If I were visiting the San Diego Zoo, an ideal morning would go something like this:

After entering the Zoo right at opening, go directly to the left of the flamingos to the coffee cart. They are now serving organic, shade-grown coffee that is delicious. I am a coffee-with-half-and-half guy, but they also offer the “fufu” drinks so many people love. Now, with a hot java in hand (in a “compostable” cup!), continue just a little way down the path which leads past Flamingo Lagoon into Monkey Trails. Between the flamingos and the coffee cart, there is a magical garden.

The canopy in the area consists of two large Moreton Bay figs Ficus macrophylla. These statuesque specimens are about 70 years old. Many years ago, one of our arborists, Dan Simpson, who is now associate horticulturist, tried out an idea. These trees normally live in a more humid environment and naturally grow “aerial roots” by moisture consistently dripping off of the lateral branches. In this way, the tree puts out new roots which in turn support a broader structure, leading to trees that stretch out for up to an acre. In our dry San Diego climate, these aerial roots don’t tend to develop as easily. So Dan gave the trees a little help. He cut long pieces of timber bamboo Bambusa oldhammii and stuffed them full of sphagnum moss. He then placed these pieces under the scaffold limbs of the Ficus trees where they wanted the tree to grow aerial roots. Then drip emitters were installed along the limbs to trickle into the tubes of bamboo, keeping the moss moist and therefore encouraging the growth of root shoots into the poles. As the roots filled the bamboo poles, they eventually touched ground, thickened, and broke the bamboo open. Voila–aerial roots! Some of these roots are now about two or three feet in diameter.

Now, look under the trees and along the roots and branches. The area is teaming with plant life. Epiphytes cling to the trees everywhere. There is a large mangled old piece of deadfall covered with Cattleya orchids. A month or two ago, mostly white Cattleyas were blooming, and right now yellow ones are starting to burst out.

Above the orchids you will see a large staghorn fern Platycerium suberbum. This is an Australian species and one of the more impressive specimens in the garden. To the right is another of the same species that doesn’t look nearly as nice. However, we moved that one from an area in Reptile Mesa about a year and a half ago where it was just about dead. It is now happy in the north-facing location and pumping out some new fronds. As you glance around in the trees, you will see more species of Platycerium.

Under the trees, we planted dozens of African lilies Clivia miniata about a year ago. These bright orange members of the Amaryllis family grow well in the shade, and are in full bloom now. Tall queen palms Syagrus romanzoffianum grow up into the Ficus trees and small Chamaedorea and Rhapis palms dot the lower understory. On the dining side of the garden, bromeliads abound.

Now that you’ve experienced one of the many delightful gardens in the Zoo, sit down on a bench, finish your coffee, listen to the honking flamingos, check out your map, and plan your route. What a great start!

Mychael McNeeley is a senior gardener at the San Diego Zoo. Read his previous blog, Bog Blog: Winding Down into Winter

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