A forest surrounded by city is what we find when walking in the south direction of the Botanical Garden. Different from what is planned, the Arboretum Zone, or Free Growth Zone, is a space of less intervention by those responsible for the Botanical Garden and home to several species that grow at will.
What most symbolizes the remaining gardens that make up the surrounding area, are the conifers of various species, spruces, which refer to the Norse origin of the Andresen family, the first owners of the place. We can imagine that, because they grow up without supervision, the Arboretum is a space of disorganization. In fact, the design of the large trees together with the various species and tonalities of leaves during the seasons creates a true watercolor that seems architecturally, ready to fill the eyes of both those who are in the garden and those who pass through the Inner Waist, going or returning by the bridge of Arrábida. Interesting plants, such as the large oaks Quercus palustres collaborate to create this vision, as they go through shades of green, red and yellow in the fall.
Other species that create a rather imposing imagery concept are the well known Carps or Carpinus. When leafless, they create a more somber appearance to the spaces, but when they recover the dense foliage, the Carpinus betulus create inverted heart shapes. Hearts, much larger, make places more and more interesting and romantic.
There are also araucarias, with bestial trunks and that, with their mixture during the harmonic growth, make the Arboretum more cool and cozy for the hotter days. These plants create true allusions to fairy book covers. The diversity of the flora attracts also birds, rodents and amphibians, that stroll half hidden by the almost green reddish. Other species that deserve attention is the ginkgo biloba, which present what is called sexual dimorphism. Plants usually have both sexes on the same plant, but ginkgo biloba does not.
From the bigger and most detailed species to the smallest shrubs. Plants in greenhouses or in aquatic areas. Trails in enclosed woods or benches to relax in majestic gardens ... The Botanical Garden can not be discarded in the way of admirers of the fauna and flora of the city of Porto.
Written by: Matheus Rabelo
Translated by: Francisca Rehbein
Photos by: Júlia Aguiar
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