Wednesday 1 February 2023

Garden of Earthly Delights

Four miles from Las Palmas, nestled in the Guiniguada ravine, is Spain's largest botanical garden, Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo. Showcasing all the flora of the Canary islands and said to be at its most beautiful in January after the Winter rains have worked their magic, the timing for our trip to Gran Canaria couldn't have been more perfect. We hopped on a guagua and were there in less than 30 minutes.


Swedish botanist, Eric Sventenius set up the garden in 1952, aiming to create a space where people could enjoy plants from across the islands without needing to get on a boat. The gardens opened to the public in 1959 and, after Sventenius's death in 1972, British naturalist David Bramwell took over the reins and began to develop the garden as an investigative centre as well as a public park.


The gardens have two entrances, the one we accessed was on the upper terrace with numerous signs warning of danger - the steep stone steps were perilously close to the ravine but thankfully we survived the climb down. For the less adventurous, or those with walking difficulties, the lower terrace offers a less precarious way of visiting although a lot of the garden won't be accessible if you're not good with steps.
 




There be dragons! A subspecies of the legendary Draecaena draco (or dragon tree), the Draecaena tamaranae (below) was discovered on Gran Canaria in 1972. One of the rarest trees in the world, its sap runs red and is known as dragon's blood.




Until the last ice age, much of Europe was covered in laurel forest (laurisilva); the only surviving examples of which are found in the Canary Islands and Madeira. An area of the garden was planted with laurisilva in 1964. Within it are some rare species including the Garoe tree, sacred to the inhabitants of El Hierro, the second smallest of the Canary Islands.








The lowest part of the garden is home to an amazing array of cactuses of both native and imported species. We've tried - and failed - to grow cacti indoors, the bloody things always die on us which is so disappointing as I absolutely love them. I obviously need to move to Gran Canaria.


There are around 2000 varieties of succulent plants on display, a third of the world's known species! Feast your eyes on this lot.....
























Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo is incredible and, at 10am on a Monday morning, other than the friendly team of gardeners, it was practically deserted. 





Fancy seeing Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo for yourself ? The garden opens daily from 9am, closing at 6pm between October and March and at 7.30pm from April until September. Admission is free.

Getting there: From Vegueta take the 301 from the guagua stop at Teatro and look out for the brown "Jardin Botanico" sign (or ask the bus driver to give you a shout). Buses run every 20 minutes and fares are €1 each way. Don't forget to pack a mask as they remain mandatory on all public transport in Spain - no mask, no ride!


Thanks for reading, see you soon!

41 comments:

  1. Wow, what a gorgeous garden! I love all the cacti. That dragon tree is amazing - were you tempted to cut it a bit to see if it bled red?

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    1. Isn't it incredible? I was tempted but I thought it might be a bit naughty. I made do with googling it instead! x

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  2. So cool! Have you considered trying to grow cacati in a terrarium located in a warmer area of your home?

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    1. Good thinking! The trouble with our house is that there's so little light and only one windowsill. I might have to investigate some kind of hanging terrarium though and suspend it near a window! x

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  3. More memories brought back from our time in Gran Canaria. We visited the gardens with the friends we were on holiday with. I remember us laughing ourselves senseless at the mad owner of the complex we stayed in. He was an absolute terror and spent all day shouting and brawling at the staff, who were also his family. I’ve just remembered I had bronchitis and couldn’t have a drink because of the medication xxx

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    1. Never a dull moment on holiday with you pair what with being hauled over by customs and staying with Mr Loco of Gran Canaria! To think that the victorians went to Gran Canaria to clear their lungs and you ended up with Bronchitis! xxx

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  4. Hey Vix, how fabulous to see you in these utterly fantastic botanical gardens! What a glorious place. I imagined Gran Canaria to be just all touristy but the place you stayed in looks like fun.
    I have never kept a cacti alive, I have a very tiny one in my kitchen but it's not growing or doing anything. How lovely to be in a climate where you don't need a coat! I am dressed in multiple layers and still cold, roll on Spring.

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    1. Hello Carole! After dismissing The Canaries for being just built-up tourist resorts with nothing to do other than sunbathe, I've changed my mind! Although the south of Gran Canaria's like that, Las Palmas, the middle and the north are absolutely fantastic - and not at all touristy - more to come in future posts. I'd recommend it to anyone who likes history and dramatic scenery.
      I thought yesterday was supposed to be mild, that wind was freezing!
      I keep thinking about getting another cacti - a tiny one - but I don't want to kill the poor thing! xxx

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  5. When I saw that first photo of your dwarfed by those gigantic cacti, my jaw just dropped, and it did again when scrolling through your post.
    What an absolutely stunning place Jardin Botanico Viera y Clavijo is, and how lucky you were to be in the right place at the right time.
    Those steep steps right next to the ravine would have given me the heebie-jeebies, so well done to Jon for braving them, although I'm sure it was more than worth it. xxx

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    1. It's incredible, those cacti are other worldly and some are quite comical! Apparently it's a popular location for wedding photos - not that we bumped into any brides first thing on a Monday morning.
      Jon was very brave with those steps! xxx

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  6. Blessings on the creator and the conservator of this extra[ordinary]-terrestrial place! And thank you for granting me a glimpse of it -- I now find all steps require my full attention, and steps adjoining a deep ravine don't bear thinking about. * A hanging terrarium is a common kitchen sink fixture over here but methinks a greenhouse off the Kinky Shed might suit you (and Jacob Herrmann) better.

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    1. It really is a sight to behold! I love a botanical garden but this one has to be the most dramatic I've visited. The steps were step but the views were incredible, I made Jon nervous stopping to take photos when I should have been concentrating on my footing!
      I shall investigate hanging terrariums, they sound like a good idea.
      Talking of Jacob, we've heard creaking coming from his box ....could Spring be on her way? xxx

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  7. Wow! Look at those cacti. I love them and cacti, too. I've had a few die on me, but I persevere. I do like the smaller cacti as opposed to some of those humongous ones in your photos! Thank you for the camera 'portrait' tip; I think it has worked...
    xxx

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    1. I might have to give cacti another try - Wilkos have some sweet little cheapies, don't they? I'd love a garden full of those massive ones (shame Brexsh*t put the kibosh on us moving out there!)
      I'm so pleased the portrait tip worked. Get me knowing about mobile phones! xxx

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  8. Should have said 'succulents' but you know what I meant...

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    1. I did" I've got houseleeks in abundance outside, I wish they'd grow to that size! xxx

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  9. What a fabulous garden and you look very cool, calm and collected in that gorgeous blue dress!
    Spectacular scenery, some of which is definitely reminiscent of Madeira.
    When I met Gareth he had loads of cacti growing on his bedroom window sill. Some of them were huge. He's definitely got green fingers when it comes to cacti, so you'll have to pick his brains. I only have a couple of small ones now, but I find ignoring them works best! xxx

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    1. Thanks, Claire! It does seem like the Canaries and Madeira share the same plantlife. We have bought a guidebook in the hope of going there one day.
      I definitely need some cacti growing advice, I'm useless with them. I've resorted to keeping charity-shopped plastic ones in the bathroom, at least I can't kill them! xxx

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  10. So many of those plants threw me back to my childhood - growing up in Africa a lot of those succulents, euphorbia and cacti were just 'garden plants' !! Lovely photos 😁

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    1. I'd love to see those gardens! I was fascinated to see Aeonium growing like weeds out of the cracks in pavements and out of roofs - oh, to live in a subtropical climate! xxx

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  11. Oh my word, Vix - whilst the succulents are extraordinary - trees are my crack lol
    I Googled the Garoe Tree and then disappeared down the rabbit hole and found the juniper trees at El Sabinar https://elhierro.travel/en/what-to-do/el-sabinar/ - quite honestly, I don't think I'd ever come home again from there!
    That blue dress is simply gorgeous on you - and my word - your hair has got so long ...

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    1. ... and yes, I do say 'my word' quite a lot as I'm trying to be less of a Sweary-Mary - heh!

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    2. Aren't those trees incredible, Elaine? We spotted them all over the interior of the island, they were impressive enough before I knew about the dragon's blood!
      Those juniper trees are incredible. I think El Hierro needs investigation, it looks fabulous in these photos: https://www.hellocanaryislands.com/el-hierro/
      I think that Dilli Grey dress might be my favourite. My hair seems to have had another growing spurt, I managed to shut it in the front door yesterday and was trapped in the hallway till Jon came and rescued me! xxx

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  12. Didn't know about the dragon's blood trees, very interesting! wonder if it has any medicinal uses. You look lovely (as always). I would have enjoyed the gardens as much as you, I have some cacti, one has grown to a foot tall over the years - I neglect them, extremes of temp in my conservatory all year round (its freezing out there now but they like it) , forget to water for ages - until they look dehydrated, they seem to like that! Betty

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    1. It's worth a trip just to see those Dragon Trees, Betty! I know that the early Canarians used the "blood" in art and pottery painting.
      I think that must be where I've gone wrong with cacti in the past, I've killed them with kindness! xxx

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  13. Oh wow! That's just fabulous! I always visit botanical gardens if there's any where I am, but that one really is spectacular.
    As I said in my previous comment, a friend swears by Lanzarote, and I think they have some cool gardens too. I'll definitely have to reconsider my impressions of The Canaries! Xx

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    1. Like you, I love a botanical garden at home or abroad.
      After dismissing the Canaries for years I'm now eating my words! The cost of living is much cheaper than mainland Spain, too! xxx

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  14. Some of those forms of the plants you've captured are amazing. I've never attempted to keep a cactus alive, but my sister had several which flowered regularly. Arilx

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    1. Aren't they beautifully strange? I think I might need to have another go at cacti, your sister must have the magic touch! xxx

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  15. Hello dear Vix and Jon! This is your fan club from St. Louis, Missouri, USA. You haven't heard from us in a dog's age, but we always get together to look at your blog when we visit Miss Kathryn. We also look at another blogger from the UK (Vronni) who mentioned that she was planning to quit blogging and it occurred to us that we may not be allowing you to get a real head count of your readers, either, as we can only look at blogs over at K's so we all read your blog and look at your lovely pics together in one setting a week or so. Sorry if that reads as only one view when eight of us are actually reading and following along. We still follow and admire you so much! And we still think you look a lot like you are related to Cher. We know Lord John has posh roots...and we still think you have connections with Cher's family somehow! Love from us and sorry we are so bloody ancient that we cannot view blogs more than we do!

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    1. I can't tell you how excited I am to hear from you all! Jon only asked me the other day if I still heard from the gang in St Louis! I've met Vronni in real life and she's just as lovely as she seems on her blog - you've got great taste.
      I'm so happy that you're as feisty as ever.
      I keep searching my family tree for a Cher connection, if I find any evidence of her being a relative I'll let you know! Much love to you all! xxxx PS Jon's still in bed, he'll be thrilled to know that you've left a comment.

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  16. Whoops! The Ancients had been pecking away at my old laptop and I see that they managed to send along a message! I am quite amazed at their efforts! We all do still follow you...and I am also surprised that Google let us send something along without any Google Account. All this tech makes me nuts. We all love you and Jon...best wishes, our beauty! Kathryn M

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    1. Kathryn, it's wonderful to hear from you. I think of you all often. Technology gets more and more frustrating, I'm constantly locking myself out of accounts. Sending you all my love. xxx

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  17. I found the cactus quite amazing.
    Coffee is on and stay safe

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  18. Ah, what a wonderful place to visit!!
    The cacti varieties are incredible!!!
    That dragon tree is most intriguing!
    I'd like to return to the Canaries- I went to Lanzarote when I was 9 (had my 9th birthday there!). My BiL went to La Gomera just before Christmas and really enjoyed it- you have to get a ferry from Tenerife (or was it an internal flight?) Thus it is less touristy.
    Your Dilli Grey looks super pretty.xx

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    1. Morning, Kezzie! That DG dress is becoming a travel essential! I think you and CBC would love Gran Canaria (if you avoid the awfully touristy bit in the South). Lots of people go for the walking, the scenery's amazing and I'd forgotten what good value the food was - there are five Michelin starred restaurants in Las Palmas, I checked out the menus and the most expensive dish was €28!
      I like the look of La Gomera and El Hierro very much. I think La Gomera's got an airport but you need to fly to Spain first. The ferries are very reasonably priced and reliable so definitely the best option! xxx

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  19. Oh WOW!! That top photo looks like the poster for a film, amazing. Those cacti look lethal, but what a fantastic place and it looks like you almost had it all to yourselves.

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    1. It was amazing, almost otherworldly! There wasn't anyone around at all - bliss! xxx

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  20. As a huge fan of botanical gardens, I love your post!, so beautiful photos!
    My first attempt to grow an aloe vera was so successful that it is reproducing madly (it's really invasive!). I'm keeping it indoors in the winter, but will go back to the balcony as soon as temperatures rise. It's the one plant I've not killed! (even geraniums almost died!)
    besos

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    1. I was so impressed with your aloe vera plant when you posted a photo last week, I don't know what I'm doing wrong - maybe I ought to just move to Spain! xxx

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Lots of love, Vix