Palmenhaus Schoenbrunn

Plants often get overlooked in favour of animals, and indeed, I have definitely been guilty of this in the past. But perhaps helped by spending two weeks in the mountains with multiple botanists, or perhaps just because of the slightly greater patience that comes with age, I'm definitely starting to appreciate the incredible world of plants more than I used to. The best thing about plants is that a lot of them are just so absolutely alien-seeming, even some that are relatively common. Others are just beautiful, and of course there are the beautiful alien plants too. And then there are those that are just a bit scary...

The Palmenhaus is situated in the grounds of the Schoenbrunn Palace in Vienna. It is an absolutely gorgeous building, a large greenhouse complex whose wrought iron bulk looks both elegant and strange situated within the manicured gardens off to one side of the Palace itself. Until recently I had never visited it, because I was always at Schoenbrunn for some other reason, and there never seemed to be the time.

This winter though, on one of my many brief trips back to Vienna, I finally got to check it out. Inside is even more impressive than outside, the high ceilings and complex detail of the ironwork combine with towering palm trees and strange, spiky undergrowth to create a mysterious atmosphere that would almost be cathedral-like if it weren't for the recorded tropical birdsong and the warm humid air. In the main part, big iron spiral staircases decked in vegetation rise upwards. Here and there throughout are inviting white-painted iron chairs and benches, and it certainly seems that some people get a season ticket and a book and use this place as a way to escape the harsh realities of winter!

The Palmenhaus is divided into three parts, cool, warm, and hot. Big tip for winter visitors, DON'T start cool and work up, you'll feel it when you leave :-) Regardless, though there are weird and wonderful plants in all three sections, the hottest is probably the highlight. The vegetation is very dense and the air very humid, the yellow light from the lamps reflecting everywhere off dark green, rubbery leaves and big spreading palm fronds. It is here that some of the best aliens, monsters and beauties can be found, chief amongst them the orchids, several of which found their way among the photos I am showcasing here.

In addition to the Palmenhaus the neighbouring Wuestenhaus (desert house) is absolutely worth a visit, with unbelievable cacti, tortoises, and a whole menagerie of different bird species and even a whole naked mole rat colony with tranparent pipes! Sadly I don't have pictures of that so you will just have to go yourself. However, my pictures of one afternoon's journey to the jungle can be perused by following the appropriately greenish link.

Bis bald,

der Tom.


PS there was a special Poinsettia exhibition on when these photos were taken, so good times for all you Poinsettia fans!