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From the falls, we went to a "botanical garden" still occupied by the owner who, for 15 pesos, gave a guided tour of the house then allowed us to tour the grounds. Orchids and other blooming bushes were planted around the house and a walkway sloped gently from the house down to the roadway below. Trellises arched over the walkway, the sparse greenery not quite covering the supporting frame. A topiary of a heart and one of the Eiffel Tower sat on either side of the walk. Spacious grounds surrounded the house with paved walkways and steps shaded by giant palm trees, their fronds interlinking high overhead. The walkways went down into a small gorge planted with numerous plants I used to try to keep alive as houseplants, dieffenbachia, ficus trees, mother-in-law's tongue, pothos, etc. Begonias, impatiens and shrimp plants produced gorgeous blooms and lush vegetation. Some plants I've seen only in books and others I've never seen before grow outdoors with seemingly little care. Although the garden does not receive the attention it needs, it was beautiful and reminded me of an unkempt Monet's garden.
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