Kebun Raya Bogor (Botanical Gardens)

Had the pleasure of visiting the Kebun Raya Bogor today--the great botanical garden of Bogor.  It is the oldest botanical garden in South East Asia, established in 1817, although the Sundanese Empire had gardens in this spot since around the 15th Century.

It is also one of the largest botanical gardens in the region at 87 hectares. There are also 13,983 plants in the collection.  According to many online lists I consulted, the Kebun Raya Bogor is generally considered one of the 10 finest botanical gardens of South Asia.  I found it a pleasant oasis in the midst of the hectic city of Bogor.  Some of the enormous trees in the garden date back to the early 1800s and are so large, they seem to have souls of their own.  

Sadly all the indoor exhibits (e.g. the herbarium, the orchid house, and the flowering plant building) were closed due to COVID restrictions, but the outdoor displays were certainly quite sufficient to occupy an entire morning.  I was particularly intrigued by the large exhibit of Mexican plants from yucca to agave to cactus and the water plants including the giant lily pads that looked like massive round serving trays.

I like plants, but by no means could one call me a plant fanatic, like my Grandmother Krauss, who we'd have to keep a close eye on whenever we would take her to the botanical gardens at Manito Park in Spokane, because she would clip shoots from the plants in the hothouse when no one was looking and stuff them in her purse so she could plant them in her backyard garden.  However, when faced with 13,893 plant species arranged in such a beautiful garden, I am filled with a bit of wonder as I marvel at the amazing variety, and beauty that exists on our small planet. 




In some parts of the gardens, it seems as though you are alone in a vast tropical forest.


Actually the trees aren't the important thing in this section.  This area actually features the garden's collection of hanging plants that cling to the trees.



One of the older souls of the garden.        


The pine tree collection, though not flashy, is close to my heart, as pines are the dominant species in my hometown.




The Mexican gardens are quite impressive and include a building displaying cacti unable to survive in Indonesia's wet climate. 


The giant lily pads are about a meter in diameter.

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