A Tropical Garden in Barbados
We're firmly entrenched in another long Toronto winter so any flower pictures I post in the near future have to originate from a local Conservatory or more balmier locations. I think Barbados would be classified as "balmy" when Linda and I visited the island during our Southern Caribbean cruise last October: sunny, hot and humid. After waking up in Bridgetown (the ship travels between islands while you're asleep, so civilized!), we took part in an excursion which included a short visit to "Orchid World."
According to this link, "Orchid World is located on six acres surrounded by sugarcane in the heart of the Barbados countryside. With an elevation of 810 ft a number of vantage points allow you to take in the view. The location is ideal for growing and displaying the more than 20,000 Orchids."
For the record, I didn't see 20,000 orchids blooming but to be reasonable it just depends on the timing of your visit. It was still very interesting to see orchids growing and blooming bareroot as I'll show you below.
(I'm not obsessed with orchids although I can easily see how and why many are entranced with all things Vanda, Phalaenopsis, Cattleya, Dendrobium, et al. I wrote a book review a while ago about Eric Hansen's "Orchid Fever: A Horticultural Tale of Love, Lust and Lunacy" It's a great read and you don't have to have the "fever" to understand the lengths some people will go to collect, grow and display these plants. Lord, you can replace "orchid" with "hosta" in the title and it would still make perfect sense!)
It was a self-guided tour, more or less, and while I wished more orchids were blooming (so that I could take more photos!), it was still very nice to see splashes of colour and work off the large breakfast we had on the cruise ship. Here are some highlights from our visit to this "bajan" tropical garden which will especially help northern gardeners get through yet another long winter.
Enjoy!
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Dendrobium bigibbum (Cooktown orchid)
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Heliconia psittacorum
at Orchid World, Barbados |
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Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (white tropical hibiscus)
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Linda at the waterfall
in Orchid World, Barbados
My better half, enduring yet another "photo op" request! |
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Moses-in-a-Basket (Rhoeo discolor)
at Orchid World, Barbados
Moses-in-a blanket aka boat lily has many different common and botanical names. I absolutely love the variegation and it seems to be a highly effective groundcover. Too bad we're stuck with Pachysandra, Lamium, etc. up here.
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Moses-in-a-Basket (Tradescantia spathacea)
at Orchid World, Barbados |
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Moth orchid (Phalaenopsis)
at Orchid World, Barbados
Ubiquitous due to the ease of propagating via tissue culture, Phalaenopsis come to mind for most people when they think of orchids.
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Narrow leaf croton (Codiaeum)
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Narrow leaf croton (Codiaeum aureum-macalatum)
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Ornamental pineapple (Ananas bracteatus)
at Orchid World Barbados
I love the form and texture of this banana. I'd put it in large blue container with Canna "Tropicanna" to make a strong statement!
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Orthosiphon stamineus (Cat's whiskers)
at Orchid World, Barbados.
The common name for this plant is appropriate!
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Palms at Orchid World in Barbados
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Papilionanthe teres
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Red Vanda at Orchid World, Barbados
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Strobilanthes dyerianus (Persian Shield)
at Orchid World, Barbados
I've seen Persian Shield sold here in Toronto as an annual and is much nicer than run-of-the mill begonias or geraniums.
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Vanda coerulea at Orchid World, Barbados
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Vanda coerulea (Blue Vanda)
at Orchid World, Barbados
Aren't the blue and spotted pattern wonderful? Well, I think they are!
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| Waterfall at Orchid World, Barbados |
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Waterfall and fish pond
at Orchid World, Barbados
The "Fish Whisperer" in action! The goldfish were not impressed.
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Yellow and purple Cattleya
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Dwarf Poinciana (Caesalpinia pulcherrima)
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Acalypha wilkesiana (Jacob's Coat)
at Orchid World, Barbados |
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Agaves, succulents and cacti
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Screened display area
at Orchid World, Barbados
Here's one of the screened rooms which provide shade and protection from birds. |
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Aechmea bromeliad flowers
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Alternanthera ficoidea 'Party Time' (Joseph's Coat)
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Aranthera at Orchid World, Barbados
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Bareroot orchids on display
at Orchid World, Barbados
Don't try this at home unless you can provide the humidity! Proof that orchids are epiphytes or plants that grow harmlessly upon another plant (such as a tree) and receive their moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, and sometimes from debris accumulating around it. Some specimens were blooming although I didn't get a good shot, They were simply hung from wire hooks and seemed happy as can be.
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Birdhouses at Orchid World, Barbados
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Birdhouses at Orchid World in Barbados
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Boat Lily (Tradescantia spathacea)
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Cattleya labiata var. semi-alba
at Orchid World, Barbados
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Clerodendrum thomsoniae (Bleeding heart vine)
at Orchid World, Barbados |
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Container of canna lilies
at Orchid World, Barbados
One group of cannas that doesn't have to be overwintered or trashed, as in the case for us who grow cannas over the summer and have to deal with them in November.
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Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium)
at Orchid World, Barbados
I find the markings and colour combination on this "purple and vanilla" Dendrobium very appealing! |
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Cooktown orchid (Dendrobium bigibbum)
at Orchid World, Barbados |
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Dendrobium bigibbum (Cooktown orchid)
at Orchid World, Barbados |
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Elephant Ear (Alocasia) at Orchid World, Barbados
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| Crested Euphorbia at Orchid World, Barbados |
This Euphorbia reminded me of coral, so bizarre.
