Explore the Stunning Montoso Gardens
If you love all things botanical and have a special interest in tropical plants, you simply have to visit the Montoso Gardens in Puerto Rico. This 90 acre (36 hectare) botanical garden features more than 600 different species of exotic tropical flowers, fruits, nuts, palms and spices. It includes a fruit farm and a nursery, as well as a natural tropical forest.
You’ll find the Montoso Gardens on the southern slope of Pico Montoso Mountain which is in the Maricao region of Puerto Rico. Maricao is known for growing coffee and when you arrive it is easy to understand why the plants grow in such abundance in this part of the island. The conditions are just perfect for this sort of growth and the Montoso Gardens provides a virtual paradise for both plants and animals. In fact, you’ll see a wonderful array of both flowering tropical plants and birds at this great botanical garden. The area receives roughly 100 inches (254 cm) of rain every year during the rain season and this sustains growth through the drier seasons.
It is especially convenient that the farm borders the Maricao State Forest, which features 5000 acres (2023 hectares) of pristine natural vegetation. The botanical garden is thus registered as an Auxiliary Forest and it works hard to make use of sustainable agricultural techniques in every aspect of the farming and living process. The farm is not yet 100% organic, but it is well on its way to becoming a completely organic farming facility.
Currently the gardens makes use of several organic farming techniques including inter-planting, mulching and cover crops and biodiversity which is strongly encouraged. The use of synthetic chemicals is limited to maintain a balanced and harminous environment. Other interesting fact is that the Montoso Gardens are given a personal touch by their owners, David and Bryan Brunner, who will be more than happy to show you around the facility and educate you on some of the many colorful and unusual tropical plants, flowers, nuts and palms found in the gardens.
Visitors to Maricao should plan a visit to the Montoso Gardens where they will find a unique and memorable experience for the whole family.
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