Discovering the Global Wonders of Flora in the Botanical Gardens of Ajara
Discovering the Global Wonders of Flora in the Botanical Gardens of Ajara
Experience the world in a day without traveling far or spending a lot of money. How? by visiting the subtropical paradise of Batumi. Discover how this location became a pearl of global flora by walking through centuries-old parks from different continents and viewing rare, wild, and beautiful plants from around the world gathered in one place. Ajara has two botanical gardens to visit: the Batumi Botanical Garden, located a short distance from the city, and the Goderdzi Alpine Botanical Garden in the mountains of Ajara.
The Batumi Botanical Garden is an excellent place to spend a few hours hiking and taking in the beauty of the Black Sea and city skyline. Located just 9 kilometers from the city, the garden is easily accessible by public transport or on your own. Open from 9 am to 8 pm, a full day spent exploring the garden is time well spent. The garden, which celebrated its 110th anniversary, is one of the oldest in the world and was originally founded in the late 19th century by French nobleman and gardener Michel D'Alphonse. Inspired by the warm weather of the Batumi coast, D'Alphonse set out to create a "little Riviera" by bringing rare decorative plants from the south of France to the area. Today, the old country house of Michel D'Alphonse can still be found within the garden and is a popular attraction. D'Alphonse was also the main gardener of Batumi and his name is connected with the development of the city's French-style boulevard.
The Batumi Botanical Garden, which features rare species of tropical and subtropical plants and attracts thousands of visitors each year, was opened in 1912. The garden is divided into 9 phyto-geographical sections, including East Asia, North America, and Europe, and features upper, lower, and waterfront parks, trial and collection plots, and greenhouses and orangeries for tropical plants. There are separate plots for various trees, such as citrus trees, Japanese chestnuts, oaks, and magnolias, as well as plants like Japanese persimmons and feijoa. The garden's floristic wealth represents a wide range of regions, including the Himalayas, South America, and Australia.
The Batumi Botanical Garden's collection comprises 2037 taxonomic units of woody plants, with 104 of them being native to the Caucasus region and the rest representing various foreign flora. The garden's cultivation began in North America, and visitors can access this section via a 347-step staircase. Here, they will find Californian forests, Oregon ravines, and Mexican wetland cypresses, as well as American agaves and giant sequoias that reach up to 35 meters high. After exploring this part of the garden, visitors will feel as if they have also seen Californian forests in Batumi.
Bamboo plantations are some of the oldest plants in the Batumi Botanical Garden. These fast-growing plants were introduced to West Georgia 123 years ago by the garden's founder and can be viewed throughout the year. Ranging in height from 30 centimeters to 30 meters, bamboo can be found throughout the garden, but the Phytogeographical Section of East Asia features the largest collection. This section also includes works of art from Japanese gardens, such as over 100-year-old bonsai trees and sakura, as well as expensive cycads and colorful maples. Along the main route, visitors can also see Australian eucalyptus, which are the widest plants in the garden with diameters reaching up to 5 meters.
The Batumi Botanical Garden is home to 17 species of plants that are protected by the Red List, including endangered plants like the sponge-like fruit Podocarpus nubigenus and the long-lived Chicelli Auracari, which has a lifespan of up to 2000 years. The garden also has other plants that have adapted well to the environment after arriving more recently. The lower park of the garden features a 125-year-old magnolia tree, the symbol of Batumi, which forms an impressive alley with its neighbors. This unique plant is able to withstand frost down to -25 degrees Celsius.
The garden also has a 15-meter pedestrian bridge made from a liriodendron tree that fell about 40 years ago. This "living bridge" can be found in the North American section of the garden and was formed when a double-breasted liriodendron, which was 72 years old at the time, fell during a storm in 1985. Visitors should be careful when climbing the slippery, mossy trunk of the bridge. The garden is also a paradise for rose lovers, with up to 170 species on display, including the 100-year-old "Queen Marshall" rose. The South American "shy" mimosa, which closes its leaves when touched, can also be found in the rose garden. The peak blooming season for the garden's roses is from May to September, but there are always some flowers in bloom throughout the year.
The Batumi Botanical Garden is a must-see destination for its unique historical and geographical features, diverse plant collection, and well-organized infrastructure that caters to the needs of visitors. It has attracted hundreds of thousands of visitors since its inception and offers a peaceful escape from the noise of the city.
Camping is allowed in the garden from 6 to 10 pm for those who want to spend the night amidst the natural beauty. If you're continuing your journey to the mountainous region of Ajara after visiting the garden, be sure to also visit the Goderdzi Alpine Botanical Garden, which is loved and admired by visitors for its breathtaking views of Ajara, rivers, waterfalls, and traditional Oda houses.
The Goderdzi Alpine Botanical Garden is located approximately 2000 meters above sea level and is 115 kilometers from Batumi. It is open for visitors from mid-May to mid-October, as the area is covered in snow during other times of the year. The garden's main purposes are promoting eco-education, collecting plants from the Caucasus eco-region, conserving local plant species, and developing tourism in rural areas. It boasts a collection of 50 families, 111 genera, and 161 species of wild plants, as well as a unique rock garden (rockarium) with compositions of special stones and plants spread out over 4000 square meters. The garden also has picnic and camping areas for guests to enjoy.
The Goderdzi Alpine Garden consists of 15 zones, including a lake and swamp zone, a spring and picnic zone, and a beekeeping demonstration zone where visitors can learn about the unique tradition of collecting Jara wild honey. This type of honey is 100% natural and is produced by wild bees, which are found in few places around the world, including Georgia. The Alpine Botanical Garden is a popular tourist destination for those traveling on the Chirukh-Khikhani-Goderdzi tourist route and visiting the Green Lake, as well as for those staying at the Goderdzi resort and Beshum. The garden used to be mostly covered in subalpine forest, but now it is home to six species of woody plants and around 100 species of herbaceous plants, the majority of which are native species.
We highly recommend adding both the Batumi and Goderdzi Alpine Botanical Gardens to your travel itinerary in Adjara, as interacting with plants can be a very special experience. These gardens offer the opportunity to see rare and endemic specimens that will surely impress you, including ice age plants that have thrived in the region for a long time. Visiting these gardens is sure to be an amazing and memorable part of your trip.
