My entry to Qurator Photo Quest: Roots organized by @qurator:
Hello,
The Canary Islands, those of you who know them, know that they are a real jewel of which all Spaniards are very proud of them and their people.
They are known for their fantastic temperature all year round, for their night tourism in some parts of the islands, for the adventure tourism in islands like Fuerteventura or for mountain tourism as they have one of the highest peaks in Europe with the imposing volcano Teide on the island of Tenerife.
Well, on this island of Tenerife I am working for a couple of days and because I have left work a little late I decided to visit the largest park in the city, which is particularly beautiful and has one of the largest varieties of trees and plants I have ever seen, including some visits I have made to botanical gardens.
García Sanabria Park: A place to breathe and enjoy after a day's work.
On my last visit to Santa Cruz de Tenerife I discovered this park but the weather was bad and I couldn't visit it properly. So today I have walked around it for about two hours to share it with all the Hivers.
The García Sanabria Park is a green lung in the centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. According to the information captured on one of the park's QR codes, I discovered that it is the largest park in the Canary Islands, covering 67,230 square metres.
A multitude of natural attractions
García Sanabria Park owes its name to Santiago García Sanabria, who was a key figure in the history of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. During his term of office as mayor of the city, he promoted the creation of green spaces and recreational areas to improve the quality of life of the citizens. This park was inaugurated in 1926.
The first thing you realise when you walk the first few metres through this park is that you are not in just any park in a European city, but that you are entering a veritable jungle of palm trees, ficus and other tree species from different parts of the planet.
On my walk through the park I entered through the upper part of the park and the first thing that amazed me was the different types of ficus. It is very striking how from its branches the future roots descend in search of the ground to give more and more strength to the tree and to continue growing.
Going down the left side of the park, the number of ficus trees that are several decades old is impressive due to their great size and the large number of roots they have managed to send down to the ground.
Some of these roots have even taken on striking shapes as if they had created a bathtub inside or a strategy to accumulate water the few times it rains on the island.
During my walk the chirping of different birds was constant, but among so much vegetation to be able to see them without binoculars was an impossible task. But the large number of palm trees from different regions of the world was not a problem to photograph them and to realise the great diversity.
Getting lost on the many paths through the park is a unique experience. As you walk along the paths, you come across information about the different plant species and are absolutely amazed at how far away many of these species are.
But it's not all big trees, there are also small gardens in the park, although at the end of the summer only a few species are still in full splendor.
Highlights and places that I liked the most
Flower Clock
A very original clock and a great masterpiece combining engineering and horticulture.
This floral marvel, donated by the Danish colony in 1958, not only marks the passage of time with precision, but also offers a unique visual spectacle that changes with the seasons.
With thousands of carefully planted and maintained flowers, this clock is a symphony of colour that delights visitors and has become a popular place to take photographs and enjoy the natural beauty. At the same time, the flowers change according to the time of year, so if you visit this place, you will have a different photo each time.
Fountain of fertility
Located in the heart of the park, the Fountain of Fertility is a majestic architectural work symbolising abundance and life.
Designed by sculptor Juan Rodriguez Botas, this monumental fountain captivates with its cascades of crystalline water and sculptures celebrating nature in all its forms. Surrounded by lush gardens and benches for resting, it is a perfect place to relax and contemplate its beauty while the sound of the water creates an atmosphere of serenity.
Sculptures
Walking through the different paths of the park, one discovers different sculptures that decorate and combine with the nature of the park.
One of the sculptures that caught my attention is this sculpture with anthropomorphic forms that I found near a pond where there was a lot of noise.
Central Fountain
The bustle in the central fountain was due to the fact that several dogs had waded into the water and came out near the owners to dry themselves, as a dog does by wetting everything around him.
The beauty of this fountain is captivating.
As you can see, I took a selfie so that you could see how many people were sitting there with their notebooks sketching the surroundings. Definitely a good place to be inspired.
Aromatic garden
Just behind the central fountain I came across a special little garden where there were different smells that mingled because there were different aromatic plants such as basil, rosemary and different types of olive trees among other species.
Round and Elongated
My final daytime tour of the park ended at the cactus area, where numerous large round cacti occupied a large area of the park.
But my eyes moved quickly to other white elongated cacti which were new to me and which caught my attention.
Night walk
After a shower at the hotel and going out for dinner I walked through the park and had a big surprise.
In the central path of the park hanging from the trees to illuminate the way, big stars of painting and architecture give light to the place. A cultural success for such a beautiful place.
I hope you like this post which is a bit longer than I had originally thought.
Bye
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