Gardens

There are a variety of garden opportunities here on the Osa. One of our hobbies is gardening, and hence over the years we have planted many different flowers and plants. Most residents of this area are gardeners, and there is a continual exchange of plants, as well as friendly night raids to liberate stock from various unnamed collectors – this means you, Steve. Additionally a variety of guests have brought their expertise our way, and hence our gardens are lovely and continually evolving. Various types of gardens of course attract birds, butterflies, frogs, and a variety of mammals - our goal is to keep the wildlife coming our way. We have had the pleasure of many guest-gardeners, including gardener extraordinaire, Mark Robinson from San Diego. Isn't it about time for another visit, buddy?

Iguana Lodge has also become very involved in Native Species Gardening, with world renowned botanists helping us out: Reinaldo Aguilar and Catherine Bainbridge of Los Charcos de Osa are our advisors (and friends), and they work with and advise among others the New York Botanical Garden. It’s great! Iguana Lodge’s Native Species Garden is located on the pedestrian boulevard, “La Gloria de Platanares.” We have over forty native species in that garden and nursery, and are continually adding to and enhancing our collection, as well as little by little removing non-native plants in a variety of our gardens, and replacing them with natives. Our gardens amount to one of the largest native species programs in the country.

Meanwhile, although Iguana Lodge has lovely gardens, Casa Orquideas has exquisite gardens. Located on the opposite side of the gorgeous Golfo Dulce with boat access only, travel by boat delighting in the serenity and beauty of Nature at its Finest, keeping an eye open for dolphin, to Casa Orchideas where you meet Ron and Trudy McAllister. Self-taught botanists who have lived the last thirty years on these shores, they escort you through their magnificent gardens.

The nearly three hour tour covers an amazing array of plants: orchids, heliconias, bromeliads, and palms; fruits, spices, and medicinal plants; exotic miracle fruit, the gourd and cannonball tree. Taste the exotic star fruit, the sweet pulp of the chocolate bean, the magic miracle fruit seed that transforms the taste of lemon from sour to sweet. Savor the fragrance of the ylang-ylang flower - Channel #5 -; there is nothing like the fresh smell of vanilla beans or ginger root.

This is a spellbinding tour for anyone with an interest in plants. You will learn about the unique and various ways tropical plants compete and reproduce. No one will forget the pelican flower with its labyrinth passageways that trap insects for several days and then release them, all in the pursuit of reproduction. Recently we had a guest return with his wife, and although he expected merely to indulge his wife and accompany her, he told us that it was the best tour of his entire stay.

There is now a Chocolate Garden Tour offered here on the Osa as well, where you can learn all about the process of growing and processing chocolate, as well as taste and smell a variety of other herbs and spices. The tour culminates in a chocolate dessert extravaganza.