In 1925, when Mexican Frida Kahlo was about 18, she was involved in a bus accident. Her injuries were so severe she had to undergo more than 30 operations. To beat the boredom of her slow recovery, she taught herself to paint. This decision completely changed her life.

 

Her artwork consisted mainly of intense, colourful and somewhat surreal self-portraits, often including her pets—cats, dogs, birds and monkeys—and plants.

 

When Kahlo died, some 29 years later, she had become an icon of Mexico’s cultural life. As well as being celebrated as a great artist within her country, Kahlo was famous throughout the world.

 

Not far south of the centre of Mexico City, one of Mexico’s most inventive forms of agriculture can be found—the floating gardens of Lake Xochimilco.

 

These incredible gardens were first created hundreds of years ago by Aztec farmers. The farmers built rafts from branches and reeds, then covered them with thick layers of dirt, mud and vegetation. These muddy rafts (or chinampas) were anchored and floated out on Lake Xochimilco.

 

Each chinampa was about 6–10 metres wide and 100–200 metres long. They were used to grow fruit, vegetables and flowers. Over time, the rafts themselves took root and became small, permanent islands.

 

The name Xochimilco means ‘where the flowers grow.’