The New Floating Garden

Many visitors to Mexico City are familiar with the so-called "Floating Gardens of Xochimilco", a network of canals and islands on the far south side of the city.  They are a remnant of the "chinampa" system of agriculture used by the Aztecs in which man-made islands would be created for farming in the shallow waters of the lake which once covered most of the Valley of Mexico.

Today however, the city boasts a newly-opened elevated, lineal park called the Floating Garden of  Tlallipan.  It runs a little over a mile from the southern edge of the Historic District south to the Chabacano Metro Station.  Line 2 of the Metro emerges from underground, and the Floating Garden is built above the Metro tracks.  The name comes from the fact that the route follows that of the pre-Hispanic causeway which ran from the Aztecs' island capital of Tenochtitlan to the lakeshore town of Tlalpan.

I wanted to check out this new project.  I took the subway to the Pino Suárez station.  Exiting the station I then walked a short distance outside and then climbed a flight of stairs which led to the beginning of the Floating Garden.

Work is still continuing on the project, and there were crews of gardeners planting more plants.

The gardens on either side of the walkway are quite attractive with a variety of flowers and other plants.

Dahlias, the national flower of Mexico

A cactus in bloom

There are several fountains which are enclosed in capsules to prevent evaporation.

The gardens are decorated with figures of animals that are native to Mexico.

The axolotl, the salamander-like animal that inhabits the canals of Xochimilco and which has become a trademark of Mexico City.

A soccer-playing axolotl

The xoloitzcuintle (xolo for short) is a breed of dog that was venerated by the Aztecs.

We know it as the Mexican hairless.

The Tlaloc frog, named after the Aztec rain god, is an endangered species.

(It doesn't really wear a pre-Hispanic headdress.)

A hummingbird

Another hummingbird, formed from succulent plants

A cocomixtle, an animal similar to a small racoon

A teporingo, a tiny rabbit-like animal which inhabits the volcanic slopes of Mexico

There are also a large number of figures of dogs, among them the rescue dogs Proteo and Frida who gained the status of heroes for their work in finding survivors in the wreckage of earthquakes in Mexico and around the world.

The gardens include playground areas for the children, stands selling organic vegetables, and even tables for playing chess.

The path passes right through an upper level of the San Antonio Abad Metro station.

After more than a mile, the park comes to an end at the Chabacano Metro station.

The Chabacano station is very large and busy.  Three Metro lines intersect here, two of them above ground and one below ground.  One of the stops on the underground line is within walking distance of the apartment, so returning home was very easy.

The station has been completely renovated.

I was very impressed with the Floating Garden.  I think it will be a very nice asset for the city IF... (and given the way things work in Mexico City, it's a big if)... IF the park is maintained and not allowed to fall into disrepair.  Fingers crossed.