Peru
When I think of Peru, I think of the lush green slopes around Machu Picchu, and about half of Peru is green and tropical (the Urubamba, which flows past Machu Picchu, eventually ends up in the Amazon). The other half of Peru is much drier, especially at very high altitudes, above the tree line, where only native grasses can survive. Although this picture doesn't show it, Machu Picchu is actually a mixture, where bromeliads, orchids, and cacti cling to the same cliffs:
Despite the season, the markets of Peru are full of beautiful fresh produce:
Many of the gardens of Peru would not look out of place in California--here is the Larco Herrera museum in Lima, planted with cacti and bougainvillea:
Of course, this gorgeous curtain of ferns is also at the Larco Herrera museum:
This is a more ordinary garden behind a chicheria where we stopped to sample the local beer:
And here are two curiosities: First, a lantana at a convent in Arequipa--I had never imagined a lantana would produce a trunk like this:
And second, scale-like cochineal bugs on prickly pear paddles (the guide squished one to show the red color):
And to take away the ick-factor of that last picture, here is a plaza in a little town where a fiesta will be celebrated--we were told that the tree is the national tree of Argentina:
Despite the season, the markets of Peru are full of beautiful fresh produce:
Many of the gardens of Peru would not look out of place in California--here is the Larco Herrera museum in Lima, planted with cacti and bougainvillea:
Of course, this gorgeous curtain of ferns is also at the Larco Herrera museum:
This is a more ordinary garden behind a chicheria where we stopped to sample the local beer:
And here are two curiosities: First, a lantana at a convent in Arequipa--I had never imagined a lantana would produce a trunk like this:
And second, scale-like cochineal bugs on prickly pear paddles (the guide squished one to show the red color):
And to take away the ick-factor of that last picture, here is a plaza in a little town where a fiesta will be celebrated--we were told that the tree is the national tree of Argentina: