Discover 14 Unique Garden Areas to Explore at BOTANICA Escario

BOTANICA Escario offers a remarkable experience for garden lovers and nature enthusiasts. This expansive garden space is divided into 14 distinct areas, each showcasing a different style, plant collection, or theme. Whether you seek a peaceful retreat, a place to learn about diverse flora, or simply a beautiful spot to wander, BOTANICA Escario has something special waiting for you.

Exploring these garden areas reveals the rich variety of plants and design approaches that make BOTANICA Escario a must-visit destination. Let’s take a closer look at each of these unique garden spaces.

1. Entry flags: At the entrance of our garden are three flags representing the Philippines, Cebu and Planet Earth. A new flag to most people, the Planet Earth Flag is international and symbolizes Earth's interconnected life, water, and the unity of humanity. It features seven interlocking rings forming a flower (the "Seed of Life") on a blue background. It is important to remember that everything on our planet is linked, directly or indirectly, emphasizing shared existence and responsibility.

2. Bamboo Path:  One of the most important plants in the Philippines, the Bamboo is not a tree—it is a giant grass, and some varieties can grow up to one meter in a single day. Because Bamboo grows so fast, it is one of the most sustainable plants on Earth. It does not need replanting—once established, it sends up new shoots year after year. Bamboo plays a huge role in protecting our environment. It helps prevent soil erosion, absorbs carbon dioxide and releases substantial amounts of oxygen, helping cool the air around us. It is strong, yet flexible. During storms, Bamboo bends—it does not break.

3. Sammy with his Kudyapi: An art installation, our youngest giant is named Sammy after our garden project engineer and construction manager. He is holding a Kudyapi (also Kutyapi, Kutiyapi). It is a traditional Filipino two-stringed, boat-shaped lute, a significant pre-colonial instrument from Mindanao and Palawan, used by indigenous groups like the Maguindanao, Maranao, and Manobo for storytelling, rituals, and courtship, featuring one melody string and one drone string, often with beeswax frets.

4. The Maze: “Now let’s step into a place that challenges not just our bodies—but our minds.” A maze is more than just a path with turns. It is designed as a journey, much like life itself. In a maze, getting lost at times requires pausing, turning back, or choosing a different direction. And that is exactly the point. The maze teaches patience, problem-solving, and presence. It is a quiet reminder that getting lost is often part of our life’s journey. When you finally find the way out, the reward is not just success—but the experience of slowing down, thinking differently, and trusting yourself.

5. Produce: Rosario is an agricultural community but education in agriculture and farming is minimal. Providing knowledge and technology to the residents is critical to the existence of the community. The produce areas provide education about companion planting and crop rotation. To demonstrate both practices, we planted Dwarf Coconuts, Taro (Gabi), Mung Beans (Monggo), Sweet Potatoes (Kamote), Papayas (Kapayas) and Peanuts (Mani) that thrive in this alkaline soil. Nothing here is planted alone—and that is very intentional. Herbs (lemongrass, dill and oregano) surround each section to minimize mosquitoes and protect our produce from snails and insects.

6. Bananas – The Everyday Hero: One of the most familiar—but powerful—plants in the Philippines are Bananas. They grow quickly and provide food in a short time, making them an excellent cash and food-security crop. But Bananas also serve the garden in many other ways. Their large leaves create shade for young plants, their trunks store water, and when cut down, they return nutrients to the soil as natural mulch. In traditional and sustainable farming, bananas are often planted to improve soil moisture, protect young trees and provide continuous harvest. Almost every part of the Banana plant is useful—from fruit, to leaves for cooking, and to stems for compost. This is why Bananas are considered a true workhorse plant in tropical agriculture.

7. Kalamansi – Philippine Lime or Lemon:  A crucial product in the Philippines, Kalamansi farming is encouraged by the Department of Agriculture. For several reasons, many Philippine farms have stopped or reduced Kalamansi farming creating an international demand being filled by Vietnam. This is unfortunate as the Philippines was the top producer of Kalamansi. The juice is used as a culinary staple for marinades, sauces, and drinks, adding a unique tangy flavor, and for its health benefits (Vitamin C). Kalamansi production plays and economic role for farmers, representing Filipino culture and cuisine nationally and internationally. The companions to our Kalamansi are lemons, chilis, garlic and onions.

8. Papa Celso with his Dabakan + Medicine Plants: Another art installation named after the garden’s artist, Celso who built the sculptures is represented by this giant. He is a local master craftsman. Papa Celso is playing a drum from Southern Philippines called a Dabakan which is used in the traditional Kulintang ensemble. It is played with two thin bamboo sticks. Medicine and herbal plants surround Papa Celso. Filipinos utilize numerous medicinal plants like Tsaang Gubat (Carmona retusa) for spasms, Sambong (Blumea balsamifera) for kidney stones, and Lagundi (Vitex negundo) for coughs, alongside common ones like Guava (Bayabas) and Moringa (Marunggay).

9. Ornamental Plants: The ornamental plants in our garden are used to decorate churches and homes. Our General and Business Managers handpicked each plant. The garden houses various varieties including Roses, Snake Plant, Hibiscus (Gumamela), Song of India, Papua (Kalipay) and Bromeliad.

10. Cacao – Food of the Gods: Cacao is one of the most strategically important agricultural crops in the Philippines, both economically and ecologically. It aligns well with smallholder farming systems, agroforestry, and value-added rural enterprises, which is why it is actively promoted by the Department of Agriculture and private sector partners. Cacao produces higher income per hectare than many staple crops. It bears fruit in 2–3 years, much faster than timber or coconut and can be harvested year-round, The Philippines imports a substantial portion of its Cacao despite ideal growing conditions. The seeds fresh from the pod are sweet and delicious. The Companions to our Cacao are Chili and Mani-Mani plants.

11. Indoor/Outdoor Plants + Play Area: The plants in this area prefer shade and cooler temperatures so we have put them under our teak trees. The are many varieties including Birds Nest Fern, Philodendron Tri-Color, Dancing Lady, Philodendron Black and Pathos. Most can be used indoors or outdoors to bring nature into homes.

12. Butterfly Sanctuary: Our sanctuary is open and without nets to allow butterflies to roam freely. The plants in this area are specifically designed to attract butterflies who pollenate the garden. Variety is the key to attracting several types of butterflies so numerous types of flowering plants like the Lantana, Purple Violet, Canna, Birds of Paradise and Bougainvillea attract butterflies but their favorite meal in the garden is the Coleus plants.

13. Mama Amay with her Saggeypo: Another art installation and named after our garden General Manager and co-creator, Mama Amay is taking a break from playing her Saggeypo. A traditional Filipino bamboo panpipe from Luzon (Cordillera region especially Kalinga), a Saggeypo consist of several slim, varying-length Bamboo tubes tied together, producing melodic sounds by blowing across the open tops, acting as a type of pan flute played by shifting between pipes to create melodies. The garden path to Mama Amay houses Plumeria (Kalachuchi) trees, Birds of Paradise and other plants to attract butterflies.

    
    

14. Orchidarium: We are building our orchid collection. The local climate, characterized by high humidity and tropical sun, is ideal for several prominent varieties: Vanda (including Waling-Waling), Dendrobium, Phalaenopsis (Moth Orchids), Cattleya and Oncidi

BOTANICA Escario’s 14 garden areas provide a diverse and enriching experience for visitors of all ages and interests. Each garden tells its own story through plants, design, and atmosphere. Whether you want to relax, learn, or be inspired, these spaces offer plenty to discover.