Advance reservations are no longer required to visit the Zoo. Given the continued threat of COVID-19 and variants of the virus, face masks are required for indoor areas of the North Carolina Zoo. Face coverings are also required at the Acacia Station Giraffe Deck.
Vanilla is an orchid grown commercially for its seed pods or ‘vanilla beans’. The flowers are open only for one day and must be hand-pollinated. The resulting seedpods are harvested green, cured by a sweating process and used for extract and flavoring.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is the standard by which gardeners and growers can determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location. The map is based on the average annual minimum winter temperature, divided into 10-degree F zones.
What is your favorite flavor of ice cream- Chocolate or Vanilla? Did you know that both flavors come from tropical plants? Learn more about the Chocolate tree.