Hunte's Gardens is a

botanical garden A botanical garden or botanic gardenThe terms ''botanic'' and ''botanical'' and ''garden'' or ''gardens'' are used more-or-less interchangeably, although the word ''botanic'' is generally reserved for the earlier, more traditional gardens. is ...

in the parish of

Saint Joseph According to the canonical Gospels, Joseph (; ) was a 1st-century Jewish man of Nazareth who was married to Mary, the mother of Jesus, and was the legal father of Jesus. Joseph is venerated as Saint Joseph in the Catholic Church, Eastern O ...

in central

Barbados Barbados, officially the Republic of Barbados, is an island country in the Atlantic Ocean. It is part of the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies and the easternmost island of the Caribbean region. It lies on the boundary of the South American ...

. Located in a

sinkhole A sinkhole is a depression or hole in the ground caused by some form of collapse of the surface layer. The term is sometimes used to refer to doline, enclosed depressions that are also known as shakeholes, and to openings where surface water ...

-like

gully A gully is a landform A landform is a land feature on the solid surface of the Earth or other planetary body. They may be natural or may be anthropogenic (caused or influenced by human activity). Landforms together make up a given ter ...

, on land that was once a

sugarcane Sugarcane or sugar cane is a species of tall, Perennial plant, perennial grass (in the genus ''Saccharum'', tribe Andropogoneae) that is used for sugar Sugar industry, production. The plants are 2–6 m (6–20 ft) tall with stout, jointed, fib ...

plantation, the garden has developed into one of Barbados's most popular

horticultural Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

attractions. It was created by Anthony Hunte, a Barbadian horticulturist who began transforming the area in 1990 and opened the garden to the public in 2007.

Creation and development

In the 1990s,

horticulturist Horticulture (from ) is the art and science of growing fruits, vegetables, flowers, trees, shrubs and ornamental plants. Horticulture is commonly associated with the more professional and technical aspects of plant cultivation on a smaller and mo ...

Anthony Hunte purchased ten acres of a former sugarcane plantation in

, in central

. The garden is situated within a natural

-like

, which provided Hunte a unique setting to begin developing his garden. He opened his garden to the public in 2007. Hunte's Gardens is characterised by a multi-level environment consisting of winding footpaths, prominent clearings, and secluded resting areas. Hunte curated the garden with the goal of providing visitors with diverse plant groupings and themed garden rooms. It is designed to showcase a wide variety of tropical plants sourced from across the world, including

royal palms Royal may refer to: People * Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name * A member of a royal family or royalty Places United States * Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community * Royal, Illinois, a village * Royal, ...

, ginger lilies, heliconias, and bird-of-paradise flowers. In addition to its botanical features, the site retains elements of its colonial past, with stone buildings and structures that date back several centuries. The central structure of the garden is Hunte's residence, a converted

stable A stable is a building in which working animals are kept, especially horses or oxen. The building is usually divided into stalls, and may include storage for equipment and feed. Styles There are many different types of stables in use tod ...

filled with antique furnishings and open-air rooms that visitors may tour.

Tourism

Hunte's Gardens has become a popular tourist destination in Barbados, frequented by visitors seeking alternatives to the island's many beaches and resorts. The garden has received multiple accolades, including

Tripadvisor Tripadvisor is an American company that operates online travel agency, travel agencies, comparison shopping websites, and mobile apps with user-generated content. Its namesake brand, Tripadvisor.com, operates in 40 countries and 20 languages, and ...

's "Best of the Best" award for two consecutive years. The garden is also part of a wider trend of repurposing colonial-era properties for public and eco-tourism uses. Hunte has been recognised for his contributions to horticulture with the Barbados Centennial Honour (BCH). In 2023, Hunte's Gardens entered into a partnership with Chukka Caribbean Adventures Ltd., a Jamaican-based nature and adventure tourism company. The partnership, which commenced on 1 November, aims to enhance the visitor experience while preserving the site's botanical integrity and character. Planned improvements include the construction of a new welcome center, expanded food and beverage services, and new tour offerings. A three-part documentary series on the history of the gardens and Hunte's personal journey was also reportedly in development.

References

External links

* {{Official website, https://www.huntesgardens-barbados.com/ Parks in Barbados Botanical gardens in Barbados Gardens in Barbados Saint Joseph, Barbados 1950s establishments in Barbados Protected areas established in the 1950s

Creation and development

Tourism

See also

References

External links