After we arrived in Belfast and had late lunch that included chips (French fries) with vinegar, we headed to Botanic Gardens that were on our way home. Botanic Garden is home to the Palm House and the Tropical Ravine. The Palm House is one of the earliest examples of a glasshouse made from curved iron and glass. The gardens were established in 1828, and they have been visited by people in Belfast since 1895. This building was designed by Sir Charles Lanyon who also helped design some parts of Queen's University. Its construction was initiated by the Belfast Botanical and Horticultural Society in the 1830s. The foundation stone was laid in 1839, and the two wings were completed in 1840 by ironmaster, Richard Turner. The dome was added in 1852.
The Tropical Ravine contains some of the oldest seed plants around today, as well as banana, cinnamon, bromeliad and orchid plants. I was able to see the lemons and bananas hanging from the trees! One interesting plant I saw was Cheese plant. Its leaves have holes in them so it looks just like Swiss cheese. Tropical Ravine was built in 1889 by the park's head gardener, Charles McKimm, and his staff. Unfortunately for the Society, the gardens were expensive to run, so the site was eventually sold to the Belfast Corporation, now known as the Belfast City Council. It re-opened as a public park in 1895.
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/leisure/parks-openspaces/Park-6614.aspx http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Belfast-Botanic-Gardens-and-Palm-House-Belfast-P2787
The Tropical Ravine contains some of the oldest seed plants around today, as well as banana, cinnamon, bromeliad and orchid plants. I was able to see the lemons and bananas hanging from the trees! One interesting plant I saw was Cheese plant. Its leaves have holes in them so it looks just like Swiss cheese. Tropical Ravine was built in 1889 by the park's head gardener, Charles McKimm, and his staff. Unfortunately for the Society, the gardens were expensive to run, so the site was eventually sold to the Belfast Corporation, now known as the Belfast City Council. It re-opened as a public park in 1895.
http://www.belfastcity.gov.uk/leisure/parks-openspaces/Park-6614.aspx http://www.discovernorthernireland.com/Belfast-Botanic-Gardens-and-Palm-House-Belfast-P2787