Research and Education
in the National Parks

National Park Service Research and Education in the National Parks

PART I
THE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM IN THE NATIONAL PARKS

WILD-FLOWER DISPLAYS

A seasonal wild-flower display is to be found in almost all national parks. By means of specially constructed exhibit cases in certain of the parks, the flowers are kept fresh for several days. (See fig. 10.) Exhibits are commonly located in the hotels and lodges as well as in the museums and information offices.

The planting and labeling of a wildflower garden as a means of acquainting the visitor with the common plants has received consideration in recent years. In Sequoia such a garden was planted near the museum in Giant Forest. About 70 species of wild flowers were transplanted and labeled with metal signs. Many were brought down from timber line and others from lower elevations, thus affording a compact, comprehensive view of the more important plants.

FIGURE 10.—A seasonal flower display at Yosemite Museum where visitors can see and identify the park wild flowers. A specially constructed exhibit case with running water keeps the flowers fresh for several days. A naturalist is constantly adding to the collection and replacing those specimens which have withered.

At Grand Canyon near Yavapai Station a series of gardens has been arranged which display plants from the different life zones in the canyon. All specimens are properly labeled. Little trouble has been experienced in making the plants grow; consequently this type of exhibit is proving most attractive. In Glacier National Park a wild-flower garden has been established at Many Glacier. The most pretentious in the park system is the fine development just back of the Yosemite Museum where living plants take the place of artificial exhibits.

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Last Modified: Sat, Feb 16 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
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