BOTANICAL GARDEN
Located on the coastal slopes of the Biokovo mountain, above the village of Kotišina, at an altitude of 350 to 500 meters, part of the garden lies within the Biokovo Nature Park. The garden was founded by Dr. Fra Jure Radić (1920–1990), a Franciscan friar and scientist, with the aim of scientific research and observation, conservation, and the popularization and education about the plant life of the Biokovo mountain. This is not a botanical garden in the traditional sense, where each plant is introduced according to specific rules, but rather designed as a "fenced-off part of nature," where the natural forms of vegetation with the indigenous flora are preserved. Despite its relatively small size of 16.5 hectares, the garden features a wide variety of habitats, including rock fields, springs, rugged cliffs, cultivated areas, and the Proslap canyon with the waterfall of the same name, which remains dry for most of the year and only comes to life during heavy rainfall.
The garden contains a large number of native plant species, ranging from typical Mediterranean to mountain varieties, with some areas planted with exotic species, agricultural crops, and medicinal herbs. Among the perennials, the Adriatic iris (*Iris pseudopallida Trinajstić*) is especially impressive in spring, with its large pink flowers. This Dalmatian endemic from the Iridaceae family grows on rocky fields, springs, and along paths. In spring and early summer, the garden is at its most vibrant, overflowing with a colorful display of flowers, while at other times of the year, a few hidden blooms can always be found. Several walking paths run through the garden, where informative boards provide details, and certain plant species are marked with labels indicating their family and species names.
