Holidays are a special time to come to the Gardner, where the festive Courtyard, featuring dark forest greens and shades of red and silver, adds to the excitement of the season. This holiday tradition showcases masses of flowering jade trees, silver curry plant, and the white and dark red winter blooms of amaryllis, all of which brighten winter shadows.

The jades (Crassula argentea) in the Courtyard have been raised in our greenhouse for many years. The largest, with trunks five to six inches in diameter, are over forty years old. Their small, starry, white flowers cover the large spreading branches that are over three feet high. The Latin word crassula means thick and fleshy, describing the jade’s leaves.

The Courtyard features plants that are actively growing and constantly changing. Courtyard images include plants that are representative of each display, but plants will be added or replaced over the life of the display. For more information visit www.gardnermuseum.org.