Ola Brisa Gardens, Santiago, Mexico

 

 

Ola Brisa Gardens, Santiago, Mexico

 It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how little I know of it, how many places I still have to go, how much more there is to learn. Maybe that’s enlightenment enough; to know that there is no final resting place of the mind, no moment of smug clarity. Perhaps wisdom, at least for me, means realizing how small I am, and unwise, and how far I have left to go.” Anthony Bourdain

As the tour guide from Mex-Eco Tours drove up the steep cobbled road towards the botanical gardens, I was surprised that we were in the middle of a suburb. Surely, I thought, this isn’t the place. There is no way there could be a botanical garden of any size here; in a suburb, on a steep hillside. Happily, I was wrong.
We were greeted warmly by Tommy and Patty Clarkson, owners and creators of the gardens. As we were enjoying freshly brewed coffee under the palapa, overlooking the Bay of Santiago, Tommy regaled us with a bit of his personal history and that of the gardens.
There are 12 terraces and 12 sub-terraces with tropical flora and plants from all over the world. When I asked Tommy how he got the plants, he said that birds from different parts of the world fly over his property and drops the seeds in the spots that he indicates!

 

According to Tommy, tomatoes originated in Mexico. This plant is from the original species
One of the fun things you will learn is whether a particular palm has a solitary or clustering trunk; whether the leaf is a pinnate or palmate; or if it is self-cleaning or not and if it is armed or unarmed. As Tommy said, you could be the life of a party as you point to a palm tree and state that it is a solitary, pinnate, self-cleaning, unarmed palm. Now won’t everyone be impressed!
 

 

They are a “Not for Profit” entity. To help maintain the gardens, they charge $15.00 USD entrance fee.  Please visit their website www.olabrisagardens.com
 
view from their livingroom

view from their patio
2 replies
  1. Carol
    Carol says:

    Really liked hearing about your experience of having a cup of coffee !! THIS is what I like to hear about.
    I was surprised in England we also got instant coffee.

    Reply

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