Botanical garden - Canary and exotic flora
A trip to the best equipped botanical garden of the northern hemisphere.
The jardin botanico (=botanical garden) is located in Tafira, which is a suburb of Las Palmas and lying in a fecund valley above the capital city of the Canaries. Within few hours the whole variety of the Canaries‘botanic can be explored and accessorily even admired - and all for free. Cacti out of countless countries of South America, America and Africa!
In Tafira Alta, in fact already a suburb seven kilometers away from Las Palmas, the superior entrance of the 24 hectares big area of the botanic garden is located. This is spreading deep into the fruitfully area of Barranco de Guiniguada where the lower entrance is found. Who wants to bide awhile here and then several hours should be included for visiting.
At least there’s enough to adore: One grove of date - and Canary palms, one with dragon trees and one with bay trees not to forget the more than 100 kinds of plants. Through this diversity of species countless narrow paths and stairways are leading, which are excellent signed to debar aberrances. In case of emergency or also at other questions gardeners or watchman can be asked, which are apparently invisible sustaining the „cosmic“order of the Jardín Botánico.
On expedition through the gardens many romantic seats are passed, which affectionately made of stone, and invite to bide awhile. If contented with viewing – best in spring, when the majority of the plants are in gorgeous bloom - the Cacti-area of the botanic garden should be recognized. Because of the fact that many sensations make hungry in an associated restaurant can be stopped. Not only the unique view over the garden is bribing but also its Canarian cuisine and the exemplary service.
Also interesting is the cacti collection of the spacious, 1952 founded facility. Here many different kinds of cacti out of Africa, South - and North America can be found. Really amazing because where else is the chance to eye up at so many plants out of so many different countries at just so a small space! The foundation of the botanic garden is the result of the Swedish botanist Eric R. Sventenius (1910 – 1973). Originally he had the incidence to create a garden exclusive for domiciled plants of the Canaries.
In any case the area is worth viewing, not for nothing the botanic garden is known as the best equipped of the northern hemisphere!