Barcelona

As with so many other green spaces in Barcelona, especially in the Montjuïc area, these gardens are located in an old quarry. They were officially opened on the same day as the Mossèn Costa i Llobera and Joan Maragall gardens: 22 June 1970, and are one of the three parks dedicated to Catalan poets.

Some, such as the lilies (Agapanthus sp) and daylilies (Hemerocallis sp), are kept in vegetation throughout the year. Other species which have to be replanted every season, revive in the summer and autumn, for example, tulips (Tulipa sp), Spanish bluebells
(Hyacinthus sp), narcissuses (Narcissus sp), crocuses (Croccus sp), anemones (Anemone sp), buttercups (Ranunculus sp) and grape hyacinths (Muscari sp), which blossom towards the end of winter and start of spring, or dahlias (Dahlia sp) and Indian shot (Canna indica), which blossom in summer and at the start of autumn, and become inactive in winter.

They are planted in 2,800 m² of parterres, which extend over the grass meadows in a continuous and colourful serpentine shape.
Some 80,000 bulbs are planted every year, distributed according to the colour, lifespan of the flowers and height of the plants. There are two periods of large-scale blossoming: March and April, and from the end of June to the start of September.
Trees are also very important. There are some tipu trees (Tipuana tipu) along a small avenue just above the steps of the main entrance and some magnificent specimens of eucalyptus (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) by the lake, as well as a small wood of pyramidal white poplars (Populus alba ‘Pyramidalis’), Chinese weeping willows
(Salix babylonica) and Himalayan cedars
(Cedrus deodara ‘Pendula’). Other species of trees in the gardens include a maidenhair tree
(Ginkgo biloba) – one is listed in the Barcelona Trees of Local Interest Catalogue – a Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara), large magnolias (Magnolia grandiflora), bald cypresses (Taxodium distichum), pagoda trees (Sophora japonica ‘Columnaris’) and several species of poplar (Populus alba, Populus ‘Campeador’ and Populus x canadensis).

The water features

The upper area is where the most important part of the aquatic plant collection is concentrated. They are found in some thirty, small, interconnected ponds that are distributed from one end of a long staircase to the other.
Water descends from a long, narrow pool situated opposite a rocky wall with a small waterfall. A wooden bridge adds the finishing touches to the delicate feel of this spot, where one of the entrances is.
Amphibians

There is a thriving colony of amphibians in these naturalised and respectfully maintained ponds. In fact, Montjuïc’s amphibians pre-date their creation. They are part of the mountain’s pre-existing free fauna. But the natural marshy areas where they used to live were replaced with these interconnected ponds when the gardens were being built. The animals have lived here ever since, taking advantage of the new habitat that was created.
The water here contains Iberian waterfrogs (Pelophylax perezi) and the tadpoles of that and various terrestrial species of frog, as well as the larvae of dragonflies and damselflies. Another species that share the space is the Mediterranean tree frog (Hyla meridionalis). But these frogs are not found in the water. They live around the ponds,camouflaged between the plants .

La noia dels lliris (The Girl of the Lilies – 1970), which is near the lake, pays homage to Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer and bears an inscription with the following verses by the great poet: “Bonica és la rosa / més ho és el ram / més ho és el lliri / que floreix tot l’any” (Pretty is the rose / more so the bouquet / more so the lilly / which blossoms all year round). Sebastià Badia’s Maternitat (Maternity – 1970), is next to the gardeners’ shed, under a large maritime pine. It is a serene, sweet and very tender image of a woman looking at her son as she holds him in her lap.

The Mossèn Cinto Verdaguer Gardens are a place for spending time and taking a stroll. They are so peaceful that turtle doves are frequently seen walking on the grass.
Around the gardens there are paths and short sections of stone stairs covered in ivy, which has established itself between the steps. Visitors can use these for walking between the large expanses of grass that fill the gardens, discovering the collection of plants they contain as they go. The bright green grass contrasts with the colours of the flowers during spring and summer and with the ochre hues of the deciduous plants in autumn.
The main entrance on Av Miramar is monumental. Visitors there are greeted by a large Barcelona coat of arms made with bulbous plants and framed by large magnolias which, when they bloom at the end of spring, give the whole area a truly spectacular appearance.
Here you can view the large, gently rising green carpet formed by the garden meadows.