The first half of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s Fall Flower Show is stepping into the drama and folklore of magical plants, showcasing some unexpected choices alongside the show’s traditional mums. In the seasonal lead-up to Halloween, horticulturist Rylee Werden is taking her design inspiration from a mix of spooky and poisonous plants, medicinal herbs, and a little bit of moonglow.
“It’s a bit of a witch’s garden,” she says. “But the witchcraft concept is also highlighting the usefulness of a lot of these plants, and the ritual or medicinal resources they provide, beyond just the aesthetics.”
One area of the display features poisonous plants, like datura, or jimsonweed, and castor bean, which is used to make the powerful toxin, ricin. Another area reveals a moon garden, planted with white blooms and foliage that stand out at dusk and after dark. While it’s a natural theme for creating a Halloween vibe, Werden says the garden style is also good for the environment: “Moon gardens attract nighttime pollinators like moths.” She’s also shaping plantings into subtle moon phases, outlined with darker flowers that have tiny white or yellow centers, to create the effect of a starry night sky.
The most interactive space will be the kitchen witch’s garden, an aromatic herb plot meant to engage all the senses. “I’ve got parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, coriander, peppermint, lemon balm, and lavender and basil as well,” she says, adding that she hopes visitors will lean in for a little aromatherapy.
The first half of the Fall Flower Show runs September 18 to October 18 only. Following a show change, part two of the Fall Flower Show will begin October 23, pairing traditional chrysanthemums with bonsai mums, Japanese maples, and Japanese Hakone grass. All of the Marjorie McNeely Conservatory’s five seasonal flower shows are free to the public, thanks to contributions from Como Friends supporters like you. Thank you!
