Jardín Botánico Culiacán

Posted by Greg Posted on December 31, 2018 10 Comments on Jardín Botánico Culiacán
Posted in Mexico, Sinaloa, Travel On The Dirt Tagged , , , , ,
The Kapok or Cieba Tree, which can grow over 200′ tall, has spiked bark and produces cotton-like blooms. Mayans believed that the tree was a symbol of the universe, with its roots digging into the underworld, its branches reaching into heaven, and its trunk residing in our known world.

December 8, 2018.

In our last post we were tooling down the Mexican mainland coast of the Sea of Cortez. We took a break from the beaches to head inland from Topolobampo to Culiacán, where we wanted to see the Botanical Gardens. After spending a night in the Tres Rios hotel parking lot, we visited the gardens.

In 1986 the city dedicated this prime real estate to a place its residents could enjoy. Since then they have done their best to make this a world class botanical and sculpture garden. The climate here allows plants from rain forests to live beside desert plants. Many species have been imported from around the world.

Admission was cheap, so we decided to splurge and get the English audio tour as well. Total cost for both of us was $5.50 US. Hope you enjoy your virtual visit.

* As always, click on pics to enlarge into a slideshow.

Baobab Tree.
Baobab fruit.
Light shines through parts of this Sofía Táboas sculpture, leaving yellow patterns on the ground.
Achiote blooms.
Vanilla vines climb this tree.
Reading spot under the big Torote tree. The garden has many spots where you can sit and read, or just watch the wildlife.
Spiked trunk of the Pachote Tree.
The Talipot Palm tree can grow to 80 feet and live to 80 years. It blooms only once, producing thousands of seeds. After blooming it dies.
The city of Culiacán is in the state of Sinaloa. It is said that Sinaloa was named for the Sina cactus, shown here.
Artist Marco Ramírez Erre creates a feeling of world unity with signs containing quotes on one side and distance and country of origin of the speaker on the other side.
This swing was created by artist Marco Rountree as a spot for girls to have their Quinceañera (15th birthday) portraits made.
Royal palms at the edge of the central pond.
Pond at the garden’s center.
Water Lilies in the central pond.
More Water Lilies in central pond.
And more Water Lilies.
Blooms drop from an overhead tree onto the plants below.
This slow growing Sago Palm may be over 200 years old.
Manila (or Christmas) Palm.
The Date Palm was probably one of the first species cultivated by humans. It is native to the Mediterranean area.
Sculptor Simon Starling has re-envisioned Henry Moore’s “Reclining Woman”.
Gular fig tree from India. The figs grow close to the trunk.
One of five water fountains created by artist Atelier Van Lieshout.
White sculpture in the foreground is by Kiyoto Ota. Purple sculpture in the background is one of Lieshout’s water fountains.
Red blooms.
This Mimosa responds to touch by folding in its leaves. We’ve touched the topmost leaf and two others. Guess which ones.
Gateway to the tropical forest exhibit.
The Vocho (Beetle) has held a special place in Mexican culture since its intro in 1954. Vochos were built here from 1967 to 2003, when the last one was shipped to the VW museum in Germany. In 2003 artist Francis Alÿs drove this one from Mexico City into this tree, where it became art. Click here to watch.
Monarch butterfly satisfying its sugar fix.
The Chinese art of Penjing, creating miniature landscapes with trees in trays, began almost two thousand years ago. It was exported to Japan, where it became Bonsai.
Another Bonsai.
Bismark Palm tree.
Star sculpture by Pablo Vargas Lugo, slowly being raised and separated by striped bamboo.
Striped bamboo.
Strategic rock placement by artist Richard Long.

10 thoughts on “Jardín Botánico Culiacán”

  1. Looks like a fabulous garden. Ed would love it: so many interesting palms! It is very heartening to get this perspective on Mexican culture. Thanks: ? Meredith and Ed

    Reply

    1. Thanks. It was a lovely day. After being here for a while, I can tell you that they love their plants here. Large parks all have a variety of trees, palms, and other plants.!

      Reply

    1. Really – what an amazing country. You guys might never be able to move on for all the wonderful stuff to visit and see here in Mexico!

      Reply

  4. What a beautiful and peaceful place. I’d love to sit on one of the many benches and read a book. Great photos and visit. And, how did you remember all those names of the trees and plants? 🙂

    Reply

    1. Greg wrote this post and he has the much better memory than me! But mostly he got the names from a paper map that listed all the stops on our audio tour. Also, whenever there is a plaque or sign with information about something I take a picture of, I take a picture of that too.

      We saw some people who looked like they were there just to read a book or hang out with a loved one – so you’d fit right in.

      Reply

    1. The water lilies were beautiful. If only humans could sail on water lilies – but I imagine we wouldn’t look nearly as cute as fairies.

      Reply

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