Wow. The botanical gardens are so different from what I remember. I live practically right next door to the gardens (when you were driving at the end of the video, you passed the street that leads to my house), but I didn't realize the state they are in. It has been a long time since the Monet's garden pond had lilies in it. Coots used to paddle around in it, and the metal gazebo there had pretty trees with entwined branches for an arbor. I have photos of the flowering ginger and Bird-of-Paradise flowers that used to grow next to the stairs leading down to the bigger pond. On the far side of the big pond, there were small flowering trees and weeping willows, lots of ducks sunned themselves, turtles were in the water, and often iguanas, martinetes, garzas reales, kingfishers, and small song birds could be seen. The water area with the red Japanese-style bridge had flowering water lilies and papyrus plants, and even koi fish. Did you see the bamboo chapel? I wonder how it has faired. Yellow vining flowers grew on the chain link fence near the first parking lot. There are mango trees in the gardens, too. The palm trees in the palmetto used to have identification plaques. Thanks for the update. Wow.
Please understand that we do not derive any pleasure from criticizing places on the Island. However, our motto at Puerto Rico By GPS is: “we tell it like it is”. That’s why we publish such detailed footage too, so people can see for themselves. If you would like to visit our blog, the URL is: www.puertoricobygps.com.
It used to have all of that, but like everything else related to the University of Puerto Rico the powers at be are trying to bring it to its knees. Maybe they’re thinking of privatizing it.
I wonder if the university could come up with a community based support program that uses their students and locals to upkeep the garden. Like you said, this "garden" is an example of when having something be free ends up being more costly. They could introduce a modest entrance fee to help balance the maintenance costs. I think there's potential here though and I hope one day a student or passionate local tries to start something. I agree the government deserves blame but sometimes the people have to step up and take care of things on our own. This would be, I think, a fulfilling place for that to happen.
Every day more and more Puerto Ricans are discovering that the Island’s root problems stem from its politicians. Instead of being part of the solution, they ARE the problem. For more information about Puerto Rico visit: www.puertoricobygps.com.
WOW WOW WOW. That’s all I can say. I used to live in Florida and I used to visit Mounts Botanical Gardens which had only 20 acres and I could stay there for hours. Jardín botánico de Caguas is 113 acres. It should be that you can go there and spend the whole day and not see everything. I live less than 20 minutes from the Gardens and I have never been because people tell me it’s not what it used to be. One of my friends told me they even had plant sales and they allowed pets and you could have your pet vaccinated and groomed there several years ago. It’s really sad that a place like that that could generate a ton of money if managed correctly and it’s practically abandoned. I want to thank you for the video. I guess I won’t be visiting “El Jardin Botánico De Caguas” any time soon. To be honest with you. I wanted to cry I was so disappointed with what has become of the “Gardens”. You can see that it still has the potential to be an amazing, relaxing and tranquil place to visit. I used to have an amazing garden in Florida. People could not believe what my back yard looked like. My friends called it the botanical sanctuary and I only had a quarter of an acre minus the house. I’ve been living here in San Lorenzo now for a year and a half. I bought and refurbished a home with a full acre and I’m working on building a beautiful tropical oasis here. On my property you have to be very careful not to drop any seeds where you don’t want them because they will definitely germinate. The soil is very fertile here. I guess I ran off on a rant. Sorry. But thank you for the video. Believe it or not, it actually motivated me to keep going with my garden.
Thank you for your kind words. However, the video is about the San Juan Botanical Garden. The one in Cagas was covered in a previous video and it too could be improved. For me it’s hard to rain on their parades but I can’t lie to my viewers and readers. Happy New Year..
What a shame that this beautiful place is not being taken care of. If they were to do tours on campus, they could come up with money to pay ground keepers. WHAT IS GOING ON??? Let’s wake up UPR and do something about it! Wake up!
That’s what half a century of incompetent government will do to a country. They’ve driven the place into the ground. You can see it all around the Island.
I was there in the late 80’s and it was unimpressive but there were flowers. I could see back then no maintenance was being done and it not worth a visit. Why don’t they get all the DUI convicts that owe community service to clean up that place. Hell, use all the convicts to clean it up. Just like the telescope, the politicians took the money and ran away. Such a disgrace.
Sounds like a plan. Maybe we could use all the corrupt politicians that are doing time. No, seriously. That would take a crew to watch the convicts and the corrections department is also in shambles. Thank you for your comment.
Thank you for this video.
I’d like to say "my pleasure”, but it wasn’t. I would have much preferred to give a positive report. But it is what it is.
Thank you very much. This is very useful and important for trip planning.
My pleasure. I publish a travel blog that can help you a lot. You can examine it here: www.puertoricobygps.com.
Wow. The botanical gardens are so different from what I remember. I live practically right next door to the gardens (when you were driving at the end of the video, you passed the street that leads to my house), but I didn't realize the state they are in. It has been a long time since the Monet's garden pond had lilies in it. Coots used to paddle around in it, and the metal gazebo there had pretty trees with entwined branches for an arbor. I have photos of the flowering ginger and Bird-of-Paradise flowers that used to grow next to the stairs leading down to the bigger pond. On the far side of the big pond, there were small flowering trees and weeping willows, lots of ducks sunned themselves, turtles were in the water, and often iguanas, martinetes, garzas reales, kingfishers, and small song birds could be seen. The water area with the red Japanese-style bridge had flowering water lilies and papyrus plants, and even koi fish. Did you see the bamboo chapel? I wonder how it has faired. Yellow vining flowers grew on the chain link fence near the first parking lot. There are mango trees in the gardens, too. The palm trees in the palmetto used to have identification plaques. Thanks for the update. Wow.
Please understand that we do not derive any pleasure from criticizing places on the Island. However, our motto at Puerto Rico By GPS is: “we tell it like it is”. That’s why we publish such detailed footage too, so people can see for themselves. If you would like to visit our blog, the URL is: www.puertoricobygps.com.
The botanical garden should have lot flowers and trees, and a plant preservation house!
It used to have all of that, but like everything else related to the University of Puerto Rico the powers at be are trying to bring it to its knees. Maybe they’re thinking of privatizing it.
I wonder if the university could come up with a community based support program that uses their students and locals to upkeep the garden. Like you said, this "garden" is an example of when having something be free ends up being more costly. They could introduce a modest entrance fee to help balance the maintenance costs. I think there's potential here though and I hope one day a student or passionate local tries to start something.
I agree the government deserves blame but sometimes the people have to step up and take care of things on our own. This would be, I think, a fulfilling place for that to happen.
Every day more and more Puerto Ricans are discovering that the Island’s root problems stem from its politicians. Instead of being part of the solution, they ARE the problem. For more information about Puerto Rico visit: www.puertoricobygps.com.
WOW WOW WOW. That’s all I can say. I used to live in Florida and I used to visit Mounts Botanical Gardens which had only 20 acres and I could stay there for hours. Jardín botánico de Caguas is 113 acres. It should be that you can go there and spend the whole day and not see everything. I live less than 20 minutes from the Gardens and I have never been because people tell me it’s not what it used to be. One of my friends told me they even had plant sales and they allowed pets and you could have your pet vaccinated and groomed there several years ago. It’s really sad that a place like that that could generate a ton of money if managed correctly and it’s practically abandoned. I want to thank you for the video. I guess I won’t be visiting “El Jardin Botánico De Caguas” any time soon. To be honest with you. I wanted to cry I was so disappointed with what has become of the “Gardens”. You can see that it still has the potential to be an amazing, relaxing and tranquil place to visit. I used to have an amazing garden in Florida. People could not believe what my back yard looked like. My friends called it the botanical sanctuary and I only had a quarter of an acre minus the house. I’ve been living here in San Lorenzo now for a year and a half. I bought and refurbished a home with a full acre and I’m working on building a beautiful tropical oasis here. On my property you have to be very careful not to drop any seeds where you don’t want them because they will definitely germinate. The soil is very fertile here. I guess I ran off on a rant. Sorry. But thank you for the video. Believe it or not, it actually motivated me to keep going with my garden.
Thank you for your kind words. However, the video is about the San Juan Botanical Garden. The one in Cagas was covered in a previous video and it too could be improved. For me it’s hard to rain on their parades but I can’t lie to my viewers and readers. Happy New Year..
@@puertoricobygps I agree. Happy new year and God bless you
What a shame that this beautiful place is not being taken care of. If they were to do tours on campus, they could come up with money to pay ground keepers. WHAT IS GOING ON??? Let’s wake up UPR and do something about it! Wake up!
That’s what half a century of incompetent government will do to a country. They’ve driven the place into the ground. You can see it all around the Island.
I’m from Puerto Rico
I’m 12 and I talk Spanish and English
Thanks.. but you right, we are bad at up keeping.. sad.
I was there in the late 80’s and it was unimpressive but there were flowers. I could see back then no maintenance was being done and it not worth a visit. Why don’t they get all the DUI convicts that owe community service to clean up that place. Hell, use all the convicts to clean it up. Just like the telescope, the politicians took the money and ran away. Such a disgrace.
Sounds like a plan. Maybe we could use all the corrupt politicians that are doing time. No, seriously. That would take a crew to watch the convicts and the corrections department is also in shambles. Thank you for your comment.
thanks ....sad
Yes it is. Like many other government dependencies the San Juan Botanical doesn’t seem to be a priority.