PLANT AND FLOWER LOVERS had something dear to their hearts to enjoy last weekend when the Barbados Horticultural Society held the second in this season’s open gardens.
The property on show was that of leading business executive Geoffrey Cave and his wife Anne at their Brittons Hill, St Michael residence.
Yes, when you hear Brittons Hill you are apt to stop and wonder, perhaps even shudder, given the stain the community has gotten in recent years because of the violence in some areas.
But, lo and behold, the Caves’ acre and a half of well manicured grounds with its eye-catching gardens is a real horticultural oasis.
Even for the individual who doesn’t like stirring in the dirt, may be allergic to the pollen or itch from coming into contact with certain plants, Windermere, as the home is called, seems the ideal place to unwind.
So for the people who kept arriving there on Sunday afternoon it was an opportunity to be inspired into understanding and appreciating the wide variety of plants in this garden. For those who had never visited this residence previously, it would have been a shock.
The magnificent view the property commands of the entire South Coast which have left many of the visitors to the island and the Barbadians on hand awestruck at this magnificent location. This view is shared by all those properties fortunate to sit on this ridge.
But it was the gardens, the passion of Anne and her green thumb which highlighted what can be done on a basically extensive piece of hard rock. Despite noting that “gardening takes a lot of work and time”, she has used a range of the varieties of bougainvillea, that hardy shrub, to bring life to her home’s surroundings.
This plant can thrive even during a serious drought. Now in full bloom, it has various shades that do wonders to the landscape. So there is pink, and white, and mauve (or lilac depending on your sense of colours).
“The bougainvillea is very successful here; it doesn’t require a lot of water. It is most beautiful at this time of the year,” Anne said, while noting that like any other garden, hers has its share of giant African snails and slugs, and is affected by winds which can bring chemicals used elsewhere.
“I use organic mulch, as I try not to use too much chemical sprays,” she added.
The Caves have accentuated their property with a wonderful rock garden and a variety of shrubs including portlandia. There is a lovely potato tree covered in blue flowers while a variety of fern abound complemented by a perfectly kept privet and a little bird bath.
There is the museanda plant, which is growing in popularity across Barbados. Theirs is a white one.
And, of course, the thunbergia vine which clings to part of the spacious windswept patio.
This garden uses primarily local flora, so there is ixora, hibiscus and, of course, a range of palms. For rose lovers the heartbreak was that the wood rose vine was not flowering.
The Caves were wonderful hosts, mixing and mingling with their guests, known and unknown.
This weekend the open garden gives way to the big national event at Balls, but it returns next week when Glendale, at Golf Club Road, Christ Church, will open its doors for viewing.