Hortus Botanicus Leiden, second part: the Gardens

This post is the continuation of Hortus Botanicus Leiden first part: the Winter Garden, here the visit continues exploring mainly the grounds of the complex.  The Hortus is located in the historic cneter of Leiden and as part of the University of Leiden, one of the most important mission is research and the garden houses more than ten thousand specimens organized in different collections.

The different building were designed to accomodate collections and offer a place for scientists to study, develop and preserve the living collections house in the garden.  The scientific community working in the botanical garden and collaborators from other departments at the University of Leiden, dedicate time an efforst to work in cooperation with other institutions in the identification and preservation of endangered species.

This botanical garden was the one to first cultivate tulips in The Netherlands.  Clusius introduced the first bulbs in late XVI century, which led later to the  the Tulip mania, what was to become almost an obsession for the Dutch people, and source of many successful business.

The visit was in early January, whe it is generally possible to enjoy the winter seasonal planting.  But  this winter being particularly mild in Europe, until the third week of January when a polar wave has been beating almost all records of low temperatures in many countries, the botanical looked more like in fall season than in usual Dutch cold winter.  Neverthless, the nakeness of many not perennial plants helped to discover the design of the different sections of the gardens, which can be appreciated in the images illustrating the post. 

The images here are offering general views and details of plants, trees and garden's sections.
General plan of the garden,


Entrance by the canal, wih the WInter Garden in the background,


Mixed of winter plants, among some helleborus at the entrace as a welcome to visitors


Outdoors welcome area with seats and decorated with aromatiques and herbs,


The laburnum anagyroides is to believed being planted in this same spot in 1601, adorned here with helleborus,


A view from the Winter Garden of the Clusius Garden, with medicinal plants and herbs,


The Victoria greenhouse on the left in the image, houses tropical plants,


 The Oragenry has a large collection of sub-tropical plants that are housed inside from October until April, and them relocated outside weather permitting,



 Small greenhouses are set in between sections,


Some parterres for the bulbs collections, some crocus were starting to bloom, 


A view to the Herbs Garden,




 The Fern Garden, with a ornamental pond  and bridges offer seats to enjoy the view, 


 The first snowdrops in early January!


The observatory in the background,


Helleborus and cornus,



The systematic garden is planted in a area that runs parallel to the street outside the garden, here there are beds with plants arranged as C. Linnaeus's botanical taxonomy,


Panels offer descriptions of every planting,


  An cozy area for warmer weather,


These signals were spread over all the agrden showing the route of the visit (also explained in brochures from the reception desk), they were discret in size and did not disturb too much the aesthetic of the gardens,





One of the interesting areas  and very visited, is the Japanese Garden or the Von Siebold Garden, German physician, researcher and collector, who spent many years in Japan.  After retourning to Europe and troubled times, he settled in Leiden with most part of his collections that were teh beginnings of several museums and research departments.  He introduced many plants to Europe, among them the hosta, the hydrangea or the wisteria,


Statue of Von Siebold with hydrangeas,


The Japanese pavillion in the Siebold Garden,


 General view of the Rosarium, or Rose Garden,



Ornamentals by a pond,

Here, I am taking some images trying to capture the bare beauty of the Laburnum at the entrance in frontt of the Clusius Garden,


The entrace/exit from the side of the Academy Building of the University of Leiden,



Comments

Shyrlene said…
Lula - I put a web link of your photo (including your website) of helleborus to the website: Pinterest.com. Avid gardeners (among others) are inspired by excellence. I wanted them to find your blog and your breath-taking photography. Here is the link: http://pinterest.com/shyrlenef/garden-inspiration/

(Many commercial and blog sites are linked on the Pinterest website.)
lula said…
Shyrlene, left a comment in your blog. Thank you so mucho for your comment and linking in pinterest. it encourages me to continue working harder in blogging!
This garden is so scenic. Even the surrounding town looks gorgeous---what a setting. Fun to see it in winter too.
Very nice! Thanks for sharing the tour! I love the shots of the Hellebores and the Snowdrops!
lula said…
Carolyn, I didi enjoy photographing the botanical, and most interesting is the connection with the city, is as if there are not barriers between them. I learned about friends who lived right across the gardens during the university years. That must be really an experience!
lula said…
Liz, thank you I found beauty despite the bleak winter.
Miranda Bell said…
Wow - am so pleased to have found your blog thanks to you picking a posting of mine on Blotanical! I've never been to Belgium but this garden looks well worth a visit if ever I do - great photos too - particularly like the close up of the snow drops with the variegated leaf of the Arum behind - lovely! Hope you won't mind me adding you to my blog listing now... have a good week Miranda
lula said…
Thank you so much Miranda for your words, I enjoyed very much your posts and will be an avid reader of what is going on in your area.
lula said…
Jill, you are very kind and I am looking forward to reading more of the stories from you new "home"
This is a lovely place, full of garden rooms. What I like most is that the garden looks so beautiful even in winter. You have featured it well.
Donna@GWGT said…
Wow, what a great site and gardens. Thanks for part two. The whole area is so scenic and lovely.
Anonymous said…
Lula, This looks like a wonderful place to visit. I enjoyed seeing the likeness of the man for whom Hosta sieboliana is named. -Jean