Up the stairs and through the arched entryway to the Latin American Ethnobotanical Garden, various palm trees give way to a sanctuary abundant with exotic plants from all over Latin America. The wandering eye is instantly greeted with fiery red and orange blooms representing the richness of Spanish landscape. Despite the relentless summer heat, the garden is at its peak.
The garden bestows beauty and aesthetic value upon its daily visitors, but it also serves a larger purpose, which includes medicinal botany research and preservation of indigenous plant use. The garden was established in 1998 by professor Brent Berlin of the Anthropology department and his graduate students. Berlin also partnered with the University of Georgia Physical Plant whose outstanding support and continued maintenance of the garden makes it a valuable asset to the community of Athens, Georgia today.
With inspiration from the medicinal plants of Chiapas, Mexico, the garden aims to emphasize the necessity of plant biodiversity and conservation. Many residents of Chiapas, Mexico do not have available healthcare or the resources to visit a doctor. Current inhabitants of this region rely on plants for food, shelter, and most importantly for medicinal care. The use of medicinal plants in this area dates back to the Mayans. People of Chiapas depend on local plants to heal stomach ailments, respiratory conditions, intestinal problems, skin conditions etc. Paul Duncan, director of the Latin American Ethnobotanical Gardens, discusses the advanced system belonging to the people of Chiapas. “There is a sophisticated knowledge of which plants work best for certain health issues, ” he said.
Duncan weaves in and out of the garden, giving accolade to each and every plant. Stevia rebaudiana, also known as stevia sweetener, lowers blood pressure. Oenothera speciosa, better known as Mexican evening primrose, is rich in omega 3 fatty acids and helps reduce cholesterol. Salvia coccinea, also known as scarlet sage, was used by the Mayans to cure headaches. The health remedies are endless.
The garden is even home to banana, pineapple, and mango trees. Over the years, the garden has gradually included other plants from various places in Latin American such as Costa Rica, Uruguay, and Argentina. The LAEG also contains a greenhouse, aiding the tropical plants that cannot endure the winter season in Georgia.
Martha DeHart, trained horticulturist and curator, has been with the garden since May of 2011 and she is passionate about working here through the wildlife she observes. Her responsibilities include weeding, watering and laying mulch. DeHart gives her input while watering the garden. “It’s a beautiful green space here. If it gives people an appreciation or a better knowledge of plants then so much the better,” she said.
As well as research, the garden serves as an academic resource. Operating as a living classroom for many of the landscape, botany, and anthropology courses at the University of Georgia students expand their awareness diverse plant life. Many of the local elementary schools utilize the garden as an outreach program and tour it on fieldtrips.
