Montoso Gardens

Puerto Rico is so lush and green, it is no wonder people choose this tropical paradise as their destination for escape. Throughout the island, you will find all types of beautiful things such as brightly colored and fragrant flowers, birds and butterflies, palm trees, sandy beaches, and more, all reminders of the Caribbean culture.

While many of the trees, flowers, and plants grow naturally, others are grown in botanical gardens where you can get up close to the beauty and learn more about what the island has to offer. One such botanical garden is called Montoso Gardens, a magnificent, 90-acre place where you will discover numerous unique species of tropical fruit, spices, nuts, palms, and best of all, a nursery where more than 600 species of exotic flowers are grown for your enjoyment.

Many of the flowers are native to the island, meaning you will not find them any other place on the planet. To get to Montoso Gardens, you would head to the south side of Pico Montoso Mountain, which is right in the heart of the coffee growing region in Maricao. In addition to the spectacular display of plants and flowers, Montoso Mountain is also home to some incredible wildlife. Visiting Montoso Gardens is a great day trip. With daytime temperatures around 85 degrees that dip to around 70 at night, the climate does not get any better.

This area of Puerto Rico receives on average 100 inches of rain annually, which is what helps all the wonderful vegetation grow. Keep in mind when visiting that the months from December to March are dry while the rainy season begins in August and ends sometime in November. Around Montoso Gardens is another wonderful area consisting of Maricao State Forest, 5,000 acres that is run by the Department of Natural Resources.

Most of the agriculture techniques used in the forest are organic, making this an outstanding ecosystem. The trip to the gardens is just $5 to get in and if children accommodate a parent, there is not charge. As you walk through the botanical garden, you will certainly be awe inspired by all the beauty. While there are a number of specialty groups, one of the most amazing exotic tropical flowers falls within the Zingiberales group. These plants are not only unique but they also live a long time.

The foliage is simply stunning, as you enjoy all types of specimens from the tropical garden, cut flower arrangements, and potted plants. For example, it is common to see gingers, bird of paradise, banana trees, and heliconias, among many, many more. Best of all, Montoso Gardens is family owned and operated since 1987. Each member of the family is 100% dedicated to growing beautiful and healthy plants for the public to enjoy. While there is so much to see, the family is currently working on plans to restore the original coffee hacienda house, along with various cottages. The goal of the family is to offer each visitor the experience of the tropics through seeing, touching, and smelling magnificent plants.


Last Updated: 10/19/2006 3:14:00 PM

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