A while back, friends told us about a local municipal center which is tasked with beautifying Rincón. The name of the program is “Rincón Brilla” (Rincón shines). To that end, the center propagates plants that they then disperse all around town. They also give away plants to local residents, so that they can beautify their own little piece of Rincón.
The other day, we finally decided to check the place out. Wow! The center sits on a lovely piece of land on a “Calle sin salida” up in the hills overlooking the ocean. We were told that it used to be a municipal dump… Its past is no longer evident: The center is beautifully landscaped, with many mature palms and other lovely plants. The greenhouses are extensive and overflowing with plants. Most importantly, the center workers are welcoming and eager to share their extensive knowledge of local plants (I learned more about the medicinal uses of Aloe than I really wanted to know…). And they gave us lots of plants. Gratis!
We left with quite a loot including fruit trees (Acerola, Mandarin, Guanabana, Icaco), cacti, aloes, palms (Washingtonia, Fiji, Sabal, MacArthur), gingers, ornamentals and flowering plants. We are now busily finding homes for our new plants. Once we’re done, I think we’ll visit our new friends at “Rincón Brilla” again!
The Center’s Office
An extensive greenhouse
Just enough room in the trunk!
Our loot
Nick and Miri's PR Prattle 
Feb 1, 2009 at 5:11 pm
This is so good, great plants! My friends are always telling me to go there when we are in Rincon, never went, but since I will be there shortly, I think I will check it out. I would love some more fruit trees. How nice that some are free, so people can create their own beautiful landscaping.
Feb 8, 2009 at 3:44 pm
Wow, that’s such a great initiative to give plants away for free! We went to a plant shop yesterday with my parents – definitely no free plants there but it was nice to walk around in the warm, humid greenhouses, almost like being back in Puerto Rico 😉
Feb 8, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Petchie: Hope you are enjoying your trip. We’ve had a “cold” front come through and its been in the mid-low 70s during the day here…Brrrrr! 🙂
Feb 20, 2009 at 2:30 pm
Miri,
Hi! My husband I and bought a home in Rincon last June and we heard about the plant giveaway at the center. We will be back in March (we live in NJ most of the time.. sigh..), and would love to check them out. where exactly is the municiple center?
thanks
Linda
Feb 20, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Hi Linda:
Turn onto Calle Los Robles off of Carr. 115 (Rincon Tropical is at this junction). Take the road up the hill and take the left “Calle Sin Salida” at the fork at the top of the road. The center is at the end of this road.