Greetings From SeaWorld’s Garden of Discovery

March 2002

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What’s Happening in SeaWorld’s Gardens This Month?

Forbidden Reef is a unique and historical part of the park plant collection.  Visitors to this area experience the serenity of a Japanese Garden.  This botanical treasure, formerly known as Japanese Village, was part of the original SeaWorld opened in 1964.  The central Forbidden Reef building is made of hinoki cypress wood and is a replica of the Golden Pavilion in Kyoto Japan.  The stone lanterns and other rock features are also authentic pieces imported from Japan. On the north side of the exhibit a huge Japanese Wisteria vine, Wisteria floribunda, covers the overhead trellis.  This prized specimen is beginning to bloom this month.  In March, the Southern Indica Azaleas in this area also flower.  The Forbidden Reef plantings work in harmony with the surrounding features to create a special garden.  Be sure to visit this unique area soon.

Landscape highlights for Forbidden Reef include a dry stream bed and waterfall area.

Here’s an interesting link to the Japanese Garden Newsletter: 

• http://www.jgarden.org/whats_new.asp

Weather Report

With the first day of spring on March 20^th, SeaWorld San Diego has put our coldest weather behind us.  Average daytime high temperatures are in the mid to upper 60’s with nighttime lows in the mid 50’s.

March can be one of our wettest months of the year providing nourishing rain to the gardens.  The “Miracle March” of 1991 delivered 6.96 inches of much needed rain to San Diego.  Average March rainfall is 1.74 inches.

Rain events, however, average only 6 to 10 days out of the month so there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the mild “pacific northwest” conditions at SeaWorld.

Check out the conditions at our LIVE weather station:

• http://dc1.weatheractive.net/java1/seaworld/

Wildlife Watch

Recent entries from our Wildlife Spotters log include:

Spring Vegetable Gardening

Get those green thumbs out of hibernation!  Spring is the time to plant a backyard vegetable garden.  Start by amending the soil with compost.  "Food for the Food."  If yard space is a problem try growing veggies in pots or hanging baskets.  Hmm, should I plant seeds or go to my favorite nursery and pick out a few pony packs?  Growing from seed can be very rewarding, but requires more attention.  So why not plant some seeds along with a pony pack or two?  Try a fast, easy plant to grow such as radish or spinach.  You can put in a pony pack of tomato seedlings and some onion sets and viola` a salad waiting to eat!

Keep a watchful eye for snails and slugs.  They are just waiting for you to drop off to a nice sound sleep so they can start feasting.  To take care of these uninvited visitors we set out a nice saucer of beer which they devour and sleep happily ever after.  Remember the spring weather can also bring the aphids out in force.  Hose off at first sight, or better yet, plant some Nasturtiums among your veggies to help deter these insects.  A daily inspection helps keep things under control.  Our biggest pest at the Garden of Discovery seems to be the ever-munching employees!  But of course, sampling is an important part of harvesting!

For complete details on what vegetables to plant when and “How To” – visit the UC Davis Vegetable Research and Information Center website:

• www.vric.ucdavis.edu

A great gardening website for kids:

• www.KidsGardening.com

Vegetable planters at the Garden of Discovery
teach kids where their food comes from.

Outreach Update

On February 25^th Stephanie Shigematsu (Director of Landscape), Julio Perez and Jeff Hall (Landscape Supervisors) visited Barnard Elementary School’s 4^th grade, room 11 class to make an interactive presentation about plant ecology and soil structure.  Noreen Metheny’s class can always be counted on to provide an energetic discussion!  Afterward the class went outdoors to sow spring vegetable seeds.  A fun and educational time was had by all (especially Stephanie, Julio and Jeff) and the Garden of Discovery team will be back soon to help pot-up the new seedlings.  Keep on growing Room 11!!!

For information on your customized educational opportunity in the Garden of Discovery contact Jeff Hall or Melanie Repikoff (619) 226-3900 ext. 2207.

E-mail us at SWCLandscape@SeaWorld.com

Visit our SeaWorld Garden Web site.

Garden of Discovery Partners: