Orchid Festival 2015 opens at Else Kientzler Botanical Gardens in Costa Rica

Orchids have a mystique. A magic, beguiling beauty. Their complex patterns, colors and forms in a flower so delicate and fragile, simply boggle the senses. They are coveted like an elusive, exotic treasure, and bought, sold and traded around the world. Whole societies and organizations are dedicated to preserving these amazing beauties.

This weekend in Sarchi, Costa Rica at the Else Kientzler Botanical Gardens, you can immerse yourself in the enchanting world of orchids at their Orchid Festival 2015. The event will be held March 13, 14 and 15 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the botanical gardens, located in the artisan town of Sarchi, about an hour northwest of San Jose.

The setting couldn’t be prettier – 17 acres (7 hectares) of exotic botanical gardens with more than 2,000 species of exotic tropical plants from places like Guyana, New Zealand, Madagascar, Japan, the Bahamas, Java, Brazil, India, Korea, and of course Costa Rica. There are ponds, a river, and a large playground for children. Visitors can stroll two kilometers of trails; more than 40% of the gardens are wheelchair accessible.

Orchids are the largest and most diverse family of flowering plants on Earth. There are between 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species of Orchidaceae – more than twice the number of bird species, and about four times the number of mammal species on the planet, according to Wikipedia. Orchids are found in tropical areas on all continents except Antarctica. They are most abundant in warm rainforest-type climates.



Costa Rica’s National Flower is the purple orchid Guarianthe skinneri and you can find more than 1,400 species of orchids in Costa Rica. “Orchids flower in Costa Rica all year long,” noted Ovido Esquivel, director of the Else Kientzler Botanical Gardens. “But the majority of species flower during our summer from January to March.”

At this weekend’s Orchid Festival 2015, there will be an exposition of orchids with many rare species. Experts will be on hand to answer questions and talk about the orchids. You can buy your own orchid to take home, and learn about ways to care for your orchid at on-site orchid and gardening workshops during the festival. There will be a drama theater about the environment for families, live music and food and drink for sale. On Saturday, Mar. 14, at 1:30 p.m., folkloric dancers will have a show, and on Sunday, Mar. 15, you can join a relaxing yoga class at 9:00 a.m. on a beautiful yoga platform amid the gardens.

Admission is $10 for foreign tourists; 2,900 colones for residents; 2,200 colones for students and seniors; and 1,900 colones for children. The beautiful Costa Rica botanical gardens are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guided walks are available in English, Spanish and German with advance reservations, or you can go on a self-guided tour.

Article by Shannon Farley

Sunday of Dogs and Flowers at Costa Rica botanical gardens

Looking for something fun to do this Sunday? How about a day out in sunshine, fresh air and beautiful Costa Rica botanical gardens, and spend it with your best buddy – your faithful family dog.


The Else Kientzler Botanical Gardens in Sarchi, Costa Rica is hosting its second annual Canine Event – A Sunday of Dogs and Flowers – this Sunday, Feb. 8. The event will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the botanical gardens, located in the artisan town of Sarchi, just north of the main town center.

The setting couldn’t be prettier – 17 acres (7 hectares) of exotic gardens and ponds, a fruit tree orchard and a large playground for children. The community event will be a full day of fun for families and pets. At 9:00 a.m. there will be a 3 km walk in the gardens for dogs and owners. A “Doga” class – Yoga for humans and dogs – at 11:00 a.m. will show you how stretching and exercise is healthy both for you and your dog. The first 15 persons to attend will receive a free yoga mat.

There will be talks on dog behavior, dog training and pet care. Lunch will be available and also live music. Local animal rescue and protection organizations will be on hand to inform people about their worthwhile programs and offer pets for adoption. Kids can get a thrill on a children’s zip-line. And at 3:00 p.m. there will be an exhibition of K-9 police dogs.

Entrance to the “Sunday of Dogs and Flowers” at Else Kientzler Botanical Gardens is 2,900 colones for adults; 2,200 colones for students and seniors; and 1,900 colones for children. For 3,500 colones, you get entrance and participation in the 3 km walk.
Post a cute photo of your dog on the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden Facebook page – “Jardín Botánico Else Kientzler” – with the hashtag ‪#‎DePerrosyFlores and you could receive free entrance tickets if chosen.

The beautiful Else Kientzler gardens features more than 2,000 plants and trees of Costa Rica and exotic tropical plants from around the world. Their sister company Innovaplant exports Costa Rican plants and flowers all over the planet. The gardens are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guided walks are available in English, Spanish and German with advance reservations, or you can go on a self-guided tour. More than 40% of the gardens are wheelchair accessible.

Article by Shannon Farley

Bright ideas for Christmas plants from Costa Rica

To your holiday decorations this year, add some pretty Christmas plants for a living touch of good cheer. Surprisingly, many holiday plants are tropical in origin, which means that you care for them like a houseplant if you live in a cold climate.

The Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Sarchi, Costa Rica, has several fun ideas for traditional and novel Christmas plants to decorate your home this holiday season. They recommend using decorative planters in different levels, along with hanging baskets, for Christmassy-colored plants. Or, create a small thematic “island garden” where you rotate plants that are in season. “We have a little garden at the entrance to our reception that right now is all Christmas plants,” noted Ovido Esquivel, director of the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden.  

 

Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima): Native to Mexico and Central America, the poinsettia is perhaps the most recognizable Christmas plant. In English, it is named after the first U.S. minister to Mexico, Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced the plant into the USA in 1825. The colored leaves on the plant – red, white, pink and dark green – look like flowers, even though they are really leaves. While in full bloom, poinsettias like semi-cool, humid locations in bright, indirect light with plenty of moisture and adequate drainage; you don’t want to drown them or have them sit in water-filled saucers, which can produce root rot. If you live in a warmer climate, you can plant your poinsettia after Christmas in a sunny area and it will grow into a shrub or small tree.

 

Euphorbia Diamond Frost: This very pretty plant in the poinsettia family grows a cloud of tiny, delicate white flowers and small, rounded green leaves. “They are very beautiful to decorate the house with Christmas colors. They are easy to plant and maintain in baskets, planters and home gardens,” said Esquivel.

 

Torenia (torenia fournieri): Also called wishbone flower or bluewings, this beautiful flower comes in many shades of blue, rose, yellow, pink, purple or white; but most have purple blue flowers with a yellow throat. It is native to Africa and Asia and loves hot and humid weather; it grows well in semi-shade and can be put in a basket or a planter. The purple variety is good for Christmas color, noted Esquivel. He suggests planting Torenia with Euphorbia Diamond Frost for pretty Christmas colors.

 

GoGo Scarlet and GoGo Purple (Salvia): With bright scarlet red and bright purple flowers, these two varietals are another pretty possibility for your holiday garden. Plant them together in large stair-step planters for spectacular decoration.

 

 Mediterranean cypress tree (Cupressus sempervirens): The cypress tree is the traditional Christmas tree in Costa Rica. The evergreen conifer gives off a wonderful aroma, which fills the houses in Costa Rica from both trees and wreaths during the holidays.

All of these plants are growing in the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Costa Rica, and are grown for export by their business, Innovaplant. The beautiful Costa Rica botanical garden features more than 2,000 species of exotic tropical plants from around the globe. The gardens are open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guided walks are available in English, Spanish and German with advance reservations, or you can go on a self-guided tour.  

Article by Shannon Farley 

Fascinating facts about plants of Costa Rica

The fascinating fact about plants and trees in Costa Rica is that each one has a story, or a folk tradition or a specific use. There is much more than meets the eye in this tropical paradise.

Ovido Esquivel, director of the Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Sarchi, Costa Rica, uncovered the mystique of some of Costa Rica’s commonly found plants and trees, which you will more than likely see in your travels around Costa Rica.

Bougainvillea (veranera in Spanish): Native to South America, the vibrantly-colored thorny climbing bush is a favorite plant in Costa Rica gardens, and can be found in shades from purple to fuchsia, red, pink, orange, white, and a myriad of hues in between. “People like to grow these in their gardens because they produce flowers all year long,” noted Esquivel. “In rural areas on farms, chickens use bougainvillea vines to make nests to sleep up off the ground. My grandmother had a bougainvillea and it was always full of chickens.”

Cuban cigar plant (Bijagua in Spanish; scientific name: Calathea lutea): In Costa Rica, this plant is very popular in gardens and it also grows frequently along roadsides, especially in the Caribbean region. The Bijagua plant is so common in Costa Rica, that the town of Bijagua de Upala in northern Costa Rica is named after it. “The indigenous used the leaves to wrap their tamales and to cook fish over coals,” said Esquivel. “Field workers in Costa Rica use the leaves to wrap up their lunch in a pouch and carry it to work.”

Wandering Jew (cucaracha in Spanish; scientific name: Zebrina pendula): This colorful and fast-growing plant grows wherever it touches soil. Wandering Jew can grow as a thick groundcover, or vertically on trellises or on the sides of buildings, or in hanging baskets. “Traditionally, grandmothers planted these in old buckets around the house, and used the leaves to regulate menstruation, for gastritis, or to cure cuts and skin rashes,” said Esquivel.

Walking Palm (palmera maquenque or palmito amargo in Spanish; scientific name: Socratea exorrhiza): Native to Costa Rica, this palm tree produces a bitter fruit that traditionally was eaten during Easter Week, Esquivel noted. “It is very unique the wood of this tree,” he said. “It is super flexible and at the same time very hard and resistant. Indigenous people use this wood for their houses.”

Kapok tree (Ceiba in Spanish; scientific name: Ceiba pentandra): This tree is considered one of the giants of the tropics. Kapok trees can grow up to 165 feet (50 meters) tall, and are popular for their shade and quick growth. “In the indigenous culture of Central America the tree is sacred; they believe that the first humans were conceived from the Ceiba tree from the womb of the immense trunk,” Esquivel explained.

The Else Kientzler Botanical Garden in Sarchi is open every day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Guided walks are available in English, Spanish and German with advance reservations, or you can go on a self-guided tour.

Article by Shannon Farley