Mexican Orchid of the Month: Leochilus crocodiliceps

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Crocodile-Headed Leochilus  Leochilus crocodiliceps By Biól. Karen Muñoz July 7, 2026 During the month of July, a tiny inhabitant of the Vallarta Botanical Garden draws special attention: Leochilus crocodiliceps, an orchid whose name refers to the species’ most striking feature. Although its flowers are small, barely reaching about 2 cm […]

A Living Museum, but there’s more to us than meets the eye!

A Living Museum, but there’s more to us than meets the eye! Our 2025 Annual Report is your way into the fascinating stories, facts, and figures behind the Vallarta Botanical Gardens. By Christopher Jacobs Julio 3, 2026 Twenty years ago, the land where the Vallarta Botanical Gardens now stand was a patchwork of cow pastures […]

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Bletia macristhmochila

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Bletia macristhmochila By Biól. Adolfo Servin June 5, 2026 The orchid of the month for June is one of the most beautiful and ephemeral species in our flora: Bletia macristhmochila. It is a geophytic plant, meaning a species capable of storing energy reserves underground in tubers or pseudobulbs during unfavorable […]

Mexican Bird of the Month: Cypseloides niger

Mexican Bird of the Month: Cypseloides niger By Biól. Adolfo Servin June 3, 2026 The bird of the month for June is a species as remarkable as it is elegant: the Black Swift (Cypseloides niger). This medium-sized bird is characterized by its almost entirely black or dark brown plumage. In flight, it can be easily […]

Guardianes de Encinos: estudiantes de El Cuale comprometidos con la conservación

Oak Guardians: El Cuale Students Committed to Conservation By Cristóbal Sánchez May 23, 2026 On April 15 and 16, 2026, a follow-up visit was conducted for the oak conservation project in the Sierra El Cuale, in western Jalisco. This activity was carried out in collaboration with Dr. Maribel Arenas, a researcher from UNAM’s FES Iztacala […]

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Encyclia adenocarpos

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Encyclia adenocarpos By Biól. Oscar Rodríguez Ramos  May 12, 2026 The orchid of the month for May is a modest yet undeniably beautiful orchid: Encyclia adenocarpos. It is characterized by pear-shaped pseudobulbs and fairly thin, long leaves. The labellum and the column of the flower are tightly joined, as if […]

Vanilla: More than a Fragrance, a 1,500-Year Legacy

Vanilla: more than a fragrance, a 1,500-year legacy Vanilla: more than a fragrance, a 1,500-year legacy By Antonio Gómez April 30, 2026 Intertwined with trees in a “loving vegetal embrace,” vanilla begins at the forest floor and climbs toward the highest canopy. This orchid—the only one in the world that produces an edible fruit—is not […]

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Lycaste crinita

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Lycaste crinita Mexican Orchid of the Month: Haired Orchid Lycaste crinita   By Biól. Oscar Rodríguez Ramos March 4, 2026 Lycaste crinita, also known as “Canelita” or The Haired Lycaste, is an epiphytic orchid endemic to Mexico, recognized for its unique appearance and delicate fragrance. This species is found exclusively in the […]

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Prosthechea madrensis – The Shell Flower of the Sierra Madre

Mexican Orchid of the Month: Prosthechea madrensis Mexican Orchid of the Month:The Shell Flower of the Sierra Madre Prosthechea madrensis   By Biól. Oscar Rodríguez Ramos March 4, 2026 A Mexican Orchid with History and a Subtle Fragrance The Orchid of the Month is Prosthechea madrensis, commonly known in Mexico as flor de concha (shell flower). This species stands out […]

Platystele stenostachya: The Tiny Orchid That Challenges the Eye

The Tiny Orchid That Challenges the Eye: Platystele stenostachya The Tiny Orchid That Challenges the Eye Platystele stenostachya   By Biól. Oscar Rodriguez Ramos February 19, 2026 Platystele stenostachya is a miniature orchid that bears one of the smallest flowers in the plant kingdom, making it a true gem within the world of Mexican orchids. This species is native to […]