Comments on: Meet Our Staff: Gardener Mike Masterson

By: Beth

Beth — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:16:08 +0000

Yesterday we went to the zoo with company from out of town and had a wonderful time. We are members and really appreciate having such a wonderful place to visit. I spend a lot of time admiring all of the plants along the trails. Couldn’t believer all the trees in bloom. Absolutely beautiful!
I did notice that some of the bamboo looked like it had some type of infestation. I am not sure, but the bamboo looked like ‘golden goddess’. Many of the nodes looked blackened, or sooty, and the leaves on the branches looked like they were browning and falling off. Could you please tell me what insect, or fungal infection is causing this?
Thank you,
Beth

By: Mychael McNeeley

Mychael McNeeley — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 18:57:56 +0000

Dear Dorothy (#4),

Glad you enjoyed the plants so much at the Zoo!

The weeping conifer at the Oriental Garden near the falls is a Kashmir cypress (Cupressus cashmeriana). There are also several weeping junipers (Juniperus scopolorum).

I’m guessing the flowering purple trees are purple leaf plums (Prunus cerasifera ‘Atropurpurea’. If you meant purple flowers (as opposed to purple leaves), there are many species around the Zoo. The tree in the Oriental Garden between the large pond and the waterfall with pink trumpet flowers is a Tabebuia impetiginosa.

If you’re at the Zoo again and have plant questions, please feel free to ask anyone with a radio to call Horticulture and if anyone is available, we would be happy to answer your questions.

Take care,

Mychael

By: Mychael McNeeley

Mychael McNeeley — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:56:55 +0000

Rick,

I apologize for taking so long to respond.

I’ve done a little research myself and asked around. That plant is one we don’t have a certain ID for, although I tend to think it is a Callistemon, due to the fact that the stamens appear to be “free,” i.e. they enter the flower tube separately. Melaleuca stamens tend to unite before they enter the flower tube. I wish I could tell you for sure, and I will continue to look into it, but for now I wanted to at least get back to you.

It is a lovely plant. Thanks for your interest.

Mychael

By: Rick Crippen

Rick Crippen — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 04:39:47 +0000

I have been searching the internet and I may have found it. Rather than a callistemon it may be the Melaleuca lateritia.

Please let me know what you think and any suggestions where they can be purchased in So. Calif.

Thanks!

By: Rick Crippen

Rick Crippen — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 22:39:54 +0000

I am like you in that I like the plants I don’t recognize. I was at the zoo, Tuesday, June 30. There is an orange colored flower bottlebrush tree. It is about 100 yards(?) north of the park entrance along the sidewalk. I would very much like to know what it is. My best guess is a Callistemon pinefolius but that is only from searches on the internet. I have never seen that color anywhere else in person. Pinefolius flowers apparently come in lime green or orange but they don’t look as pure an orange as the one you have at the zoo.

Also — where could I find one? Does the zoo sell plants like the arboretums do?

Thanks, RC

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 01:23:10 +0000

Hello,

We have a 40-50 year old tree furn that has out grown our courtyard flowerbed and is beginning to lean rather heavily from the roots and soft soil. Is there a place it may be donated? I hate to see the poor thing die. Thank you for any suggestions.

By: Amanda

Amanda — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 17:08:44 +0000

Hello,
We visited the Wild Animal Park last week and, at the exit gate there was THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, fragrant, ginormous, honeysuckle-like flowers and vines all over the exit gate. What is this please??? I have googled and googled but no luck yet! It wasn’t listed on the Park’s plant list that I could find.

Thank you so much!

Moderator’s Note: That’s a thriving Pyrostegia venusta, or flame vine.

By: Dorothy M. Simon

Dorothy M. Simon — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 17:47:50 +0000

Dear Mr. Masterson: My husband and I were visiting your zoo in April and we have never seen so many beautiful plants and trees. Is there a web site I could get on to find out the names? By your koi pond, there are a couple of weeping trees that I have been trying to find. I didn’t think to ask anyone when we were there. There is also a flowering purple tree. There are so many on my list and pictures.

I would appreciate any information you can give me. We are from Sacramento and would love to plant some of the same trees and plants.

Thank you, Dorothy M. Simon

Moderator’s note: We’re glad to hear you enjoyed our beautiful garden! Please visit our plant section at http://www.sandiegozoo.org/CF/plants/index.cfm
From here you can search for species in bloom, by name, by garden area, and much more.

By: shannon

shannon — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:18:47 +0000

Hi, I’m seeing that Mychael is answering questions regarding plant identification… I have one–a question, that is… There are 2 awesome trees over across from the lagoon (under the walkway where the harpie eagle and other various large birds of prey are kept). They have a beautiful bloom, and then develop some sort of green apricot looking fruit on them that falls to the ground unharvested… Are those almond trees? Exactly what kind are they? Does anyone know? I’d really appreciate being able to find this out! Thanks so much!

Mychael responds:
Hi, Shannon,
Those are peach trees. They are most likely from seeds that dropped years ago from the bridge and don’t produce good fruit. I do agree, they are beautiful when they are in bloom!

By: Shirley Sykes

Shirley Sykes — Tue, 06 Jan 2009 02:12:39 +0000

A nice blog, Mike. (Sorry I haven’t responded sooner.) The cycad collections are marvelous, as are the aloes, palms, caudiciforms and, well, all of them!! I’m not alone in being thrilled that the Madagascar Garden is being preserved as part of the new Elephant Odyssey. And this morning I was delighted to see that the ancient cactus near the north end of the construction zone is apparently full of blooms. Sure wish we all could get up closer to see it! I do so appreciate all the hard work you and your fellow horticulturists do to keep our zoo so very special!