Gary Spaulding, Senior Gleaner Writer

The usually picturesque landscape that is the Hope Botanic Gardens in St Andrew felt the wrath of Hurricane Sandy, as it was reduced to unsightly images of wrecked and ruined plants.

With events previously planned for today and tomorrow, workmen at the gardens are on a tight schedule to clear the messy trail left by a high number of fallen trees, which were left in a heap by Hurricane Sandy on Wednesday.

The lushness for which the usually tended garden is renowned disappeared in the aftermath of the hurricane, as trees, branches and leaves littered the entire area.

Despite the mess, persons who started the clean-up process in pelting rains are expressing optimism that they can return the Hope Botanic Gardens to a semblance of order.

Lambert doubles as a security guard and a groundsman. He was with a about dozen other workers at the eastern entrance to the facility, that had been blocked by one of the largest plants - a massive guango tree that had been uprooted by Hurricane Sandy's fury.

"We are working pretty fast, I think, as we hope to clear up this section today ... we are moving at full strength, then move on to the next area, this is the largest trees that has fallen," he said.

Lambert said the team was not daunted as other storms had wrought havoc on the landscape of the Hope Botanic Gardens.

"This is bad but it's definitely not the worst," he said.