[1] In 1924, he bought a coffee farm, known as Las Cóncavas from Francisco Quesada near Cartago, Costa Rica.

Near the lagoon, Lankester created an area which he called El Silvestre (uncultivated), which was reserved for orchids and other tropical plants.

[3] Under her direction, UCR developed a course on orchidology in 1984 and the garden slowly grew to become an important center for study in the Caribbean and Central America.

[4] The mission statement of Lankester Garden is to "promote conservation, enjoyment and sustainable use of the epiphytic flora through scientific research, horticulture, and environmental education."

[1] The garden sits on 11 hectares (27.2 acres) and is home to over 3000 species of plants, principally epiphytes, including orchids and bromeliads.