Little shop-bought cacti with eyes often catch the eye of children. How do cacti grow in the wild? What shapes do they come in, and how big do they grow? If you hear a child asking that, you can find the answer at Mallorca's Botanicactus Garden.
This particular botanical garden in Mallorca is the work of Oswald Macario, who decided to enlarge his collection of cacti and tropical plants to a size that would allow visitors to enter the green museum. The garden now covers 150,000 square metres with more than 15,000 plants, including 400 species of the cactus family.
The dry, sunny climate of the largest of the Balearic Islands has suited many alien flora species, so it is possible to admire plants from the Americas, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Prickly plants from arid climates take up a third of the Botanicactus area. The oldest specimen in the collection, an Arizona cactus, is over 300 years old. Cactus enthusiasts can read the names of each species on plaques, and children will enjoy a walk through the cactus forest (many of the plants can equal the height of trees).
The Botanicactus Botanical Garden has also set aside an extensive area for plants native to the Balearic Islands. You may have seen them on your trip to Mallorca with your child: olive, pomegranate, orange, almond, jasmine, carob, cypress, and palm trees.
In addition, there is a large lake in the Botanicactus Garden. This lake serves not only as a decoration but also as a showcase for aquatic plants. While adults look at the exotic flowers, the children have a good time on the playground in the shade of the trees.
