Submitted by gsparrow on
Connor Smith

Having changed the windy hills of Edinburgh, Scotland, for the winding canals of Utrecht, the Netherlands, I am quickly adjusting to the new conditions at Utrecht Botanic Gardens. You may not be as familiar with the garden as others in Europe, despite it being one of the largest rock gardens in Europe at 2 hectares (almost 5 acres). I can assure you it is a treasure trove of rock gardening pleasures.

Images from the construction of the rock garden. Photo courtesy of Utrecht Botanic Gardens.
Images from the construction of the rock garden. Photos courtesy of Utrecht Botanic Gardens.
The current ‘Living Walls’ by the Alpine Glasshouse, made from recycled concrete.
The urbanite spheres. Photo provided by Utrecht Botanic Garden
The spheres, summer 2020. I am hoping to redo and replant them soon
The old cultivar beds
Cultivar beds being removed and expanded southern hemisphere beds being constructed.
Cultivar beds being removed and expanded southern hemisphere beds being constructed.
Cultivar beds being removed and expanded southern hemisphere beds being constructed.
Entrace to the North American garden
The Opuntia in the North American garden is of great interest to visitors who are impressed that this can survive the Dutch weather. The hot red of Penstemon pinifolius creeps into the picture, complementing the carpet of Eriogonum umbellatum on the other side.
A pine hangs over moisture-loving Primula in the Asian garden
Teucrium, Digitalis and Veronica help the great plumes of Aruncus to show off in the European garden.
Peat beds, left upper side, rebuilt winter and spring of 2020-2021 .
Stinzenplanten growing on a slope with Corylus as the overstory. Photo provided by Utrecht Botanic Gardens.
The rebuilt alpine glasshouse