Curator’s Corner

Dear Members and Friends of the Garden,

June is an exciting time for us who live in Puerto Vallarta. Unfortunately, this year was a wildfire season like no other. Wildfires have been burning all over Cabo Corrientes since the end of March, with our rugged mountainous terrain making firefighting next to impossible. We can only imagine what has been lost, but these mountain lands have evolved with fire, and trees can survive if the burning has not been too severe. The land cries out for rain, and we can tell more about the damage once we are into the rainy season.

If things go as planned, the rain should start in June, and forests will transform from primarily brown and grey to a sea of emerald-green trees and other plants. Like a sponge that miraculously swells when exposed to water, our forests will take on new colors and forms that we have not seen since last summer. Our trees are not only the beneficiaries of these rains; they also safeguard against erosion and form the backbone of our forest ecosystems.

Prevention of wildfires could not be more critical; collectively, the diversity and abundance of life in our forests provide valuable benefits, including water and air purification, storage and cycling of minerals and nutrients, habitat for native animals, and much more. As we enjoy the first rains of the season, let’s take some time to observe the joys of nature and appreciate the wonder of our Mexican wilderness, charred and blackened but still there.

On a lighter note,, it’s Hummingbird Season and the hummers are swarming the restaurant balcony right now. Please join us for Hummingbird Week June 13-16 for guided hummingbird tours and learn how to attract this living jewels to your own garden or balcony.

With much appreciation from the Garden,

Robert Price Founder and Curator, Vallarta Botanical Garden