Andromeda Botanic Gardens at Bathsheba

What it is

Iris Bannochie, a self-taught Barbadian horticulturist, began this garden in 1954 on family land above the surf village of Bathsheba, on the rough east coast of Barbados. She collected plants on her travels and exchanged them with gardens around the world, and she showed Barbadian flowers at the Chelsea Flower Show in London for many years. The garden winds among coral stone boulders and a stream, with collections of orchids, heliconias, hibiscus, bougainvillea, gingers and palms, and a very large bearded fig tree. She left it to the Barbados National Trust. It is a personal garden, small in scale and densely planted.

Before you go

• Go in the morning, before the heat, and allow about an hour and a half.
• Paths are uneven and have steps. Wear proper shoes.
• Combine it with the coast at Bathsheba, a few minutes' walk downhill.

The flowers you will see

HibiscusA tropical genus with large, colourful trumpet-shaped flowersHeliconiaTropical plants with bold, colorful bracts and banana-like leavesOrchidA vast family of colourful, often fragrant flowers found almost everywhere on earthPlumeriaFragrant tropical tree with waxy, five-petaled flowers in many colours

Also part of it, and being written: Bougainvillea.

Read more

Andromeda Botanic GardensA diverse tropical botanical garden in Bathsheba, Barbados