about the Palmetum of Santa Cruz de Tenerife

The Palmetum is the largest green space in the centre of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, capital city of the Western Canary Islands.
The total surface is divided into geographical sections, in order to represent the palm flora of the different areas of the globe.
The construction started in 1996.
The palms specimen were purchased in local nurseries and some others were imported from Cuba, Florida, South Africa and Argentina and quarantined.
Palms had really hard times during the first years. They had to recover from transplant shock on the top of the desert hill: setbacks seemed eternal.
The palmetum is located on the highest point of the coastline, visitors can admire the best views to the ocean, to the city and the whole island.

 

mira, when you say in the centre of Santa Cruz do you mean the public gardens or outside. We went there two years ago on the bus from Puerto DL Cruz and the gardens were completely closed of by metal fencing all round, you couldn't even see what was going on inside. This looks a fantastic place although as the Canaries are just outside the tropics I guess some plants will struggle there, as it obviously isn't as protected as the Botanical (walled) gardens.

 

with my pleasure I can give you some more information, courtesy of Carlo Morici:

The palmetum is fenced and the gate is often closed.
It is an "unfinished project" that has never been opened to the public (yet).
It is a flat-topped hill so you can't see the gardens from below.

The Palmetum is located in the Southern Coast, so it is much warmer and sunnier than the Botanical Gardens of La Orotava located in the Northern Coast, by Puerto de La Cruz.
The palmetum has no walls but the flat top is embraced by a crown of wind-screening trees.
The temperature is ideal and many palm species grow to perfection, as long as water, soil and pests are controlled.
It never gets too cold, even cacao fruited easily.

 

I obviously mis -read you post as I thought you meant the capital, Santa Cruz, up in the north east. It will be a place worth seeing, although I have never wanted to visit the souhern part of Tenerife, I prefer the greener quieter nothern part.

 

Hi strongylodon,
yes what you have seen should be the one.
Even if Santa Cruz de Tenerife is said to be in the south coast, it is in fact situated quite a way up north on the island.
Follows a map which clarifies the explanation:

http://maps.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=28.334604~-16.550217&style=h&lvl=10&tilt=-90&dir=0&alt=-1000&encType=1

 

updating...

[ 09. October 2007, 02:31 PM: Message edited by: miraflores ]

 

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN....

THE ENGLISH VERSION IS NOW ONLINE

http://www.pacsoa.org.au/places/SantaCruz/index.html

YOURS TRULY,

Carlo Morici



[ 10. October 2007, 08:13 AM: Message edited by: miraflores ]

 

Thanks for that Miraflores, that clarifies the position, it is just outside the city on an old landfill site and not in the centre where the public gardens are as I thought. I would like to visit it one day (when I can fit it in).

 

Hi strongyldon. The palmetum is still closed to the public, so officially it would not be possible to visit it. But if are really interested since you are in the gardening business I understand, maybe we can persuade those in charge to make a little exception...
I also would love to visit it!
Well, so far, let's enjoy the pictures!

 

Great shots Mira, it's going to be great.