NIRVANA NATURAL RESERVE 

THE GARDEN OF WEEPING ROOTS

​

This is what the writer Arturo Guerrero named the garden estate of Comino Crespo, in an article published in the newspaper El Tiempo, dated July 13, 1998. NIRVANA built in mute testimony of that great crime against nature. It reads: "In the NIRVANA farm, a splendid 20 minutes from Palmira, is the only upside down botanical garden. Upside down for two reasons. Firstly, it is a museum of dead trees and secondly because it exhibits amputated roots of the dead. Pointing to the sky, like dry coral reefs beckoning history itself. When these roots dug into the earth, 400 to 500 years ago, they fed mighty trees of gold, worshiped by the Pijao Indians, then looted by Spanish Conquistadors and finally felled by the Paisas and Cauca settlers early last century. That was the golden Comino Crespo tree, the finest and most expensive wood of America, as hard as marble, impervious to moisture, weather and pests, so slow-growing that only blooms at the age 90. Prized by furniture makers, who through polish, reveal its golden soul. The posts and Pacific railroad ties attest to its strength, the altars of the churches of Buga sing praises to its bright luster, the old houses of Palmira and their old furniture, creak gently, singing an ancient song of quality. "