Benguet Flora & Floral Splendor
- RACHExplorer
- May 25, 2022
- 5 min read
Updated: May 25, 2022
Through the rugged ridges, sloping terrain, and misty air of the region cradled by majestic mountains in the Cordilleras lies the Province of Benguet.
Blessed with fertile lands rising at 5,000 feet above sea level, lush green vegetable-covered farms spread out in the mountains of this highland province colloquially known as the “Salad Bowl of the Philippines”. Benguet’s vegetable produce is purchased in the markets of Baguio City where tourists commonly flock all year round. Baguio is tourist city geographically located within the province however Benguet’s rustic towns are barely noticed. But as its flower farms resonated on social media, it allowed these Instagram-worthy sites to hurtle the farm towns into fame.
NORTHERN BLOSSOM FLOWER FARM
One of the flower farms that was drawn to the limelight is the Northern Blossom Flower Farm in the Municipality of Atok, a 2-hour drive town from Baguio City via the zigzags of Halsema Highway or the Baguio-Bontoc Road. Atok is known for its extremely cold weather and the home of the second highest point the Philippine Highway System.
A private property owned owned by Mrs. Lany & Mr. Nardo Ganayan who also happens to own a flower shop in Dimasalang, Manila, Northern Blossom Flower Farm is located atop a mountain and is a sanctuary for a floral splendor of varied colors and sizes that are a sight to behold.
Beds of snapdragons, alstroemeria, rice flowers, hydrangeas, and more are a medley on the mountain terrain with the favorite ones - the unique cabbage roses.
It is best to visit the place early in the morning to catch the glorious sunrise or if you wanted to have a feel of the freezing temperature or might as well want to see the frost-covered flora, visit the farm in the months of December to February.
It was December of 2021 that we visited the farm as part of our department’s year-end activity and we traveled to Atok early in the morning anticipating having a feeling of the below 10 degrees temperature however it has been a bit warm despite the mist and drizzle dropping on our faces while we were roaming around the farm.
Get ready with your camera as posing for photos at the farm is surely enthralling having the fuzzy mountains as your backdrop.
Entrance Fee
Adults - Php250
Senior Citizen / PWD - Php200 (present your ID)
Kids (6 - 10 yrs old) - Php50
*Plus Php250 per group for the tour guide fee
How to get there
Since we were somehow a large group, we rented a van going to Atok but transportation is very much available from Baguio City. From Dangwa Bus Terminal, you can take a bus going to Besao, Sagada, or Bontoc or take a van/UV Express going to Mankayan and get off at Atok Municipal Hall.
To return to Baguio City, you can take a van or catch a bus heading to Baguio City which will also stop at Dangwa Bus Terminal.
Check out the farm's Facebook page for updated information before you go there as there are instances that the farm is closed to visitors:
Since you are already in Atok, grab the chance to visit the two other gardens nearby - Haight's Place & Sakura Park.
HAIGHT’S PLACE
Another attraction with a flower-covered area is Haight’s Place, situated on a plateau with an area ideal for camping and shoots.
SAKURA PARK
Right behind Haight’s Place is the Sakura Park where they planted the cherry trees gifted in 2016 by Japan’s Kochi Prefecture and the Japanese Embassy to the Province of Benguet. This could be a great spot to see cherry blossoms however you really have to be fortunate and of good sense of timing to be able to see the sakura in full bloom as they bloom only for a week or two. Since it was drizzling, I didn't get a chance to take some photos at the park. And, we were just able to see one cherry blossom clinging tightly to the tree branch as the wind blows.
From Atok, let's go Baguio City's nearby town, the capital of Benguet. With its strawberry farms that are frequented by tourists from Baguio City, La Trinidad is a common side trip area.
But other than the strawberry farms, La Trinidad is likewise bestowed with flower farms. Barangay Bahong, the rose capital of the country, and Barangay Alapang, known for its potted flowers, are homes to various flower farms that you can visit for a fee.
But if you are looking for a distinct farm site, you can visit Barangay Alno, as there is situated a farm with not the usual flowers but a shelter for a potpourri of cacti flowers and succulents.
LIVING GIFTS NURSERY
Collections of an assortment of huge cacti will meet you upon entry to the farm giving you a desert vibe complimented by the warm temperature inside the greenhouses thus it is a challenge to visit the area on mid-day as the temperature rises.
As you visit the place, you will have the chance to see unique hybrids of aloes, gymnos, astros, and many more.
After the propagation area of cacti is an area that seems to be like an oasis due to the water descending into a small pond with a koi fish.
Outside the greenhouses is a vast area landscaped with varying flowers along pebbled pathways.
The nursery will surely fill your eyes with awe at the countless plants that are uniquely grown.
Note! If you are a plantito or a plantita, you will surely not go home empty-handed as you can buy cacti, succulents, and other potted plants.
Entrance Fee
The entrance fee is P100 each person but P80 for seniors or students.
Operating Hours
They are open every day at 8AM-5PM except Tuesdays for disinfection and cultural management of the farm.
How to get there
It is much easier if you are riding a private car because you can always turn your Google Maps on and follow the track. Safely follow the road going down from Alapang-Alno-Tuel Road and you will see small signages leading to the place. Upon arrival, you can park your car on an empty lot which is allotted as a parking space for Living Gifts Nursery customers.
For public transportation, you can ride a taxi or jeepney from Baguio City to La Trinidad, Benguet. You can find the jeepney lane at Rizal Park in front of the City Hall or at Magsaysay Road, Baguio City. Drop in front of 7-Eleven store, KM6 La Trinidad, Benguet. You can find there “garage” taxis which are Tamaraw FX vehicles. Talk to the drivers there and ask them to bring you to Living Gifts Nursery at Riverside Alno (Baeng). The one-way fare for garage taxi is P100-P120 per group. They can bring you back to the garage station for additional minimal fee.
For more information: https://www.facebook.com/livinggiftsph
The above-mentioned attractions flaunt Benguet as the rose of the northern mountains.
On your next visit here in the highlands, don't miss out these farms that will surely satisfy your eyes with a splendor of Benguet's flora.
I'm happy you get to introduce our magnificent cordillera!!! Itultuloy mo ha wen
Yes, indeed! The flower🌸 farm scenery, particularly around Atok and Alno, is absolutely stunning. And if you are indeed a nature lover, visiting Benguet will be worth your trip and budget! 💛Thanks Ate Rachel for sharing this😁
Nature never goes out of style.