The Botanical Gardens

The
natural wonders of St. Vincent can be seen in microcosm
at the Botanical Gardens. These gardens are the
oldest in the Western Hemisphere. It was built in
1763 and established in 1765 as a commercial breeding
ground for plants brought from other parts of the
world. In fact, these gardens were Captain Bligh's
original destination when the mutiny on the HMS
Bounty delayed his first scheduled arrive; he eventually
completed a second voyage.
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Located
in the northern part and just a good walk from the
centre of town, the Garden covers 20 acres and is
overlooked by the Governor General's House. The
garden host a large variety of tropical plants from
all over the world, amongst these can b e found
a descendant of the original Breadfruit tree which
Captain Bligh brought to the island. There is also
a tree, the SPACEA ELEGANS, better known as the
"Soufriere Tree, a species unique to St. Vincent
and not found in the wild since 1912. Knowledgeable
guides will be able to explain, identify and describe
local uses for each plant and can give you a well-informed
tour of the grounds.
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In
the midst of these there is also a small aviary where
you can see the rare St. Vincent parrot. Just inside
the entrance of the Gardens is the National Museum.
Open on Wednesdays (9:45 am to 11:45 am) and on Saturdays
(4:00 pm to 6:00 pm), the Museum features a number
of pre-Columbian artefacts and large maps detailing
the migrations of the island's earliest settlers,
starting with the Ciboney who are thought to have
first arrived as early as 4000 B.C. |
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