Sunday, August 30, 2009

Cactus Monday: Baja and Old World Succulent Gardens @ Wild Animal Park

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Perhaps, for a lot of people visiting San Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park, the first thing that comes to mind is either the Lion's Camp
or the Journey into Africa tour aboard tour vehicles that were inspired by the legendary trains of Africa to get a glimpse of the diversity in Africa.
However,Wild Animal Park is more than just a more naturalistic animal exhibits and wildlife refuge, within the park are also several botanical gardens. One of these gardens is the Baja and Old World Succulent Gardens. 
Elephant, Barrel and Saguaro Cactus
The Baja and Old World Succulent Gardens present a wide variety of succulents, more than 200 species of succulents are represented in these two connecting gardens. The Baja Garden focuses on the desert plants found in the desert of Baja California, Mexico. The Baja Garden has more than 200 bojums,
Boojum Bending From Its Weight
which is the largest collection of boojums outside of their natural habitat in Baja, Mexico. Boojums can reach a height of up to 60 ft and can live up to about 250 years old. 
Birds Perched on Spiny Branches of Boojum
Boojum is a tree like succulent with a water-storing trunk with tiny leaves. They can reach heights of 50 to 60 ft and live up to 250 years old. Another towering cactus in this Succulent Garden is the Saguaro Cactus.
Saguaro Cactus
This amazing cactus is the state flower of Arizona. It has a creamy white 3-inch wide flowers with yellow centers that boom May and June. This cactus is a familiar sight in cartoons, movies, and paintings. 
Then, there are some other succulents that I do not know the name :(
( ? ) 
( ? )
Other succulents here are the agaves, aloe and yucca.
Aloe Vera
Aloe has long been used for medicinal purposes, such as purgatives, skin care, sunburn and burns. For skin remedy however, be sure always it is aloe vera and not one of the aloes that is toxic. 
Agave( on the left with tall flower spikes) Amidst Cacti and Yuccas
One of the best known uses of agave is the production of tequila, which is made from the fermented and distilled juices produced by agave just before it flowers. The agave blooms only once in its lifetime, between 7 and 20 years. After it flowers, the main plant then dies, but it produce shoots that will take over to maturity. Perhaps, knowing that it takes 7 to 20 years for agave to bloom and dies thereafter, we can understand why tequila can be expensive.
More Succulents
For more of Cactus Monday, please visit Teri's Painted Daisies
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26 comments:

  1. Wow! So many interesting photos here. The Lion looks pretty tame right...from the enclosure of course. Will it break?

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  2. Aloe Vera in this area? Wow! I didn't know that they can survive at such harsh environment! =(

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  3. As many times I have been to SD, I have never been to the Wild Animal Park. Interesting to see the lion put his paws up against the window like that. I guess there are parts where you can walk around?

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  4. Hmm.. it's the lion inside the cage, or the man? :P What an awesome trip!

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  5. wow.. so nice.. and i see lots of ? there.. haha.. i also dont know the name =P

    kenwooi.com

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  6. That lion in the first photo is placed in a glass enclosure?

    I would like to visit African safaris. That would be an out of this world experience.

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  7. betchai I so want to go to the San Diego Zoo, maybe someday I will get there.

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  8. betchai! i love the 4th and 6th photo! need not explain why. ;)

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  9. These are great photos. We skip the Zoo and just went to Sea World. I have some succulents and cacti photos, may be I can share them tonight.
    RYC: Thanks for the most encouraging and beautiful comments on blog, make me inspired to take more photos and discover so many places here in LA.

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  10. i used to dislike cacti but not anymore hehe.

    never ending trips by my professor hehe

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  11. I've never seen wild animals in my life.Is the glass enclosure safe enough to hold a lion? And those cacti are enormous,they can grow taller than people pala? wala yan dito ah.hehe.

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  12. Really a lot of good places to visit in san diego, only if it's near here you'll always see me by your doorstep dragging you to go out and take me around! hahaha call me a bugger!

    you are so into cacti, i can't blame you after seeing how beautiful they are!

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  13. So many weird and wonderful succulents at that garden. Fascinating boojums, I don't see those very often!

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  14. Beautiful photos of the animals, and the cactus!

    Hope things are going well for you, betchai..

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  15. betchai, I have never been to the San Diego zoo and have heard so many wonderful things about it. I'll have to visit someday. The animal photos are Awesome! And, I love birds so the birds on the spiny branches are so cute.

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  16. I enjoy your travels very much, thank you for sharing!

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  17. That first picture is just amazing.

    My grandma used to keep aloe plants all over her house. She loved those things.

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  18. I like open range zoo's. It good to see animals in the natural type of surrounds.

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  19. Betchai, I really like the picture with birds sitting on the twigs of the cactus tree. I must say it's not a very usual scene to me, but nonetheless really heart warming and beautiful!

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  20. I was at the zoo once long ago. I would sure like to see all the succulents!

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  21. yay, animals! and love your getup, beth!

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  22. hey your blog design is very nice, neat and fresh and with updated content, make people feel peace and I always like browsing your site.

    - Norman

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  23. I am doing research for my university paper, thanks for your excellent points, now I am acting on a sudden impulse.

    - Lora

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  24. Pretty nice post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to say that I have really enjoyed browsing your blog posts. In any case I’ll be subscribing to your feed and I hope you write again soon!

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THANK YOU SO MUCH!!