Posted February 6, 2011 by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture
As this popular trip offered by Denver Botanic Gardens and Reefs to Rockies returns this year, I am pleased to lead this trip again. Joining me are seven enthusiastic patrons of the Gardens and nature lovers. What is a trip without any travel glitches? Icy conditions in Houston, cancelled flights, delayed and missed flights….these were some of the few glitches we experienced, but everyone got to Morelia on time and with good humor. And so our first scheduled day of the trip starts without a hitch!
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Posted February 14, 2010 by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture
As we wind down this trip, our last visit before we leave Uruapan is the Eduardo Ruiz National Park. This natural park is built around the river Cupatitzio which leads to a couple of waterfalls. The entire park is surrounded by many manmade water features along with the naturally flowing water as well as rich plant life characteristic of this mountain region. The damage caused by the recent heavy rainfall is evident in the form of fallen trees, broken branches and tattered leaves. Coffea arabica (coffee) plants line the sides of pathways and are in fruit ripening stage. We also encounter a large specimen of strangler fig (Ficus sp.). A fruit stand within the park offers a couple of varieties of mangoes and the smaller variety I purchased is very tasty.
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Posted February 10, 2010 by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture
No matter how organized a trip you plan, no trip is complete without some form of reorganization or change in itinerary. The incessant rains, flooding and mudslide in Central Mexico had impacted access to the Monarch sanctuaries. Until Sunday night before we were to set out to the Sierra Chincua Monarch Sanctuary on Monday morning, we were unsure if we would even get an opportunity to see the Monarch butterflies. Our local guide, Eduardo, worked round the clock connecting with his people in these areas assessing the accessibility and safety of visiting these sites. Late on Sunday evening we got the green light that we could visit one of the two sites originally planned. The hotel where we were to stay was inaccessible and hence changes to accommodation and meals had to be made. The local operator working with Reefs to Rockies were amazing in making changes at such short notice.
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Posted September 14, 2009 by Sarada Krishnan, Director of Horticulture
Of all nature’s wonders, one of the most fascinating phenomenons is the annual migration ritual performed by Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) in North America. What is amazing is how these tiny creatures, four or five generations removed, return year after year to the same overwintering grounds in Mexico. Millions of monarch butterflies during fall make the trip from the eastern United States and Canada each year to Mexico’s southwestern flank of the Transverse Neovolcanic Mountains congregating in the oyamel fir (Abies religiosa) forest, ten thousand feet in elevation. No other butterfly performs such an arduous migration feat as the monarch with some individuals traveling up to 2,000 miles.
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