Belfast, Ireland; Botanical gardens

This week I have had a short city break to Belfast. I tried to see things I hadn't seen before. There is so much to see and do in this lovely city.

The Botanical Gardens is a public park in Belfast, Northern Ireland close to Queen's University.

It stands on 28 acres about 15 minutes walk south of the city centre. It shares an entrance with The Ulster Museum ; bear left for the gardens and right for the museum. We spent almost a full day in The Ulster Museum. Both the gardens and museum are free of charge to visit.

The Botanical gardens opened in 1828 and were private for many years and it became a public park in 1895 when it was bought by the Belfast Corporation .

All photos are my own. I enjoyed I so much here that I immediately started taking photos to share with you all.

Spring in the park

All around, there was evidence of Spring.

Crocus

The palm house is very high

The Palm House Conservatory

Rooms

The Cool Room is to the left of the picture and the Tropical Room is to the right of the picture.

The Palm House

The Palm House and The Tropical Ravine are the main features of Belfast's Botanical Gardens but unfortunately The Tropical Ravine was closed for development.

The Palm House is a Victorian building completed in 1840 shortly after Victoria became Queen in 1837.

The foundation stone was laid in 1839. It is a cast iron glasshouse and has a Cool Room and a Tropical Room. I was delighted that the Cool Room was full of Spring flowers, which I love. We opened the door and the scent of Spring approached us with all those beautiful scents and the colours were beautiful. Bliss.

Hyacinths- I love them

The Spring flowers- rows of them

daffodils and Narcissi below

Cool Room

Imagine the scent

Cacti

In the centre of the Palm House, between the two rooms are a range of beautiful cacti, from the small to the tall.

Cactus

The Tropical room

Amorphophallus konjac

After the beautiful scents in the cool room we were nearly knocked sideways by the TERRIBLE smell in the Tropical Room.

The Amorphophallus konjac grows to a height of about 2m / 6 ft and it smells like rotting flesh. It is pollinated by flies who are attracted by the awful smell.

A beautiful plant- a dreadful smell especially after all the Spring flowers in the other room.

Amorphallus Konjac

Seating

I know it is strange to mention seating but just look at how quaint the chairs are. No wooden benches here, but elegant wrought iron chairs. Lovely.

Elegance

Great colours

I wish I were better at remembering flower names but these were just so lovely. It was a delight to see them.

Beautiful flowers

I am not good on names

The Gift of Life

Outside the Palm House in the park

This is The Gift of Life monument near the Rose Garden and is a fitting tribute to those who donate organs. What a lovely idea to have these unsung heroes acknowledged in Belfast. It is an elegant tribute done in conjunction with my beloved County Galway, Ireland.

At this time of year, the Rose Garden is not in bloom in Ireland.

The tribute is dated 15th June 2016.

The monument to organ donors

The inscription

The Bandstand

The bandstand wasn't in use on a February day but I would think it is a lovely location in Summer.

If you visit Belfast, the Botanical Gardens is a good way to spend a charming hour,

The band stand

Updated: 06/22/2022, Veronica

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Veronica on 06/23/2022

I visited at different visits as the Tropical ravine was still in development when I visited the Botanic gardens . But they could be combined in one visit.

DerdriuMarriner on 06/23/2022

Is it possible to combine actually something that I've managed virtually -- ;-D thanks to your commentaries and images here and on your recentest wizzley ;-D -- visiting the Botanical Gardens and the Tropical Ravine on the same day?

Veronica on 06/22/2022

I finally visited the restored Tropical Ravine and have written an article about it .

https://wizzley.com/the-tropical-ravi...

Veronica on 07/17/2018

Well as it happens, MBC, Belfast has restored its " Tropical Ravine House " at the Botanic gardens and it is doing very well indeed for visitors so that sounds worth a visit too.

Belfast of course has many wonderful attractions. I am visiting again next month.

MBC on 07/16/2018

Someday I would love to see the Belfast Botanic gardens. I enjoyed your photos.

Veronica on 06/08/2017

They have done a huge amount to develop the North and I can not but recommend it. It is marvellous . Visitors to UK , please take time to visit Belfast .

frankbeswick on 06/08/2017

I was a year in Northern Ireland when the trouble were beginning in 1969-1970, and then Belfast was not inspiring, but when I revisited it two years ago, what a change! It is so much improved.

Veronica on 06/08/2017

Belfast has long been the poor relation regarding tourism. It is however a gentle and beautiful city with so much to do; a week isn't sufficient to see Northern Ireland.
I am going again in August .