For an authentic experience, you should go sit in the sauna while you read this post, or just find someplace where your clothes will get damp and cling to you. It has to be 80 degrees Farenheit to count. Forget to take your water bottle, too. I’m not complaining, though; just setting the stage.
I thoroughly enjoyed my walk through Taipei Botanical Garden. It was a visual treat accompanied by various light nectar fragrances carried in the soft warm breeze. The predominant colors were green, with scattered blooms. Some of the flowers appeared to be tolerated weeds that lent a wild, free look to many sections. There were just enough people to give it a friendly feeling. This included a couple of classes of young school age children, but was mostly over 40’s adults getting some fresh air. One teacher encouraged the class to wave and say good-bye to me as I sat a moment on a nearby bench.
This is the entrance I came through after a short walk from the MRT (subway) station. Both the station and the street were almost deserted, causing me to feel a little unsure of the situation at first.
This was just a pretty design in the walk way as I entered.
You can see that once I got through the gate, the aspect was majestic.
The shapes and textures in the trees, both bark and leaf, was fun.
The sign for this vine said it was similar to one I grow every year in Idaho, “thunbergia”, but the flowers were quite different. I tried to avoid disturbing this lady involved in sketching it, but she turned out to be quite friendly and we had a bit of conversation with the help of my dictionary.
Close up of the flower.
Yep, they’re beans! Much of what I saw after the grand entrance, was vegetables, oddly enough.
Look at the trunk on that pepper plant!
That is rice in the front of the photo. Next is the scarecrow, which seems to have a universal character.
A loud buzz of voices and laughter lead me to discover a grade school adjacent to the gardens, just over the fence in this picture.
I contemplated giving this post the name “Land of the Giant House Plants.”. Here is a ‘crown of thorns.’
The special little house was full of cacti. I think it is environmentally controlled to keep it dry enough for them. They might rot out in this weather.
I thought this was a clever way to use these bricks in landscape design.
The leaves on this tree were huge.
Strange little water plants
In Taiwanese fashion, this lady is pulling a rather heavy cart as part of her work.
This is a building from the Qing Dynasty government.
Excellent us of a bicycle.
They are taking pictures of birds, but I couldn’t see any birds. Maybe not patient enough right then.
A panda plant?
This is labeled as a ficus.
A clematis
Intriguing plant supports
Twisted vines
The woman walking down the path in this photo talked with me for a while. In Chinese, and I learned how to say, ” Toronto, Canada” in Chinese because that is where her daughter is going to doctorate school. I don’t think she knew the elderly gentleman until he came over to try to help with the conversation and talk with the American. He knew a bit more English that she did. They walked away together and I could tell they were discussing the event.
Gives the phrase “letting your roots show” a whole other meaning
The lotus pond. I was expecting something smaller….
My favorite sign. Experience those plants!
I don’t think my irises at home are getting enough water…
Now, I’m tired and thirsty, but I have added another pleasant memory to my trip.
