We actually went to Palmetum in Santa Cruz just to visit.
We didn't plan a photo session.
But since I had my camera with me and captured a few frames, I decided to show you what you can expect in this place.
Maybe some of you as plant lovers would like to have your photo session done right in a botanical garden?
Especially such a unique one, built on a garbage dump!
Palmetum in Santa Cruz, Tenerife is a 12-hectare botanical garden that specializes in palm trees.
This project is unique on a global scale.
It transformed a municipal garbage dump into a recreational space for plant lovers, teeming with spectacular vegetation brought here through partnerships with institutions from around the world.
The Santa Cruz Palmetum Gardens are home to Europe's largest palm collection, considered the world's largest botanical collection of tropical palms.
History of Palmetum - the botanical garden in Tenerife
In 1983, the garbage dump was officially closed, leaving a 40-meter-high mountain of waste devoid of vegetation, but full of fermenting garbage.
In the following years, the city publicly debated what to do with this space.
Various ideas were considered, and in the early 1990s, serious consideration was given to the idea of Manuel Caballero, an agronomist and palm lover and connoisseur, who proposed a botanical project on the no longer existing landfill.
little Rysia's photos - each one better than the last ;)
there are many pathways in Palmetum
have you ever seen trees with lianas like from the Tarzan fairy tale in real life? :D
there are so many plant species in Palmetum that it's hard to photograph and describe them all, but some of them will appear here.
This one, for example, amazed us with the color of its bark
who can spot the guest in the flower? ;)
Opening of Palmetum to visitors
Santa Cruz Palmetum opened to the public in 2014.
The interesting history behind its creation was, however, a challenge that developed over more than twenty years.
The gardens stretched across an artificial hill that in the 1970s was a garbage dump.
this place is perfect for walks, rest in the shade of trees
every now and then there are benches here with ocean views
"Palmetum botanical garden was built on a garbage dump"
and this tree - what a wonder!
in Tenerife there are few places like parks or botanical gardens.
You'll find them mainly in Santa Cruz and Puerto de la Cruz.
One of them is Palmetum
such an amount of greenery after a longer stay in the dry south of the island really pleases the eyes
beautiful fish in the garden
and this?
Female Monarchs lay eggs on plants - mainly from the milkweed family, whose leaves serve as food for monarch butterfly larvae.
Larvae hatch from the eggs, which then turn into pupae to eventually become adult butterflies.
The monarch reaches full reproductive maturity after three days.
Did you know that the monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) can travel up to 4 thousand kilometers during its southward flight?
It's the only insect in the world that migrates so far.
this is a great place to show nature to children
under the banana tree :)
Prices at Palmetum
Current prices as of January 2022
• Adult non-resident – €6.00
• Child non-resident - €2.80
• Adult resident - €3.00 *
• Children under 2 years old – free
Is it worth going to Palmetum in Santa Cruz?
Everyone will answer this question for themselves.
For us it was a very pleasant walk, an opportunity to see plants that cannot be seen anywhere else.
Along the pathways there are signs with the names of countries/places in the world where given plants occur.
So in one day we were in Madagascar, Hawaii, USA, and many other places ;)
at the end we went up to the viewpoint overlooking the city of Santa Cruz
you can see the Auditorium here, that extraordinary building that houses the philharmonic
Palmetum Garden is located close to another interesting location - Playa Las Terrasitas
Which we also visited ;) If you want to see the continuation of our day, click here.
