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I arrived at the bus stop with about 20 minutes to spare. When the bus came by at noon, it was already full due to the holiday travelers but the driver indicated another would be coming by shortly. One did, and I was on my way to San Jose. |
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There I took a cab to Alajuela where I checked into a hotel. All of my clothes were damp so those that weren’t soiled were hung around the room to dry out while the hotel’s maid laundered the dirty ones.
To pass the time, I went exploring, unfortunately without my camera. In the Central Park, after watching a small but colorful Easter parade enter the cathedral, I explored a few blocks more and found a restaurant for dinner. When I returned to the hotel, my laundry was done and I retired early since I would take an early bus to San Ramon where I would visit a project of friends from California a few miles to the north.
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I arrived in San Ramon about 7:00 and was soon picked up by David and Evelyne Lennette who I first met a couple years ago when they attended an Invertebrates in Captivity Conference. They had come to learn more about insect exhibitry and educational programs since they wanted to incorporate these into their Nectandra Garden and Cloud Forest Reserve. Over the next few hours I learned of their work here over the past two years, and of their aspirations for the facilities. |
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The Nectandra Garden has developed conceptually over several years. Having had the experience of developing a garden in downtown Berkeley, CA, the Lennettes’ interest in Costa Rica and gardening opportunities here were stimulated by a Nature Conservancy tour that they had joined. The local leader of that tour, Arturo Jarquin, is now a partner in Nectandra organization that includes board members from both Costa Rica and the US. It has been set up such that contributions to the project by US citizens are tax-deductible. |
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Arturo, who was not there this Easter morning, supervises the crew of six men from the nearby community of La Balsa. Evelynne, on extended stays here, has also moved a lot of rock and plants putting in trail system. As you can see in these photos, they have been busy doing the basic development of the grounds; laying out trails, creating gardens and water features. The stone masonry work is beautiful! Whenever possible, plants growing in the path of construction have been relocated to other areas on the grounds. Additional plants, like the grove of tree ferns, are rescued from nearby farms where they are being cleared for crops or cattle. |
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In my brief visit, I learned that this will be an educational facility with exhibits and educational programming. The emphasis is on the use of native plants of this cloud forest region for landscaping — something that is not practiced much in Costa Rica. Currently, many gardens use nonnative materials, especially from Europe, even though there are many, many beautiful native species with which to work. Construction of the visitor center should begin in the next month or so, if all of the permits required get issued in a timely fashion. Apparently, it is not unusual for one permit to expire before another is received—and work can’t proceed without having them all in hand. It is too early for a projected opening date but they anticipate it will be in about two more years. I am sure it is frustrating at times but the Lennettes remain inspired and driven to complete the project. In their other lives, David and Evelyne are both virologists who have a medical lab in Berkeley that specializes in the identification of human pathogens. |
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The facilities will include an interpretive area with exhibits about the plant and animal interactions on this reserve of about 200 acres. We walked what must be nearly a mile of trails in various stages of construction, looking at the amazing plant diversity. Because it was cool and foggy that morning, there was not much insect activity but given the plants, I am sure there is a lot there. I noted that they had a complete weather station and that they have been monitoring since the beginning so that they better understand how natural systems work in this habitat. Over lunch we discussed how living insect displays might be included in the interpretation.
It was not long before my brief but very enjoyable visit ended. I had to catch a bus to Angostura, only about 20 minutes from San Ramon. I was to meet up with Sergio and accompany him to La Guacima in the morning when he delivered pupae to CRES. As expected, it was packed like a can of sardines but I made sure to be standing up front so I could let the driver know where to let me off.
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