The Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is an impressive 500-acre botanical garden located in the Chonburi Province of Thailand. The gardens actually cover only 500 of 600 acres originally purchased in 1954. Originally, the land was purchased with the intention of developing a fruit plantation, but it was dedicated to wildlife conservation instead with the planting of a wide range of tropical flowers and other plants. Looking to this and other botanical gardens of the world may serve as an inspiration for your own landscape at home, so read on to discover more of the details of the Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden.

Showcasing Asian landscape

The gardens are a beautiful display of Southeast Asian landscape featuring a number of cacti, cycads, palms, succulents, and zingiberales. These plants are showcased to the public year-round, as they have been since 1980 when the botanical gardens opened. The gardens are somewhat off the beaten path, though they are accessible via bus or taxi.

Promoting scientific research

Much of the botanical gardens are focused on cycads, which are an endangered and ancient plant group. Nong Nooch features a comprehensive cycad gene bank that facilitates scientific research related to the taxonomy and horticulture of these unique species. While the primary focus is on Tropical American and Central African cycad species, the gardens’ collection of cycads represents almost every species in the world.

Garden divisions

There are several distinct areas of Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden. Among these divisions are the French Garden, Stonehenge Garden, Cactus & Succulent Garden, European Garden, and Ant Tower.

As you think about the gardens that will inspire your residential landscape in sunny Tucson, AZ, connect with Santa Rita Landscaping by calling at (520) 623-0421. Our team can help you create your custom vision, bringing decades of experience in residential landscape design.

The Botanical Garden of Curitiba is named for the city where it is located, which is also the largest city in southern Brazil. The garden is a major tourist attraction, though it is a relatively young botanical garden having only been opened in 1991. The Botanical Garden of Curitiba covers about 787 square feet, and it features a botanic museum that attracts researchers from all corners of the world. Below you can get a closer look at the elements of this distinctive Brazilian garden.

French garden style

The Botanical Garden of Curitiba showcases the French garden style, which relies heavily on symmetrical geometrical design. The French style is often regarded as a more formal style of landscape, creating a distinguished look in the impressive botanical gardens.

Iconic greenhouse

Perhaps the most notable feature of Curitiba’s trademark garden is its principal greenhouse. This metallic structure is in the art nouveau style, modeled after the 19th century Crystal Palace in London. It houses a wide array of tropical plants with a carpet of flowers welcoming visitors at the entrance.

Tropical plant species

Along with an abundance of native flora, the garden and greenhouse feature a wide range of specimens of tropical plant species from other regions around the world. The garden is also home to one of the largest herbariums in the nation and a native forest surrounding the greenhouse.

Water features

There are many waterfalls, lakes, fountains, and ponds among the natural foliage of the garden. In the pond, which is located in close vicinity to the greenhouse, local wildlife such as carp, herons, and turtles gather.

In discovering the beauty of the world’s most famed botanical gardens, you may find ideas and inspiration for your own garden at home. As you collect ideas for your unique custom landscape, call Santa Rita Landscaping in Tucson at (520) 623-0421.

When you are working to landscape your Tucson yard, you might be exploring plants that will have low watering needs and a high resistance to heat and sunlight. Cacti and succulents will thrive in the climate of the desert, because many of these plants are native to the local landscape, making them ideal choices for any Tucson home. Below you can see some of the most iconic of these plants that might be found naturally right in your backyard.

Saguaro cactus

The saguaro is the crowning jewel of the Sonoran Desert, native only to a few parts of North America—including the Tucson region. These cacti may grow up to 70 feet tall, and they live for hundreds of years. Saguaros are also protected by Arizona law, and special permits must be obtained prior to moving them to or from your property.

Yucca

There are many yucca plants that grow throughout the world, and about 10 are native to the Sonoran Desert. These flowering trees and shrubs are closely related to the agave genus, and they bear leaves in a similar rosette pattern.

Fishhook barrel cactus

Barrel cacti are some of the most commonly featured in Tucson landscapes, offering a splash of color with yellow cactus fruit on the top. One potential problem that can arise, however, is that barrel cacti may become uprooted as they begin to lean to one direction in the later stages of their life cycle.

Old man cactus

The old man cactus is a unique plant that gets its name from the hairy covering it dons early in its life. Like spines seen on many other types of cacti, the hair is a protective covering on the old man cactus. After about 10-20 years of life, this cactus will lose some of its covering and begin to grow flowers of red, yellow, and white.

As you consider your Tucson landscape design, contact Santa Rita Landscaping at (520) 623-0421. Our residential landscape services can help you transform your yard while utilizing local resources and embracing the beauty that the desert has to offer.

Trying to maintain a lush, green lawn in Tucson may not be impossible, but it is an impractical chore with heavy water usage involved. If you are looking for a more desert-friendly solution to eliminate the need for grass in your lawn, you might explore these alternatives that can cut down your water bill and offer great aesthetics for your home’s exterior.

Hardscaping

Expanding your patio can be a great solution for reducing the water needs of your landscape while adding more usable outdoor space to your home. Whether you choose to add a paved patio, fire pit, or built-in seating area, you can have a great outdoor space with minimal upkeep.

Rock gardens

Gravel is a popular solution for the southwest lawn, since it is affordable and readily available. You might add more visual intrigue to a gravel lawn with larger boulders or river rocks that can break up the space and serve as borders around the area.

Cactus gardens

When you want to find a landscaping solution that is fit for the desert, cacti can let you explore a wide range of colors and shapes that will not require much water or maintenance. A cactus garden might beautifully frame a front walkway or provide a unique landscape tucked away in the corner of a larger yard.

Herbal Gardens

Maintaining an herb garden at home can let you always have the right ingredients on hand for your kitchen, and it can be a water-saving method of landscaping when you choose the right herbs. Rosemary, for example, is a hearty herb that will stand up to warmer weather and dry climates.

Santa Rita Landscaping can help you create a greener design for your Tucson home with custom residential landscape design and installation. To learn more about our philosophy and vision, give us a call at (520) 623-0421.

Botanical gardens are major tourist attractions around the world, but the Royal Botanic Gardens of Sydney are perhaps some of the most visited on the planet. Along with an inspirational landscape, these gardens boast year-round access free of charge. The gardens are located along the impressive Sydney Harbour adjacent to the iconic Sydney Opera House, and they span about 74 acres.

Garden History

The Royal Botanic Gardens is the oldest scientific institution in Australia, which began as a center for acclimating plants from other regions to the relatively infertile soil. Since 1816, the gardens have remained integral to botany research, though most of the gardens seen today were not developed until the period of 1848-1896 under the direction of Charles Moore.

Exceptional Features

One of the most iconic elements of the Royal Botanic Gardens is a hand-hewn sandstone wall that separates the garden from the harbor. Inside the gardens, there is an Oriental Garden, Begonia Garden, Rose Garden & Pavilion, Succulent Garden, and Rare & Threatened Plant Garden. These features are separated among the Lower Gardens, Middle Gardens, and Palace Gardens, which all boast very distinct scenery and garden surroundings.

Destructive Species

For a period of several decades, trees within the garden were threatened by a large species of fruit bat called flying foxes. These bats caused significant damage by killing dozens of trees in Palm Grove Center. Fortunately, eviction plans implemented in 2013 have been successful in relocating the colony of bats, thus restoring some of the damaged trees.
The amazing gardens of the world can inspire your own landscape at home when you work with the local experts at Santa Rita Landscaping in Tucson. We have been serving the southern Arizona community for decades with landscape planning and commercial landscape maintenance, so give us a call at 520-623-0421 or visit our website to get a look at some of our previous work.