This garden is known as one of the most beautiful gardens in the world. Join us as we explore this Columbian garden.
Visit us at maedunbroc.com
Music by Jason Shaw at AudionautiX
To find your next favorite book, visit our Bookshop.
Featured image courtesy of TripAdvisor
Transcript:
Hey there, Garden Lovers.
Today is January 12, and this is a A Garden a Day with Mædunbroc Gardens.
Today’s garden is considered one of the most beautiful gardens in the world, and it’s easy to see why as we explore Jardin Botanico de Medellín also known as Medellin Botanical Garden or the Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden, located in the city of Medellín, Colombia.
With over fifty years of history and thirty-four acres of natural beauty, it is easy to fall in love with this garden.
Medellín is called the city of eternal spring due to its year-round temperate climate. It is located in the Aburrá Valley and is surrounded by lush green mountains. Medellín is the second largest city in Colombia and is a popular tourist destination and known as a hub for high culture and art.
The botanical garden began as a farm called the Bathhouse of Eden. In the early 20th century, the city acquired the land and established the botanical garden.
In 1972, the garden was renamed the Joaquín Antonio Uribe Botanical Garden when the garden was expanded to include more plants, an auditorium, library, museum, and dining options.
The garden is considered a living museum and highlights several different ecosystems including wetlands, desert, and tropical rainforest
4500 flowers
over 1,000 different plant species
139 recorded bird species
more than 2,000 trees
Directly in the center of the garden, you will find a collection of orchids housed in the Orquedorama built in 2006. This bronze archway structure spans almost a full acre and provides shade and shelter to the plants beneath. Each panel in the structure was designed to represent a petal with the entire structure collectively representing a bouquet of flowers. The structure was also designed to direct rainwater down to the waiting plants below.
There is a Butterfly House with more than thirty-one species of butterflies with ten of those native to this area. The butterfly house contains nine species of nectar plants and fourteen host plants that allow visitors to observe the lifecycle of the butterflies. I want to quote from the garden’s website regarding the butterfly house: “The butterfly hall occupies a special place in the Garden, full of flowers inside and outside, where all audiences enjoy the beauty of the colors and the flight of these insects confused with each other among the flowers. It represents a metaphor for the transformation process we have experienced. The butterfly is the symbol of change, of the promise that everything will be better.”
That’s a pretty good metaphor. A pretty good reminder for us all.
Tours are available of the garden, or you can stroll along the paths on your own.
Be sure to look out above. You might see an iguana or two lounging in the trees above you. You might also see parrots and other colorful birds, tortoises sunbathing on rocks in the lagoon, and small mammals scurrying along the paths.
The garden is a great spot for families, couples, students, and friends to gather. You might see a photo shoot for a wedding or quinceñera or a group practicing yoga on the lawn. The garden is free to enter and is usually open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Every day is a good day to visit, but you might want to arrive early on a Sunday if you want to nab a good picnic spot. Sundays are their busiest days for families and celebrations.
They do close for special events and some holidays, so you might want to check their daily schedule before you go.
There are a few dining options onsite, or you can pack your own picnic lunch and enjoy a bite to eat on the lawn. If you do decide to try one of the garden’s eateries, you might want to try their more upscale option — In Situ, known for its responsibly sourced ingredients and expert chefs. For a more casual option, you might decide on Cafe del Bosque for a quick burger or sandwich. If you really only need a snack or light refreshment, you will enjoy El Vagon, a converted train carriage that supplies snacks, ice cream, coffee, and other drinks.
The garden hosts many events throughout the year including concerts, festivals, and fairs. Highlights include a beer and music festival in August and a book festival in September. There is also a farmers market on the first Sunday of each month.
Well, that’s about it for Medellín Botanical Garden. I hope you enjoyed our little jaunt down to Columbia. Thanks for listening today.
Join me here tomorrow to find out where we are going next.
If you like A Garden a Day, please considering liking, following, or subscribing to the podcast. It lets you know when a new episode is available, and it lets me know you like the show. Also, if you are able, please consider giving the show a five star review. It helps others find the show. It really does help. Thank you so much.
If all goes well, I’ll be right back here tomorrow. See you then.
To learn more about Medellín Botanical Garden, visit these links:
https://www.botanicomedellin.org/
https://medellinliving.com/jardin-botanico-botanical-gardens/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Botanical_Garden_of_Medellín
https://medellinguru.com/jardin-botanico/
https://visitarmedellin.com/en/botanical-garden/
https://www.medellin.travel/botanical-garden/?lang=en
https://travelersanddreamers.com/botanical-garden-medellin/
https://www.colombiatouristattractions.com/joaquin-antonio-uribe-botanical-garden-of-medellin/
Leave a Reply