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Deepen your connection with nature
Explore articles, guides, and insights on plants and the biodiversity of Vallarta, Jalisco, and all of Mexico. Learn with us and let your curiosity bloom. Your journey into Mexico’s natural heritage starts here. Learn about native plants, vibrant ecosystems, and how we can protect them—together.
1st UNE University Job Fair
By: Biol. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Job fairs represent a key opportunity to ease the transition of college graduates into the job market. By bringing together various sectors in a
The fungi are eating up my garden
Por: Christopher Jacobs The phytopathogenic fungi are those that parasitize plants and make them sick. They can affect different structures of the plant, deforming or even killing them. They have
Bird Watchers Club 2023-2025
Por: Christopher Jacobs This month, we concluded the ornithological and botanical activities of the Birdwatchers Club, which comprises 5th and 6th-graders from the Benito Juárez Federal Rural Elementary School, located
Students transform their school with gardens that inspire environmental care!
Por: Christopher Jacobs Students transform their school with gardens that inspire environmental care! Garden Competition at Technical Secondary School No. 137 in El Tuito, Jalisco. On June 18, 2025, the
Berylline Hummingbird
Archilochus colubris By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas This month, we are preparing to welcome hummingbirds, as they will soon begin migrating from different parts of South America to North America. This
Trichocentrum oestlundianum
By: Jair Villaseñor Native and endemic to the Pacific coast in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, and Nayarit, the Trichocentrum oestlundianum thrives in mangroves, forested roads, and barren lava flows.
Calliope Hummingbird
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas Selasphorus calliope Did you know that hummingbirds are among the only birds that can fly backwards? This is possible thanks to the great flexibility of their
Conservation of Birds of Prey in Banderas Bay
Por: Biól. M. en C. Selene A. Barba Birds of prey are part of the second most trafficked family in the world, with many species in danger of extinction or
Bletia Adenocarpa
By: Jair Villaseñor This month we would like to introduce you to a beautiful orchid native to Mexico: Bletia adenocarpa. It stands out for its showy bright yellow f lowers.
Cinnamon-rumped Seedeater
By: Blanca Gabriela Chávez Garcia Sporophila torqueola Did you know that in the Vallarta Botanical Garden you can observe around 250 species of birds throughout the year? This is thanks
United for Biodiversity: Strategic Alliance between the Culiacán Botanical Garden and the Vallarta Botanical Garden
By: y Biól. Jesús Ángel Barajas Collaborations between botanical gardens are essential for biodiversity conservation, scientific research, and environmental education. By working together, the Culiacán Botanical Garden (CBG) and the
Encyclia parviflora
By: Biól. Jesus Ángel Barajas Fragoso There are around 70 species of Encyclia in Mexico and one of the smallest flowers in this genus is the Encyclia parviflora. This orchid
Clock Vine: A Hummingbird’s Delight
By: Karina Arantza Aguilar Martínez The Clock Vine (Thunbergia mysorensis) is a spectacular tropical climber native to southern India, particularly the region of Mysore. Its long, hanging blossoms in rich
Announcing Tessa Lee as incoming Executive Director
By: Jesús ReyesCEO We are thrilled to announce Tessa Lee as incoming Executive Director of the Vallarta Botanical Garden. She will take up her position in the coming months. Tessa
Bare-throated Tiger-Heron
By: Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Tigrisoma mexicanum The Bare-throated Tiger-Heron is an elegant bird measuring just under a meter tall that lives in the aquatic ecosystems of Mexico in northwestern
Govenia Superba
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas This month we would like to introduce a beautiful orchid: Govenia superba, a species of terrestrial habit native to Mexico that goes by the names of
Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird
By: Ric Chamblee Tilmatura dupontii The Sparkling-tailed Hummingbird is one of my favorite hummingbirds to photograph and quite small in size. The Male Sparkling-tailed Hummingbirds are 8.2 to 10.1 cm
Encyclia Trachycarpa
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas Mexican orchids have a special attraction for the tourist sector that invites you to visit the Botanical Garden of Vallarta, where you will find them exhibiting
Connecting with the botanical community at APGA 2025
Por: Christopher Jacobs The phytopathogenic fungi are those that parasitize plants and make them sick. They can affect different structures of the plant, deforming or even killing them. They have
Stripe-headed Sparrowr
By: Blanca Gabriela Chávez Garcia y Biól. Jesús Ángel Peucaea ruficauda This month we present a bird that is easy to spot in the surroundings of the Vallarta Botanical Garden:
Children’s Day
By: Biól. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Childhood should be filled with joy, creativity, fun and precious memories. This day is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of providing love,
Easter Event and Palm Sunday
By: María Reyes Exit of the Easter Event and Palm Sunday in the Botanical Garden of Vallarta On April 13th, we celebrated Palm Sunday with a tour of our palm
Vallarta Botanical Garden as a Beneficiary
By: Christopher JacobsHead of Development 4 simple steps to add the Vallarta Botanical Garden as a beneficiary in your Will or Trust “A society grows great when old men (and
Conservation Work
By: Christopher Jacobs Bringing you closer to our Conservation work than ever before As we enter the fifth month of our 20th anniversary year, we have been thinking of ways
Education for Conservation
By: Dr. Maribel Arenas Navarro A new project in El Cuale for the local production of the white oak (Quercus cualensis) We are delighted and excited to share with you
Rhynchostele Cervantesii
By: Biól. Jesus Ángel Barajas Fragoso Rhynchostele cervantesii a Mexican orchid species widely recognized for its beauty and highly appreciated in horticulture worldwide. In addition, it has been traditionally used
Bronzed Cowbird
By: Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Molothrus Aeneus Did you know that there are parasitic birds? We are referring to a species that feeds and develops at the expense of another.
Cuitlauzina Pendula
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas Orchids, with their elegance and diversity, have captivated nature lovers for centuries. Among these botanical jewels, Cuitlauzina pendula stands out as an endemic species of Mexico
Green Kingfisher
By: Blanca Gabriela Chávez Garcia Chloroceryle americana Meet the Green Kingfisher, it is a small bird (approximately 18-20 cm) that has a remarkably long beak in proportion to its body,
Oncidium Leleui
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas Orchids are the largest family of plants, with more than 28,000 species identified so far by scientists. Although the variation in size, color and texture is
West Mexican Euphoni
By Nat. Eduardo Villegas Euphonia godmani Did you know that bird watching is an increasingly practiced nature tourism activity in this region of Mexico? Specifically in Banderas Bay, this activity
Cypripedium Irapeanum
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas The name of this orchid comes from Kripis (Venus) and pedilon (shoe). For its part, the term irapeanum comes from the first place where the orchid
Rhynchostele cervantesii
By Biólogo. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Rhynchostele cervantesii a Mexican orchid species widely recognized for its beauty and highly appreciated in horticulture worldwide. In addition, it has been traditionally used as an ornamental
Bronzed Cowbird
By Biól. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Did you know that there are parasitic birds? We are referring to a species that feeds and develops at the expense of another. This
Encyclia Cordigera
By Biólogo. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso From Mexico to South America, blooming between January and May makes its appearance this beauty. Encyclia from Greek έγκυκλέομαι encycleomai, girdle, to encircle, from the labellum
Green Heron
Butorides virescens By Biól. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso From the United States of America and the east coast of Canada, the Green Heron arrives, fleeing the winter. It migrates as far as
Zone-tailed Hawk
Buteo albonotatus By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas The Zone – tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus) is a species in the bird family Accipitridae that lives from the southern United States to Bolivia, Paraguay,
Birdwatcher Kids in Las Juntas y Los Veranos
By: Dr. Cristóbal Sánchez Birdwatcher Kids in Las Juntas y Los Veranos As part of the Bird Watchers Project that we started in March of this year, the 4th and
Indigo Bunting
Passerina cyanea By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas The Indigo Bunting is a small but striking bird belonging to the Cardinal family. This species gets its name from the bright blue color
Oncidium hintonii
By: Biologist Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso During spring and summer, the flowers of the Oncidium orchid once again take center stage in the Vallarta Botanical Garden. This time, O. hintonii surprises us with the floral
Northern Mockingbird Mimus
Mimus polyglottos By Biól. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Surely you know it by Cenzontle or its nickname “the bird of 400 voices”, the first comes from the nahuatl Centzontototl, the second
Nelson Orchid
Por Biologist Jesús Manuel Peinado Arellano I bloom in the spring and am one of the first flowers of the season, so I provide plenty of food for all the
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas Archilochus colubris Did you know that some hummingbirds migrate thousands of miles? This is the case of our hummingbird of the month, which spends the winter
Mexipedium xerophyticum
By: Matias Amezcua “Los Chimalapas” region, located between Oaxaca, Chiapas, and Veracruz, is kaleidoscope of biodiversity, with approximately 595,000 hectares, it is the largest area of tropical rainforest in Mexico,
San Blas Jay
By Nat. Eduardo Villegas Cyanocorax sanblasianus Its Latin name, Cyanocorax sanblasianus, means Blue Raven; it belongs to the raven family and has blue feathers. San Blas Jays are endemic in
Bletia reflexa
By: Dr. Cristóbal Sánchez Today we present to you a Mexican orchid called Bletia reflexa. This species lives in the mountains, among hillside rocks and meadows of oak and pine
Nutting’s Flycatcher
By Biól. Jesús Ángel Barajas Fragoso Nutting’s Flycatcher This bird from the Tyrannidae family weighs around 28 grams, is diurnal and omnivorous, but gets its name from its peculiar ability
Vanilla pompona
By: Nat. Eduardo Villegas This month, we want to share the Vanilla pompona with you. Hands down, it is one of Mexico´s most emblematic orchids, due to its exploitation. This orchid belongs to the