Diamond Botanical Gardens, St Lucia
This incredible garden is part of the vast Soufriere Estate which was taken on by Joan du Boulay Devaux in 1982 after her father’s death.

The garden is situated at the foot of the famed, towering Pitons, in a natural gorge with hot sulphur springs which cascade down the hill, permanently replenishing the natural hot pool.

It took six years of designing and planting to transform this six-acre garden into the tropical paradise it is today. Now the lavishly planted garden masterfully complements this awe- inspiring, hauntingly aspiring site. It is one of those exceptional gardens that will stay in your memory forever and uplift your soul.

Hunte’s Garden, Barbados
The first thing that greets you at the entrance to Hunte’s Gardens is the sound of distant chords of classical music wafting through in the air. As you pass the imposing iron gate and make your way through a narrow passage between dense greenery the music gets louder and louder, until suddenly you find yourself standing on the edge of a sink-like hollow, where the carefully orchestrated garden design explodes in a triumphant tutti of all the plants as players.

This is the masterpiece created by Anthony Hunte, horticultural virtuoso and the island’s accomplished and honoured expert. A meandering succession of steps and landings takes you down to the bottom of the gully. Carefully positioned sitting areas allow you to pause and feast your eyes on the profusion and extravagance of planting in a crescendo of colour.

Montreal Gardens, St Vincent
In the heart of St Vincent, in the foothills of the volcanic mountain range, lie the amazing Montreal Gardens. The setting is magnificent, resembling a panoramic painting:  the garden sits on a mountain crest, with sweeping views of the Atlantic coast and lush forested slopes as the backdrop. 
This seven-acre garden is under the care of its eminent designer Timothy Vaughan who came to this magical spot by chance while on vacation in 1992.  “It was one of the most poignant experiences of my life to see this place – in the morning sun, with the mountains in a haze of mist,” he recalls his first impression. “The whole garden design just came to me in that one thrilling instant.” 

The garden consists of differently landscaped areas: a formal sunken garden; raised beds of Anthuriums; a cool area under tree ferns; a sunny slope dappled with alternating bright colour and shade, and moist river banks. A true horticultural work of art.

Sunnyside Garden, Grenada
“Grenada’s capital St Georges has a wonderfully picturesque location: on one side it meets the azure Caribbean Sea, on the other it is encircled by lush green hills. On the top of one of those hills, with magnificent views all around, lies Sunnyside Garden, the home of Jean Renwick and her husband since 1972.

Its present layout was created in the mid-1990s, with the help of the Venezuelan landscape architect Chris Baasch. The design follows nature and appears to grow spontaneously out of its setting. It is comprised of island beds shaped in flowing lines and soft curves. Groups of plantings are separated by wide areas of lawn, which allows you to appreciate the composition from a distance and from many angles. Planting is careful and airy. Plants live in harmony with plenty of room for each.

A few years ago Jean decided to share her cherished private world and opened her garden to visitors. “Each time I show my garden and hear the pleasure expressed in the voice and body language of the viewer, I experience great happiness myself,” she comments.

Welchman Hall Gully, Barbados
Gullies in Barbados are preserved pockets of tropical forest, capsules of conserved time that escaped the sugar cane plantation boom and the resulting vast agricultural changes. Their intricate network extends over 150 km in length across the island. One of the most beautiful and pristine is Welchman Hall Gully, the responsibility of  horticulturist Debra Branker, who is leasing it from the Barbados National Trust.  A highly qualified professional, she gave the place a new lease of life by establishing a native plant restoration project, with the object of collecting, propagating and reintroducing native plants to the gully.

Welchman Hall Gully is a perfect place for visitors to experience first-hand the wonders of tropical rainforest in a convenient garden-like setting, with comfortable paved paths to facilitate exploring its secrets.

Mar’s Garden, Barbados
Driving through the rural roads of inland Barbados you might pass by Marlene Cheeseman’s pastel pink-painted house and wonderful garden. Viewing from a higher vantage point you can appreciate the admirable intricacy of its geometrical design, resembling the formal parterre gardens. However, this compact symmetry of design by no means makes it look stiff or dull – on the contrary, the planting is absolutely ebullient with its dazzling display of bright colours.

This has been Mar’s garden for the past forty years, evolving gradually as she has expanded her collection of plants through propagation and exchange with friends. In recent years, she has deservedly won several awards at Community Garden Competitions, including first prize for last year.