Visit to Parque La Mexicana

 I just returned from a visit to Parque La Mexicana in Mexico City, Mexico. 

Amazing.  Simply amazing.  In the middle of January, this park was one of the prettiest, most maintained, clean, beautiful, incredible parks I have seen in a long time.  I can only imagine what it must be like in the spring, though honestly, it was so pretty it would be hard to beat.  

 The first photo is of a beautiful mass planting of the blue Agapanthus (all time favorite plant of mine) near a fountain and the second photo has the white Agapanthus paired with Magnolia Trees.  Swoon!!!

 Mass grass plantings- can't go wrong with that ever. 

 Parque La Mexicana sits right dab in the middle of Mexico City in an area called Santa Fe.  This area has some of the most architecturally unique buildings I have seen in a long time all in one place.  The buildings are both residential and office buildings and all are impressive.  The park itself used to be the city dump.  Yes, you read that right, the city dump.  Can you even imagine?!?!  And look at it now.  What an incredible transformation.  

 There are bike paths and walking and jogging paths that run throughout the park;  the path is made of recycled tires so it is nice and soft.  

 The pathways are simply breathtaking.

 More examples of the plantings- here with Santolina and blooming Sedum.

 Rosemary and grasses.

 There is an area for children to play with jungle gyms, swings, baby zip line and structures to play on.  There is a Starbucks, several restaurants as well as a PetCo.  Almost everyone walking has a dog (or two) and you can see people working on the gardens and beds all over the park helping to keep it pristine. 

 There is also a skate-park.

 And as if it wasn't already one of the most amazing things you have seen in a long time, there is also a concert amphitheater in the middle of the park.  Stunning.  Can you imagine???

 I think this was one of my favorite spots and view. 

 One of the ponds.

 A classic combo and one of my all time favorites- Agaves and grasses.  Love.

 And if that wasn't beautiful enough, it has Weeping Willows along the side of the Agave and grass patches.  It was like they knew my favorite plants and put them all together.

 This is a little stream that runs a long length of the park- it is so relaxing to sit and hear the trickling stream of water flowing as you sit in the incredibly comfortable benches.  

 I am constantly impressed with Mexico City and their beautification of their public spaces- they do mass plantings, sprinkle in art as well as change up seasonally all over the city.  This was my first time visiting this park and it will not be my last.  It was an amazing day, blue skies, perfect day to walk the path, grab a coffee and admire the beautiful park.

A Tour of the Botanical Gardens in Mexico City, Mexico

I recently toured the Botanical Gardens of Chapultepec, Mexico City, Mexico.  It was not only beautiful but was amazing.  I had been before but in the last two years, they have really made a lot of improvements and changes and I loved them!!  They have collaborated with various artists that have designed certain areas and/or installations in the garden throughout.

I have seen this over the years in Mexico City and the trend finally made it to Austin a few years ago.    I always thought they did and do a nice job of this planting with the succulents.  I feel the key is to really pack them in there to have it nice and full.

 Photos of the various cactus, agave and Yucca beds.

 Another concrete stacking succulent pile.  I love how this filled out!!

 Two views of the same bed- love the combos here and how the Creeping Jenny adds that perfect bright pop of color!!

 A few of the artist inspired beds. 

 I love plants planted in mass.  The Agaves do not disappoint.

 They really do a good job I feel on their displays.

 These straw ant sculptures are all over the place- some stand alone like this one and some peeking out behind an agave or yucca.  They are creatively placed throughout.

 There were hummingbirds all over the Agastache but I was not able to get them clearly.

 I loved this- they had tubes filled with different dried peppers throughout the gardens. 

 A few shots of the perennial gardens.  Everything was simply beautiful.

 Another artist installation/creation.  I like how they used simply barrels and loaded them with plants.

 I liked this little trio!

 An example of the bees placed throughout.

Hope you enjoyed the photos!!

Visit the Town of Malinalco, Mexico

We just returned from the most amazing town, Malinalco, Mexico.  It is a short 2 hour drive from Mexico City and it is by far one of the cutest most charming towns I have visited in some time.  

The town has hip cute restaurants and ice cream shops as well as some very unique and fun shopping.  

This was a photo (almost life sized) in one of the cutest little tea shops I have ever seen- La Casa de Valentina- which serves lunch and dinner as well.  The tea menu was one like I have never seen- you can order tea for headaches, dehydration, stress - list goes on and on.  Another great restaurant there was Los Placeres which I apparently didn't get photos of but was outstanding.

There is a beautiful church - Convento Agustino del Siglo XVI, which was an Augustine monastery-that we visited which had amazing frescos - I tried to get some photos but the photos did not do them justice.  

There were Bougainvilleas all over the place in adding pops of color all over.  Lavender was in full bloom, Agapanthus, Passion Vine, Morning Glory Vine, Acanthus, Aloes bursting with blooms- it was incredible.  It's a pretty small town so no links to link up to other than Wikipedia...

We walked pretty much all over, even visited the pyramids- Zona Arqueologica Malinalco- that were there- quite a little hike up there but well worth it when you arrive.   

You are pretty high up there- these are the views from the spot.

We stayed a little bit (maybe five minutes) outside of the center of town at a boutique hotel, 

Casa Alamillo, which was amazing.  

 Look at that cactus!!!!  You can't tell from the photo but there are citrus trees EVERYWHERE.  Lemons, Limes, Starfruit, Oranges.  They were all blooming and fragrance was intoxicating. 

Once you enter the gates, you don't want to leave.  The setting is serene, peaceful and the service outstanding.  It was hard to leave our little paradise to head out into the city though I do recommend it, just hurry back to the hotel.

The hotel is also part of a spa which offers the most outstanding and relaxing treatments I have had to date.  Purusha Ayurveda Spa is the website if you want to check it out.

Up above the rooms they have an organic garden in which they grown most of their veggies etc. that they serve in their incredible meals.  Here is a view from up there.

The hummingbirds- as hard to capture on film as the ones here at home, were HUGE.  They were easily twice the size of the ones we have at the nursery.  Not a great pic but hopefully you can tell how big he was.  He was going to town on that Aloe bloom but I couldn't get a better shot of him.

 

There is a little cave behind the hotel we walked up- there are two owls nests in there which was neat and the walk up there was beautiful.  At the back of the cave is this statue which I thought was beautiful.  The hotel owner said it was there and they just left it.  I would have too!!

 

The hotel has pots of amazing plants all over the place- this one struck my interest.  It looks like a Pride of Barbados but clearly is not.  Love it!!!

 

There were Passion Vines growing as well - who doesn't love a Passion Vine???  

Did you notice the massive cacti in the first photo of the hotel?  Can you imagine?  Love it!  Wish I had that here!!!!  I thought I got some shots of the Mexican Fence Post Cactus- another one I adore but I can't find the photos anywhere.  

Hope you enjoyed the tour.  One word- Amazing.  Can not wait to return!!

SaveSave