Cathie Draine: Exuberant Jingle in the Jungle display leaves visitors in awe of beauty

By Cathie Draine, Special to the Journal | Wednesday, September 27, 2006

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Christmas isn’t Christmas without a traditional poinsettia plant or two prominently displayed. Imagine the effect of more than 2,000 of them — red, white, red and white, pink, plum and those dyed yellow, purple and blue. A breathtaking display of poinsettias fills the Safari Room of the Sky Dome in grand sweeps of color at Reptile Gardens for the third annual Jingle in the Jungle, open through Dec. 31.

David Yahne, Reptile Gardens staff horticulturist, has, in my deeply appreciative opinion, achieved the impossible by creating grand, colorful ribbon-like vistas of the potted plants, tucking them in among the permanent plants so the effect is: “Of course! This is just how it should look!”

“We have over 2,000 6-inch pots of poinsettias grown for us by Jolly Lane Greenhouses in the late summer and delivered right at Thanksgiving. It took two of us two days to arrange the displays on the two levels of the Sky Dome,” Yahne said.

On the main floor of the Sky Dome, the great sweeps of dyed plants in yellow, purple and blue are now showing new bract growth in (undyed) white, to lovely effect. Also on the main floor is a lovely display of burgundy mums in the water feature as well as a breathtaking selection of blooming cymbidium orchids just inside the entrance.

Climbing the stairs to the second level, passing beneath the blooming passionflower vine, one sees the large red poinsettia tree of more than 300 plants “trimmed” with a garland of white poinsettias, bracketed by banks and banks of naturally colored poinsettias.

The plants used in the display include the named varieties Sonora Jingle and Sonora White Glitter — variegated red and white; Snow Cap — standard white; Red Berry Punch — standard red; the dense and compact Plum Pudding; Peterstar Pink and Cortez Burgundy.

It takes only a short time in the Sky Dome to realize the skills necessary to produce what is almost a walk-through terrarium that contains several microclimates. Yahne and his assistant accomplish the creation and care of desert-like settings as well as a sense of the jungle. Add to this the birds and reptiles that also enjoy the environment and all that is needed to keep them healthy and happy. Then, add 2,000 more potted plants — and go ahead and be awestruck.

The Sky Dome and the outer gardens are filled with small Christmas lights that enhance the magical scene. Since the shortest day of the year was Wednesday, we have an abundance of winter darkness in which to enjoy the lights.

The floral display is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Visitors are welcome to enjoy all the reptile displays in the Sky Dome and to wander through the gift shop. Each visitor receives a pass to “enjoy and come again” through Dec. 31. Admission is $6.50 per adult. Admission for children ages 5 to 12 is $4.50, and children younger than 4 are admitted free. Bring a can of food, and admission is reduced by $1.50 per person.

We have gone to see Jingle in the Jungle for the past two years. I think it is the best kind of Christmas candy — eye candy, for sure. Not a calorie in it, but it satisfies the heart and soul.

To see more photographs of the winter flower show at the Reptile Gardens, check their Web site at www.reptilegardens.com.

Cathie Draine is a member of the Garden Writers Association and a SDSU/Pennington County Extension Service Master Gardener. She lives and gardens in Black Hawk. Readers may send comments or questions to her in care of The Rapid City Journal, Box 450, Rapid City SD 57709.