Riverbanks Botanical Gardens

Here are photos from recent visits to the Riverbank Botanical Gardens in West Columbia, SC. I take pictures every time we are here since there is always something that commands my attention.

I love the use of pinks this year. Very cheerful!

One of my many favorite flowers is this gloriosa lily.

This golden bamboo is actually in the zoo side of the park. It is the only place I have ever seen a color bamboo other than green.

A huge, pretty leaf. I like to add my hand in photo to show size.

Another pretty one.

The bog garden.

Here it is a couple weeks later. Ever changing!

Carnivorous plants that make me think of cobras.

This plant below is just cool and strange. It is hanging in a pot but it may be an air plant due to its unique appearance.

These pretty leaves appear to sit on a mismatched stick, but that is indeed their stem holding it up.

A baby Carolina Anole enjoying the gloriosa lilies. He is camouflaged in there!

A bee heading for a sunflower.

These yellow flowers are just perfection.

A gigantic black elephant ear.

Big, beautiful rose of sharons are throughout the gardens. So many sizes, colors and patterns!
 

I hope you enjoyed our garden strolls too!

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val

Yard Update

 Our plants continue to grow. The ruffled satin rose of sharon began blooming.

Here are her phases.

Then she really shows herself!

This rose of sharon below has the same colors but with different petal shapes started blooming too.

 

The burst of red in the center is marvelous!

We have received visits from various swallowtails.

I love the underside of the wings and how they appear like stained glass.

When chasing this tiger swallowtail down trying to get a good photo, it ended up right in front of my face!

 

 The bees are also enjoying the butterfly bushes.

 

The stunning canna lilies started opening!

Purple heart is a plant that grows from cuttings so Jim planted some along the foundation and they have been growing like crazy! It may end up being an evergreen. If not, it will come back again next year.

Some photos of the overall garden.

There are 5 butterfly bushes for the pollinators to buffet on.

Have a marvelous day/evening (wherever you are on the clock)! ~Val