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As we walked to the St. Vincent and Grenadines Botanical Gardens, we were "picked up" on the sidewalk by a teacher/guide who gave tours there. He started the tour as we walked slowly up a steep incline, telling us about the area. In the early 18th century, England encouraged the introduction of commercial plants in the American tropics. The Royal Society gave prizes and awards to those fostering the "introduction, establishment, and dissemination of highly prized species." In 1765, a twenty-acre botanical garden was started in St. Vincent, the first botanical garden in the western hemisphere. Today, the garden's hibiscus walk and small lily pond furnish the backdrop for wedding photos and tourists' cameras. There's a breadfruit tree grown from a tuber of the one delivered by Captain Bligh in 1793 after his previous mutinous and unsuccessful voyage of 1788.
A sensitive plant has mimosa-type foliage which closes immediately upon being touched. Bromeliads (air plants) abound in trees and bushes. Century cactus grow for one hundred years and then bloom once and die. The fan palm collects water in the base of its numerous fronds appropriately fanned out. The tree from which hearts of palm are cut is very tall and must be chopped down for the harvest. Our guide Andy picked a leaf sufficiently rough to file your fingernails. The nutmeg tree produces a green pod from which both mace and nutmeg kernels are harvested. The red membrane of mace around the nutmeg kernel may be processed as a spice or as the self-defense product mace. Philodendron and mother-in-law's tongue proliferate. Another bush-type plant has white and purple blossoms resembling lilac blooms but without scent. Many of the plants have medicinal as well as ornamental uses. The cannonball tree got its name because when balls fall off, they sound like cannonballs. It is covered with reedy vines and scattered grape clusters of buds producing flowers which open and last for only a day. When the petals fall off, the center looks like a comb and brush and mirror, much like a woman's compact.
The garden was experiential as Andy picked leaves and flowers and had us touch or smell the specimens. We smelled bay leaves, cinnamon leaves, lemon grass, and the mild male garlic plant used in salads. The female garlic produces the stronger smelling bulb used in cooking. Cages house the endangered St. Vincent parrot in an effort to preserve it. The national bird is found only on this island and its population is now estimated at 500. Exquisite tropical blooms were the highlight of the tour. When cut, these waxy blossoms last about two full weeks before deteriorating.
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