Franklin Conservatory Columbus, OH

1. Franklin ConservatoryColumbus, OH 4 January 2009

2. Franklin Conservatory • Set within the 88 acres of Franklin Park, the Conservatory houses 400 species of plants from a variety of global climate zones and features the historic John F. Wolfe Palm House where more than 45 species of palms are represented amongst more than 120 individual specimens. • I had never been to the Conservatory before, but it is quite beautiful. They even have some Chihuly glass. • I look forward to going back and taking more photos. • Some photos turned out better than others and those are what I’ve picked for this slideshow. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

3. Bonsai • There were two walkways with bonsai… • Some were more “interesting” than others – they had a “character” to them. • Some were 100+ years old! • The lighting was a bit shadowed due to it being overcast that day (one side of the walkway has frosted glass, the other is clear). Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

4. Bonsai • Bonsai • Type: • Age: • I like the way this one looks like it is moving against a strong wind. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

5. Bonsai • Bonsai • Type: • Age: • I love pine trees. I like the way this one twists & turns. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

6. Bonsai • Bonsai • Type: Jade Tree • Age: Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

7. North Conservatory • Himalayan Mountains • Rainforest • Desert Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

8. Himalayan Mountains • A cross-section of specimens found in the temperate climate of the mountain range with an elevation between 6,000 and 9,000 feet. • Numerous plant types including conifers, deciduous trees and shrubs, flowering plants, vines, broadleaf evergreens, groundcovers, and shade-loving understory plants. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

9. Himalayan Mountains… • Type: Cyclamen • This was just beautiful…although lit from above, it just glowed when I took the photo (no flash). Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

10. Himalayan Mountains… • Beautiful red berries against these red tinged green leaves. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

11. Rainforest • Tropical rainforests span the globe along the equator and are located on the continents of Asia, Africa and South America. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

12. Rainforest… • I like the colors and textures along with the water on the leaves. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

13. Rainforest… • Type: Bromeliad • Too much sunlight, but it’s still nice  Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

14. Rainforest… • A grouping of very small plants along a walkway. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

15. Rainforest… • Type: Bromeliad • I liked the shapes and color contrast. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

16. Rainforest… • They did this to several chairs…different plants of course, but this one was cool  Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

17. Rainforest… • I like this plant…very thin stalks with these big leaves that look like four layers of leaves. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

18. Desert • Most of my best photos were in the desert area…I think it was due to the lack of humidity in the room. • Deserts are found on every continent and the conservatory’s desert collection includes a wide array of plants that have adapted to the sparse annual rainfall of these arid landscapes. • Up-close look at a large number of cacti, succulents, and landscape plants. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

19. Desert… • Type: Zigzag • I thought this was really cool looking! • Looks to me like something in a wetter climate, not a desert…part of what makes it cool (to me!). Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

20. Desert… • This shot turned out very well…I’m very pleased with it…the colors, shapes, contrasts, and plants. • Note the chair in the bottom left corner covered in cacti. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

21. Desert… • I liked the different colors, shapes, hardness, and softness of the cacti and flowering plants. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

22. Desert… • Type: Mammillaria • I thought this was really cool looking! • The white was so soft and so sharply focused…it almost glowed. • One of my best photos. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

23. Desert… • Types: Agave (front); Mammillaria (back). • I liked the sharpness of the spines on this agave against the soft white of the mammillaria. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

24. Palm House • Palms • 110+ year old Fiddle-leaf Fig • Chihuly Chandelier exhibits • I didn’t really take any photos of the palms or the fig…next time. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

25. Palm House • 43 species of palms from around the world, some of which are considered endangered and threatened in the wild. • Ficus lyrata, or Fiddle-leaf Fig, is one of the original trees planted in the Palm House, thus making it over 110 years old. • Chihuly Chandelier exhibit. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

26. Palm House… • Chihuly Chandelier • I do love the majority of his glass work. I wish the fan hadn’t been in the shot (upper left), but it still looks nice. • At some point I may try to retake the photo on a brighter day. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

27. Palm House… • I liked the lightness of this view…despite the fact that it’s glass, metal, concrete and more glass. • The red poinsettia at the top…just a hint of color. • Also, the various angles and curves of the lines. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

28. Palm House… • I liked the way the plants, on the inside of a building, were growing around the electrical conduits. • Located just right of the stairwell in the previous photo. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

29. South Conservatory • Pacific Island Water Garden Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

30. Pacific Island Water Garden… • Chihuly glasswork. • I had a hard time getting the photos to not be so hazy. I think it had something to do with the humidity. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

31. Pacific Island Water Garden… • I liked the cascade of the bromeliads and other plants…very flowing. • I also liked the curve of the metal railing below the cascade. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

32. Pacific Island Water Garden… • Chihuly Tower • I do love the majority of his glass work. Very organic… • Such a contrast to all the greenery around it -- glass & plants. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

33. Pacific Island Water Garden… • Chihuly spheres • I took so many of these, but there was a haze in the room… • The waterfall and koi were a nice complement. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

34. Pacific Island Water Garden… • Chihuly spheres • Again…I took a lot of these, but there was a haze in the room… • The spheres’ color does compliment the koi. Franklin Conservatory - Ohio

35. I look forward to returning and taking more photos. They change out exhibits several times/year. This one had poinsettias…the next has orchids. Franklin Conservatory The End Raissa Hall 4 January 2009 Franklin Conservatory Franklin Conservatory - Ohio