Dr. Lew Feldman, Garden Director In this edition of IGYA we will consider bark, which is the outermost layer of trees, woody shrubs and vines, and which can be thought of as the “skin” of a woody plant. Bark is essential for a tree’s survival. Bark has an important role in protecting the plant from…
Dr. Lew Feldman, Garden Director One of the questions that students frequently ask me is what is the difference between “hard” and “soft” woods. The answer, however, is not straightforward because the terms hardwood and softwood do not necessarily relate to the density or hardness of the wood itself. Rather, the wood type depends on…
James Fong, Horticulturist | Asia, Australasia As you take a stroll into the Australasia collection this time of year, you may notice the giant tree ferns or the magnificent rimu, but dive deeper into the collection, and you will find the vibrant, glowing, cone-like structures sitting in the trees and shrubs like ornaments on a…