Watereri Scots pine ornamental tree in Bolean Gardens, Falkland.
Image credit: SUBMITTED / Greg Koll
The 4-hectare botanical gardens in the mountains above the Falklands are open for tours for the first time this summer.
Horticulturist Brad Ulmer and his wife, Collette, created Bolean Gardens after purchasing the property in 1998.
“The area was previously used as a horse farm,” he said. “When we started, the native plants were eaten to the ground and the wildlife had no habitat.”
The garden has since grown to include more than 500 species of hardy trees, shrubs, annuals and perennials, and is home to a growing number of plants, insects, amphibians, birds and mammals.
Visitors to the farm can learn about plants and bees, share their knowledge, and buy home-grown decorative flower bouquets, vegetables, and farm-fresh eggs.
“As the gardens were established, we attracted native birds, and migratory birds stopped here to feed,” Ulmer said. “When you get enough diversity and there’s a balance, a lot of interesting things start to happen.”
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The couple recently started keeping bees on the property and have learned a lot about them, even tearing down hives and starting new ones.
“We do more than we can by allowing weeds to grow because bees feed on weed pollen,” Ulmer said. “We let them do their thing in certain areas where we leave the desert and weeds alone.”
Visitors to Bolean Gardens can expect to see natural frog ponds without pumps or filters that hold five different species of frogs, another piece of diversity the couple added.
“We currently have about 1,000 sharks growing in our largest pond,” Ulmer said. “When they emerge in two weeks, they will spread out and eat every bug. “We don’t have to spray for sources or leaf litter, the frogs fight natural bugs for us.”
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The property has dozens of ornamental tree varieties and a nursery used to grow native trees, shrubs and perennials for sale.
“We grow native and ornamental plants and stay away from invasive plants,” Ulmer said. “Ornamental trees grow well here and host insects that are eaten by native birds. Korean Mountain Ash supports so much diversity that some bird species eat the berries and others suck the sap.”
Ulmer said he loves to talk about gardening and share gardening philosophies. What he loves most is witnessing the natural balance that occurs when there is enough diversity.
“Diversity creates a balance where the population is no longer out of control,” he said. “I first fell in love with the colors and textures of plants and wanted to learn about them. Then I saw the insects, the birds, and the intricate dance that happens as the seasons change.”
The gardens will be open for tours through October. The couple said the high-altitude valley was too cold and the roads too slippery to do tours in the winter months.
Ulmer said it’s too early to tell if the gardens will be a popular establishment since they opened for tours less than two months ago, but most days at least one customer or interested tourist stops by and gives tours to garden groups.
“We’re doing better than I expected and more local businesses, camps and people are coming out on vacation,” he said. “We just put up a new sign and hope it goes up.”
Bolean Gardens is located at 2038 Chase Falkland Road.
Tours are by donation.
Click here for more information or to book a tour.
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