While the temperatures drop outside, the Courtyard remains temperate with the green of ferns, and the sounds of water in the fountains. Tall, majestic calla lilies surround the Courtyard’s mosaic set off by unusual orchids, including exotic Paphiopedilum or slipper orchids with maroon and green flowers; Ansellia or leopard orchids sporting many clusters of yellow flowers with brown spots; and large, showy Phaius tankervilleae or nun’s cap orchids that have been grown in the Museum’s greenhouses since Isabella’s time. The orchids on display are native to Southeast Asia and Africa. Throughout the year, the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum’s always-blooming Courtyard is transformed through a series of nine dramatic seasonal displays that reflect Isabella’s passion for gardens as well as the skill and dedication of the Museum’s horticulture staff. From bellflowers to nasturtiums to Japanese-style chrysanthemums, there’s always something new to discover thanks to the changing seasons and the rotation of plants. Most of the plants for the Courtyard are grown in the Museum’s temperature-controlled Hingham greenhouses and trucked to the Palace location, where they are rotated in to keep the displays in peak condition. For hours and complete information visit http://gardnermuseum.org
