Turu Ba Ri Park’ Orchids Garden
An orchid is a member of the Orchidaceae family, the largest group of all living flowers. There are at least 25,000 different species of orchids, with probably thousands more that remain unknown or unclassified. Horticulturists have also created over 100,000 hybrids for commercialization. In Costa Rica there are close to 1500 species. Most of the Costa Rican orchids are considered epiphytes. They grow on trees and use them as platforms where they receive a higher solar radiation than on the ground.
An orchid can grow in almost any climate except deserts, but most of them are native to tropical and subtropical climates, with tropical America having the largest variety. An orchid can also grow in all kinds of soil, including rocky soil or anchored on trees. The color of an orchid depends mainly on where they grow. At Turu Ba Ri Park, Costa Rica you can find one of the best orchid’s collection at a 2,400-square-meter area with around 918 feet in trails. The trails have been cultivated with trees from the botanical genus Bahuinia, which is used as a host plant for the orchids. There are over 500 host trees, which house some 1,100 plants that pertain to this important family. This garden offers the chance to observe and get to know these colorful, interesting plants and their intricately shaped flowers. The orchid’s flowering season depends on the species. However, the months from December to April see the most flowers.
The most common types of orchids are the Oncidium, Vanilla, Cattleya, Catasetum, Guareante, and others that fit into the category of Guareante skinneri. These plants are extremely important for the country also the “Guaria Morada” (Cattleya skinneri ), was designated the National Flower of Costa Rica on June 15, 1939. The Guaria Morada grows on trees, roofs, and buildings. It gets nutrients from the air, rain, dust, and residues stored on the trunk of trees. These plants use trees as a means of support, but they are not parasites. The orchid' flowers are large with fantastic shapes, amazing colors, and enchanting fragrances.
