A trip to the botanical gardens

So, guys, all the philosophers are gone now. What should we do today?

Smoochy wants to go back to the beach. But Smooch, we went there yesterday!

Ears wants to go to a fruit market. Sounds good to me,
but there are no markets nearby!

What about... a trip to the botanical gardens instead?

There they have water...

...and things for bunny rabbits to snack on!

It's the perfect compromise.

Hop in my bag, Ears -- let's go!

Today Ears and I headed to Orchid World, one of Barbados's three main botanical gardens. (The other ones are the Andromeda Botanic Gardens -- operated by UWI Cave Hill -- and the Flower Forest, which are both a bit further away).

Orlando and I drove on winding country roads into the rural parish of St. George, past gently rolling fields of sugar cane -- some up to 5 feet high -- waving in the warm breezes that were a constant feature of the weather on this trip. The wide, square fields, warm sun, and squat farm buildings reminded me of the landscape in Taichung, where rice paddies stretched from horizon to horizon on either side of narrow country roads.


Orchid World itself was lovely, a small-ish property with winding paved paths and a huge variety of different types of orchids. It was founded by the former Prime Minister of Barbados, on a parcel of land that used to be a pig farm! Because much of the extant infrastructure of water and irrigation was used, the conversion process took just one year. The orchids were simply extraordinary.

"Vanda" orchids are known for being exceptionally large and showy, with brilliant colors.

But even tiny orchids were carefully cultivated -- I loved the miniature "baby's breath" orchids pictured above..

The "Sharry Baby" scented orchid gave off a delectable mix of chocolate and jasmine aromas -- which naturally gave me an idea for a new kind of chocolate truffle to make when I am back in DC with my truffle supplies!

There were more than simply orchids at the garden -- from tall trees like the one above, to small flowers on the ground or in the shrubbery, there was an abundance of tropical flora to enjoy.

For instance, I was able to see my first wild-growing bird of paradise, stunning in person and much larger than the ones I've seen on bouquets up north.

The stones at the garden -- as elsewhere on the island -- gave a clear indication of Barbados's coral-based geological substructure.

Orchids are ornamental rather than edible, much to Ears's chagrin. Thankfully, he managed to find some clover...

... and a plant that looked a bit like mint.

Before leaving, we had also read about the ready availability of "green coconuts," which are harvested before they ripen into their traditionally hairy brown form. On previous travels, I had the opportunity to sip on a mature coconut on Wangfujin in China, as well as on a green coconut at a Malaysian restaurant in Hong Kong.

On Sundays, men harvest mounds of young coconuts and set up shop along the sides of the highways. For just $2 Barbados dollars ($1 US) the man grabs one of the large green coconuts by its stem, and deftly spins it in his hand while thwocking it with an enormous cleaver. He chops the top off, and hands you a straw to drink the sweet coconut water from inside. When you've finished, he takes the coconut back and, with some more cleaver action, chops it into thirds for you to scoop the jelly-like inner flesh of the coconut out with your teeth. (I'll admit it, I waited to eat the jelly until I got back to the guesthouse, and ate it out with a plastic spoon. Call me a foreigner... I wanted to avoid the places where the cleaver left black marks in the coconut's flesh.)

All in all... definitely a day to remember!