than 80 years.
The interns have been working daily to get this planting completed by this weekend!
The plantings on the structure have been completed this week! Now the ground bed plantings need to be finished and then Gates Ajar will be ready for the season!
Come and visit all the beautiful plantings in Como Park!!