Botanical Garden undergoing upgrade | THE DAILY HERALD

Pruning near the newly-installed fence at Miriam C. Schmidt Botanical Garden.

The almost completed new shade house at St. Eustatius’ botanical garden.

 

 

ST. EUSTATIUS–Miriam C. Schmidt Botanical Garden in St. Eustatius is undergoing various upgrades. A short road-trip out of Oranjestad brings visitors to one of the island’s treasures.

The botanical garden is located halfway along the Around the Mountain trail, showing a panoramic view of St Kitts’ northern shore. The grounds open up to a scenic safe haven for Statia’s native plants and animals. It is an area suited for relaxation and entertainment, especially when the travelling whales pass by and say hello.

Invasive species may enter the island by mistake and can threaten these organisms. The garden allows St. Eustatius National Park Foundation Stenapa to focus its efforts on the removal of such threats, says Stenapa’s Education and Outreach Officer Achsah Mitchell.

However, poor fencing or lack thereof also threaten the garden by allowing roaming goats and pigs to damage the plants, Mitchell said. Thankfully, Mitchell added, Stenapa has successfully installed the necessary fencing during the latter part of 2018.

Then-garden ranger Nadio Spanner led the recovery of the garden from damage sustained during Hurricane Irma. The shade house needed to be rebuilt and the trees inside were planted in the garden. The new shade house is almost completed.

“Interns Livius, Thomas and Tom have since joined the Stenapa team for their internship and have been using their academic training to design new, refreshing aesthetics and layout. Livius has considered the various growing conditions needed for each group of plants, such as cacti versus orchids, and where to plant these to allow them to coexist successfully in the same garden. Thomas and Tom are able to combine this knowledge with the more practical side of landscaping and design,” Mitchell said.

The upgraded Botanical Garden will hopefully attract an even greater number of local residents looking to get some relaxation “behind the mountain,” Mitchell said.

More interactive activities for the general public such as tours and events are in the planning for this year, Mitchell said.

Stenapa maintains the garden to preserve the native flora of Statia and to give the general public a quiet place to enjoy up close the nature the island has to offer, Mitchell concluded.

Source: The Daily Herald https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/84306-botanical-garden-undergoing-upgrade

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