Garden of the Senses and aquatic plants at the Historic Botanical Garden 📷 Málaga – Spain

There are places in nature that are truly special, where simply walking through them or being there makes you feel something different, as if you were in another world. Walks become magical and the energy of the surroundings changes.

What I’ll try to do today is describe to you what I felt in two very, very unique and special spots in the city’s historic La Concepción Botanical Garden. A garden covering 29 hectares where, every time I visit, I discover a new area on the map and it seems to go on forever.

As you enter through the main gate of this enormous garden, on the left, you’ll find the first magical spot. It was a sunny day, with the rays creating an incredible atmosphere. A large space with a pond dedicated to aquatic plants.

Above all, what I like most are the water lilies, especially when they’re in bloom. The photos I’m sharing with you are from two different visits, but to the same spot. In one of them, the flowers hadn’t appeared yet, and in the other, they were in full, beautiful bloom. I waited to show you this place because I wanted you to see the difference in the flowers.

Of course, the garden is full of information boards, and in this area I found one explaining how these species live in the water using a special, almost aerial structure, with stems, leaves and roots to float and exchange gases. They absorb minerals from the water and have pores in their leaves to prevent them from sinking.

Their uses are very varied and since ancient times they have been used medicinally, as well as in cosmetics and food. They fix nitrogen, which benefits the soil; furthermore, wastewater containing detergents can be purified using this type of plant.

But beyond their uses and how beneficial they are, I looked at them and was simply enchanted by them. I walked around that pond and some adjacent areas that also contained water, where there were other plants with blue flowers, whilst admiring the beauty of the place, as very nearby there was also a space that looked like a stage with columns. The setting there is lovely, and when the sun is out it is truly magical.

Around the pond there are some very tall pine trees that are reflected on the water, creating beautiful views. I took photos at various times, one when there were lots of water lilies and another when there were fewer and you could see those reflections on the water.

Seeing those leaves wide open and resting on the water, looking upwards as if greeting the sun, along with the pink flowers, was a marvel. One of my favourite flowers is the lotus flower, which is from the same family, and I really enjoyed this magical spot. But I also came across some ducks that were there. Whenever there’s water anywhere in the city, they’re there; they’re lovely.

Once I left that spot, to the right there’s a path leading to what looks like an avenue or a maze of paths with lots of palm trees, but instead of taking that route, I was completely captivated by something I saw on my right. They call it ‘The Garden of the Senses’.

They call it that because gardens can be a source of stimulation for the senses, especially sensory gardens, which are designed specifically for that purpose. I can assure you that the experience is unique and beautiful, because you experience nature in a very intense way, where the senses are heightened and you can achieve that deep connection with nature.

I’ve also brought you photos of two moments, particularly in the areas where there are flowers, as this place has been renovated and is constantly maintained, with plants that might wither being replaced, ensuring there are always flowers, a variety of colours and scents.

As for the flowers, there is an area where you can see some small ones that look as if they’ve just been planted, but there’s another area where I found huge bushes of flowers in bright colours; so the sense of sight takes it all in, and in my case I found myself gazing at the red and pink ones, above all, because they’re striking.

I thought this garden would be small, but I was wrong. The design is a thing of beauty to behold and, as I said, the colours are a feast for the eyes, but there are also all sorts of plants and shrubs in different shades of green, and other colours too, as well as varied textures, and that’s where the sense of touch comes in.

Those of you who read my posts here regularly will know that I love touching plants; the energy in them is special and it’s passed on to me. Of course, I couldn’t resist touching the shrubs, trees and flowers, there’s such a wide variety.

The flowers give off sweet scents that mingle together and are delightful; your sense of smell is heightened, especially when we reach another area where there are citrus trees and azalea flowers.

Further on, I could see several paths at different levels, lined with shrubs of every colour, but also many fruit trees, including lemon, orange, banana, and loquat trees, and many more.

I noticed that, as part of the renovation work, there were, along the paths themselves, little arched walkways to pass under, as if they were tunnels, made of structures from which plants hung; I loved walking through them and touching those slender stems with their leaves. It was all like a fairy tale.

Then the citrus scents appeared, along paths lined with trees, and the scent of those flowers brings to mind the taste of oranges and lemons, which somehow awakens the sense of taste. I found a sign amongst them explaining the collection of fruit trees.

At first I thought it was just citrus fruits, but there were mangoes, papayas, lychees, guavas, all subtropical species. But there were also very old Malaga varieties, such as plums, apples, peaches, pears and quinces. I thought that when these trees bore fruit, my sense of taste would be stimulated even more, especially as I love fruit.

Walking along these paths was a delight, an experience I’d never had before, and to all that was added the sense of hearing, listening to the breeze rustling through the trees, carrying the scents, but also hearing the birdsong, because there’s a great variety of birds in this garden.

As I said, it has been one of the best experiences of my life, because I am fascinated by the connection with nature and this particular space intensifies our humanity, and I felt intensely connected to the natural world.

Thank you very much for joining me today; I send you my warmest regards. See you soon.
Amonet.