Yesterday, I walked through an enchanted garden…
Along with about 25+ other people from the Oaxaca Garden Club, I made my way to an orchid garden in San Andrés Huayapam.
What a treasure the privately funded, Orquideario “La Encantada” is! For owner/gardener/collector, Octavio Gabriel, it is a 40+ year old passion and labor of love — and it shows.
The earthen pathways lead one up and down, through dappled light, along the slopes of a babbling brook. The orquideario is sanctuary to about 1,200 species of orchids, along with companion epiphytes, ferns, bromeliads, and even a bamboo forest.
Orquideario “La Encantada” is located at the end of a dirt road off to the right, about 1 km beyond the presas (reservoirs), towards the village of San Andrés Huayapam.
The 100 pesos admission fee helps finance the orquideario. I plan to return! Octavio Gabriel’s book, Algunas Orquideas de Oaxaca is available to purchase for 350 pesos.
Mexican Peso Converter
View From Casita Colibrí 
Beautiful photos! I’m glad I bought the book, as it has much of the information he told us that I will never remember. I posted a few pics on blip and received some questions that I can answer with confidence! (like about the parasitic nature of the plants).
I will be borrowing Octavio’s book. 😉
which is Chris’s Blog? Loved meeting and being with you…..come see me in Houston…I have lots of room and some from California come through Houston (direct United flight to Oaxaca) instead of thru DF….un abrazo, Kay
Chris’s blog is “Oaxaca-the Year After” I usually fly through Houston, too, so may take you up on your offer!
I hope to visit La Encantada. Which months are the orchids in bloom?
Hmmm… I don’t know when the best time to see the orchids in bloom; I was there in November. You might want to try calling the number listed on their Facebook page: 951 119 4214. Happy New Year!
Thank you. I’ll try that even though I am living in Cusco, Peru. A Happy New Year to you also!