Monday 16 February 2015

Giant Dutchman's Pipe

Well the new year has kicked off to a fantastic start for us and our figures from 2014 show an increase of more than 20% in our visitor numbers! We want to thank everyone for your support over the past 30 years and for continuing to support us over the years. There is lots to look forward to in 2015 with new enclosures, new birds and more improvements coming to the park.

One feature which is slowly coming back to the park is the original Giant Dutchman's Pipe (Aristolochia gigantea) which used to grow in an awesome covering by our main entrance. The original structure broke in 2003 and we managed to save one of the original stems. After years of nurturing we planted it again in 2012 and at the end of 2014 it produced its first flowers. The flowers take about 2 weeks to develop and then only last a day or two once opened. The vine has now produced a wealth of flowers with more opening every day. They are huge, measuring more than 30cm and almost as wide! Make a point to come down to the park this weekend and get a glimpse at this incredible plant. We have made some more cuttings from the original stem and these are being nurtured and will be planted in the park over the next few months. We hope over the next year to have the whole of the main entrance pathway to the park once again covered by this majestic vine and bring back one of the original attractions of the park.



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