The Holbrook Explorer
Gardens
Celebrating Gardens: Go Public Gardens Days!
Celebrating gardens nationwide and beyond! May 10 is National Public Gardens Day, which also kicks off this year's Go Public Gardens Days! This celebration of public gardens runs through May 19 and is designed to encourage people to visit, value, and volunteer at public gardens in their area and...
Gardens Tours as Versatile as the Plant Kingdom
Plants are at the center of most of the Earth's ecosystems, so wherever there are plants, there is biodiverse life and inexhaustible beauty. Admiring a country’s vegetation can help you learn about rich cultural and natural history in contexts that don’t involve being inside a museum or reading an...
5 Unexpected Botanical Garden Benefits
The colorful blooms…the rustle of wind through the branches …the sweet fragrance in the air… If you’re feeling restless and eager for a change of scenery, consider an outing to your local public garden. Wide open spaces, plenty of walking trails, fresh air, and a tranquil atmosphere make them an...
Little-known Facts About Orchids
Rich in bold, tropical colors and elegant blooms, orchids easily fascinate people with their dazzling appearance, but there is more to the dainty plant than meets the eye. Here are five fun facts about orchids you may not have known. 1. Orchids can be found all over the world—and lots of them....
Environmentally Friendly Projects for a "Greener" Backyard
If you’re looking for a fun and ecofriendly project to try at home, look no further than your own backyard. Whether you have a sizeable garden, a modest patio or balcony, or even an urban apartment, there are lots of ways you can help wildlife, conserve resources, and give new life to old items....
National Public Gardens Day
Celebrating gardens nationwide and beyond! The tenth National Public Gardens Day is fast approaching, and garden lovers across the country will be celebrating, on Friday, May 11th. What is National Public Gardens Day? National Public Gardens Day was created in 2009, by the American Public Gardens...
Staff Report: Visiting Florida's Botanical Gardens
Members of the Holbrook team recently visited several gardens in our home state of Florida, where they met with garden staff, learned about the gardens’ projects and collections, and saw firsthand the progress of recovery efforts following Hurricane Irma. President Andrea Holbrook and Director of...
The unique flora of South Africa's Cape Region
Guest post by Philip Rundel, UCLA Botanical Garden Director Botanists and plant collectors going back more than a century have given almost reverent recognition to the unique and spectacular flora of the Cape Region of South Africa. Aloe succotrina on Table Mountain Photo by Abu Shawka Not only is...
What is a Master Gardener?
Despite an ever-advancing society, interest in horticulture and gardening remains steadfast. With the rise of the industrial revolution, people abandoned their rural lifestyles and headed for urban cities. Quickly, life on the farm became rough going and as a result agriculture suffered, food...
Trip report: Miami Gardens and the APGA Conference
Holbrook Travel's garden tours director and specialty travel consultant Sandy Schmidt recently returned from the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) annual conference, held this year in Miami, where she met with professionals from botanical gardens and arboretums, attended lectures, and...
Ecuador & Galápagos International Garden Tour | Inspiration for Garden Lovers
Next up on our list of inspiring trips to Ecuador is an amazing 18 day garden tour! Ecuador & Galápagos International Garden Tour: Ecuador is home to an amazing array of ecosystems, indigenous people, and the famous Galápagos Islands. This exciting garden tour gives you a taste of the Andes...
Exploring the world's gardens: Royal Botanic Gardens
Photo by Kaitlyn Jameson As the oldest botanic garden and scientific institution in Australia, the Royal Botanic Gardens in Melbourne opened in 1846 and has almost 100 acres with over 50,000 plant species (some of which are very rare or threatened). Rainforest flora, Californian species, and...