Visit Marsh Botanical Gardens at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut

by Toni Leland

Spring is just around the corner, but here in Connecticut, it's still quite chilly most days. 

What a treat to roam through the beautiful greenhouses at the Marsh Botanical Gardens at Yale University in New Haven. Four huge greenhouses filled with wondrous things!

Located on the estate of Othniel Charles Marsh, a renowned paleontologist and dinosaur discoverer, the gardens began in earnest in 1922 and flourished greatly during the thirties and early forties, many with the guidance of reknowned landscape architect Beatrix Jones Farrand. As is so often the case, changes in demographics affected the work forces and slowly caused the gardens to fall into neglect. In the 1990's, the gardens again became the focus of restoration and, from then on, have continued to improve and flourish again

To plan your own visit, see the link at the end of this post. Now, enjoy!

Our tour began with the Tropical Collection, a veritable treasure house of luscious colors, textures, shapes, and scents.

Passion Flower (Passiflora 'Pura Vida Purple')

Canna Lily (Canna cv 'Ermine')

Golden Shrimp Plant (Pachystachys lutea)

Costa Rican Butterfly Vine (Dalechampia dioscoreifolia)

Protea (Protea)

Huperzia squarrosa

In another part of this greenhouse, we saw familiar faces from our own gardens.

Golden Columbine (Aquilegia chrysantha cv 'Denver Gold')

Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata)
Also known as Mother-in-law's Tongue

Who knew Dill could be so pretty?
Fern leaf Dill (Anethum graveleons cv 'Fernleaf')

Indian Mallow (Abutilon hybrid)

Outside this particular greenhouse, the staff has constructed an outdoor microclimate corner with a Koi pond and a camilia bush that was just about to bloom.

Interesting Koi–note the one on the far left that looks like a skeleton.
(photo courtesy Jennifer Carter)

Leaving the Tropical Collection, we proceeded to the interesting and sometimes creepy world of Carnivorous Plants. Some of the shapes and colors were straight out of a modern art class!

Venus Flytrap (Dionaea muscipula)

Cobra Lily (Darlingtonia californica)

After petting Eli, the resident feline (who was the biggest cat I've ever seen), we moved into the Desert House. 

Succulents & Cacti need little water

Dozens of different cacti and succulents thrive in this beautifully-designed setting.


The outdoor gardens were, of course, still sleeping. But a return visit is planned when spring really gets here.

Where? Marsh Botanical Gardens
Yale University, New Haven, CT

Marsh Botanical Gardens