The Buzz

Did you ever notice the 2 trees growing in the terrace next to Hardin Hall? They are Dawn Redwood, Metasequoia glyptotroboides. This plant is a living fossil of sorts. It was first described from fossil material in 1941 and later living plants were discovered growing in Szechwan, China 1948. It was found to be easy to propagate from both cuttings and seed. It is now available in the nursery trade worldwide.  Read More

Have you noticed the very large gray fish in the pond in My Big Backyard and in the pond in the Butterfly Garden?  They are Grass Carp - an Asian species that is utilized to eat algae and help control unwanted vegetation in ponds and other bodies of water. We like to use them here at the Memphis Botanic Garden because they are vegetarian and therefore they pose no threat to smaller fish.  Also, some of you may be familiar with other carp species that have escaped into the... Read More