Cambridge Botanic Garden has joined the Olympic gold rush.
To celebrate the Games, the team at the Cambridge University-run garden sowed a field of golden flowers back in the spring.
And as if responding to Team GB’s bumper medal haul, the meadow is now in full bloom, casting a golden glow over the garden’s entrance in Station Road.
The mix of flowers chosen by the Botanic Garden staff is the same as that developed especially for the landscaping of the Olympic Park, by Professors James Hitchmough and Nigel Dunnett of the University of Sheffield.
And like the athletes’ village, it has a cosmopolitan make-up – marigolds from South America; golden tickseed and Californian poppy from North America; corn marigolds from the Mediterranean; Cape marigolds from South Africa, and contrasting blue cornflowers, a rare annual native to the Mediterranean also found in the UK.
Dr Tim Upson, curator at the Botanic Garden, said: “We wanted to bring a touch of Olympic gold to the garden in 2012 and even on this small scale the effect of thousands of yellow-flowered annuals blooming together is fantastic.
“It must be truly remarkable down at the Olympic Park.
“Our only unintended, but very effective addition to the mix has been hundreds of sunflowers, self-sown from last year’s displays, which are coming up through the golden meadow – much like Team GB.”
Although the university term ended eight weeks ago on June 15, the Botanic Garden remains open throughout the year.
As well as being a living laboratory for the university’s scientists, it is also run as an amenity for local people in and around the city to enjoy.
In all, its 40-acre site is home to more than 8,000 species of plants.
Visitor information is available by calling (01223) 336265 or at www.botanic.cam.ac.uk.
chris.elliott@cambridge-news.co.uk
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