"When the redevelopment of Hope Gardens is complete ... " OK parrot, we hear you.
From six in the morning to six in the evening you can experience the joys of nature in Hope Botanical Gardens in St. Andrew.
Perhaps while there, you may meet Lois Morgan who has left the world of pure science to nurture plants in the nursery and has discovered a greater love for the garden than she ever had.
With a team of only six assistants and with responsibility for 15,000 plants, the nursery manager has found herself elbow deep in caring for the botanicals which will be used to replenish the historic gardens and also supply the public with plants, for their home gardens.
The plants are a sign of hope for the future for Hope Gardens, which is currently undergoing slow change as new management prepares it for a J$242 redevelopment.
Signing a 49-year lease, the Nature Preservation Foundation that employs Morgan took over operations of the garden in 2005, with plans to improve amenities and attractions to the point where they can attract 260,000 visitors each year. Currently the gardens only attract approximately 50,000 annually.
According to chief executive officer Karl Binger, the effort demands the participation of corporate Jamaica and private citizens, as the annual subvention from government and income from visitors fall far below what is required for recurrent costs, much less the changes in infrastructure needed.
Recurrent costs and operations at the gardens will cost $55 million annually over the next three years. The government subvention is $31 million annually.
In the future, the current caged setting of the zoo will be transformed into natural habitats for its inhabitants including one monkey, we understand, who is eagerly awaiting the arrival of its partner.
The proposed redevelopment will see the creation of a botanical museum, an expanded plant nursery, a petting zoo, a redeveloped fountain garden, restoration of the orchid house and the floral exhibits, a research centre and a farm education centre.
The annual gardens tradition will also be revived and the plan is to put in annuals together with perennials so that the Hope Gardens will be always full of colour.
At Hope Botanic Gardens, one is likely to come across a wealth of plants with medicinal value. Did you know that the cinnamon plant makes life easier for women in labour? Folklore states that this plant, placed in hot water under the bed of the woman in labour, will decrease the amount to time which the baby takes to come out. Cinnamon is also insecticidal and anti-microbial. These are the reasons why there are less pests around where cinnamon trees are planted.
Watch out in the coming weeks for many interesting tales about Hope Gardens, the attraction which - if its new managers have their way - will become the premier attraction in Kingston in five years.
- Outlook Team
