Hortus Botanicus Leiden is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands! In the 1500s it was first used to grow medicinal plants. The original medicinal garden contained over 1000 different plants in a 35x45 meter space. From the 1600s onward the Hortus began to expand. Tropical plants were added to the collection and a Japanese garden was added as well. Hortus Botanicus finally got its first greenhouse, an orangerie, in the 1700s. It now has 2 glasshouses. The first one a guest will come across is at the entrance. The high glasshouse has multiple plant species ranging from ferns, to cacti, and even a large collection of carnivorous plants. The Victoria Glasshouse, known as the "jewel" of the Hortus' glasshouses, is home to giant waterlilies. October was the perfect month to visit Hortus Botanicus. It is still warm enough that the movable large potted plants are outside and it's beginning to get cold enough that the leaves are changing color. As the weather gets colder, all the potted plants that are outdoors are moved inside, regardless of size. Throughout the images it is easy to see how the Hortus Botanicus is affected by seasonal change. Although the glasshouses help warmer plants stay alive in the winter, the interior temperature is still dependent on exterior temperature. For example, the waterlilies in the Victoria glasshouse usually bloom June-August. Although it is a botanical garden, it is also used for education. In the first image empty plots can be seen. These plots could be empty due to the temperature or because students are experimenting with growth habits of new plants.
To find out more about Hortus Botanicus visit their website: https://www.hortusleiden.nl/en/
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