(C) Daily Kos
This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered.
. . . . . . . . . .
Saturday Morning Garden Blogging - Vol 21.08 Hunte’s Gardens, Barbados (plus bonus content) [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-02-22
All Are Welcome!
This is a weekly blog with a fun vibe that often veers off gardening, so stop on by and join the conversation. We are here every Saturday at 9AM Eastern with new content and chit chat continuing throughout the week.
══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════
This has to be one of the most amazing botanical gardens I have visited. Hunte’s Gardens were created by Anthony Hunte, and opened in 2007. Mr Hunte is now in his 80s. He spends his days at the gardens supervising the crew and greeting visitors at the end of their explorations, offering rum punch, cake, and conversation on the verandah. He’s quite a character.
Mr M and I spent a couple of days in Barbados in November prior to embarking on a small chip cruise.
Hunte’s Gardens are built and planted in a Sinkhole (collapsed cave). The gardens are about 2.5 acres in area. Because the gardens are in a sinkhole, the paths wind up and down and around.
There are uncountable statues and sculptures throughout the garden. The attention to detail is apparent everywhere.
There’s an incredible diversity of tropical plants.
A summer house is nestled up on one of the dead-end paths. It is full of curiosities.
The fruit and veggies are ceramic.
I think Mr M got tired of me needing to explore and sit in each little alcove.
But if you didn’t explore each little path, you’d miss something.
Adjacent to Mr Hunte’s house there are two decrepit buildings, decorated and set for dinner.
Again, the attention to detail is astounding.
If you ever end up visiting Barbados, this garden should be first on your to-see list.
Bonus Content!
Another spot we visited in Barbados was St Nicholas Abbey. It’s a 1658 Rum Distillery and Sugar Plantation.
St Nicholas — the chandelier is made of shells and the gourd is ceramic. We rode the train!
I want one.
The Burlington Gentleman’s Chair, manufactured in 1935 by Foot & Co. (a manufacturer of hospital equipment during WWI), defined modern relaxation of the time. Described in advertisements as the 'ideal easy chair', it could be transformed into a semi or full length couch with the push of a few buttons. Featuring adjustable tables, a book holder, reading lamp, backrest and footrest, it was a common spot for impromptu napping. The chair could be easily wheeled into another room for the duration of the nap.
══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════
The itinerary
We boarded the ship in Bridgetown and cruised south. Here are links to diaries about the trip. There are lots more pictures of flowers, birds, and nature in general, plus a bit of history and cultural background (with links).
The Daily Bucket: A Barbados to Brazil Travelogue, Part 1. Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago
Part 2. Guyana
Part 3. Suriname, French Guiana, and Brazil
Local tropical fruit assortment at lunch on the ship
Here are even more pictures that didn’t make it into those diaries!
In Suriname:
The Saint Peter and Paul Cathedral is the largest wooden structure in the Western Hemisphere (Wikipedia). We were serendipidously treated to a concert by practicing students.
Three Gurkhas at Fort Zeelandia (original structure built in 1640).
The “Maroon” market (or “Witch’s market”) sells amazonian items from the interior.
The beads were on a street outside the market. Photography is frowned upon inside the market, so we tried to be stealthy. I have no idea what those big white balls are. I wanted to buy a bowl, but how to bring it home on the plane?
We disembarked the ship in Belém, Brazil (“The City of Mango Trees”), and stayed a couple of days to see the town.
Walking around. The woman behind the umbrella never saw us, I’m not sure what she was doing.
We told one of the Brazilian naturalists on the ship that we were staying a couple of days and she recommended the Sunday Market in Republic Square. Luckily it was walkable from our hotel.
Treats, masks, music, local liquor, plants, and mannequins at the market.
Of course we had to visit one of the oldest public markets in the world, situated on the Amazon delta waterfront.
Ver-o-Peso Market (it means “see the weight”)
Last but not least, I had to try the local ice cream. I had cupuaçu and açaí. The açaí turned my mouth and tongue dark purple. Mr M is not a gastronomic adventurer, and he can’t remember his flavor (pink swirl).
Yum.
══════ ∘◦❀◦∘ ══════
It’s finally starting to warm up a little here in SW Michigan, which means it will will be almost above freezing today. The snowdrop buds are completely covered with snow.
It does look like most of the country will have clear weather today, finally. What are you growing (indoor or outside)?
[END]
---
[1] Url:
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/2/22/2297243/-Saturday-Morning-Garden-Blogging-Vol-21-08-Hunte-s-Gardens-Barbados-plus-bonus-content?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web
Published and (C) by Daily Kos
Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified.
via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds:
gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/
