I really like journey. I imply who would not? However greater than something I really like journey that features visiting gardens. I discover seeing different gardens inspirational, and being a little bit of a rustic bumpkin it soothes my soul to be surrounded by greenery. Travelling might be intense, and the quantity of different folks can typically really feel a bit overwhelming – particularly after having stayed at house for practically two years! I often spend my days within the quiet and by myself, so all of a sudden being in a international land with a lot hustle and bustle might be as tiring as it’s inspirational. It’s a humorous juxtaposition is not it, this love of recent impressions filling my soul whereas on the similar time discovering I want time to calm the senses. Visiting gardens whereas travelling offers me that, in addition to a deep feeling of happiness. It is fantastic to see what number of lovely little oases there are on this planet, crammed with crops, bugs and wildlife.
In Tenerife my favorite backyard is the Parque del Drago, a 3 hectares backyard constructed across the oldest recognized specimen of Dracaena Drago, the dragon tree. Its age is disputed, however at the moment it’s believed to be between 800 – 1000 years previous. No matter age, it’s spectacular. The tree stands 20 meters tall, with over 300 principal branches and a circumference of 20 meters. In the midst of it’s a 6 meters tall gap, the place a fan has been put in to help air circulation and forestall mould. The identify stems from the pink resin that’s secreted when the bark or leaves are reduce, resembling dragons blood and utilized in conventional medication.
The park was created on the flip of the millennium by Wilfredo Wildpret de la Torre and Victoria Eugenia Martin Osorio, who’re professors on the College of La laguna, which is the oldest college on the Canary Islands. There was some controversy across the creation of the park as a stone wall was erected between the tree and the highway, however since additionally it is seen from the city sq. Plaza de San Marcos a compromise was felt to have been reached. The park fees a ten € entrance charge, which appears truthful sufficient contemplating upkeep prices.
Unusually for many gardens, this one is created with quite a lot of crops which might be endemic to Tenerife and the Canary Islands. There are youthful dragon bushes, Tabaija mejorera, Canary Island spurge (Euphorbia canariensis), cardoons (Cynara cardunculus) and succulent Bejeque (Aeonium urbicum) to call however just a few. It’s a predominantly dry backyard, reflecting the local weather and soli situations of the island, and I actually loved seeing how lovely a backyard crammed with native crops might be. There may be actually no have to struggle nature when you may work with it fairly than towards it, and the results of going with current situations might be simply as lovely as making a person made synthetic oasis – if no more so the truth is.
Within the gardens there’s additionally a cave housing a illustration of a Guanches burial, which was actually fascinating to see. Subsequent to the backyard is a butterfly home, however we by no means ventured into it. I used to be completely comfortable seeing native wild bees and butterflies fluttering about amongst the crops and watching little lizards basking within the sunshine, whereas having fun with a gentle breeze from the ocean alleviate the warmth. Such a gorgeous day trip!
