Gardens of the Caribbean

I’m happy to announce my safe arrival in the Caribbean Island of Montserrat. We scheduled an early seafood lunch then checked into our villa accommodation with beautiful views of surrounding Olveston. The welcome initiated by our island hosts has been nothing short of overwhelming. Travel certainly brightens the spirit and renews ones faith in the basic decency of humanity.

From the verandah, one surveys such an abundance of tropical life. Written descriptions of its emerald vegetation fail to capture an impression of growth proceeding slightly beneath the rate of visible movement. Coconut palms compete with native fig species and yellow blossomed frangipani. A riot of wild peppers intersperse an ocean of blade grass and sweeping pillars of ixora. Their colours saturate the evening atmosphere which carries exotic hints of ginger, cinnamon and lime.

Imagine living without the hidden fear of winter. A working organic garden provides such deeply rooted psychological links to nature. Sometimes cruel, always indifferent, a darkening winter signals the slowing of growth and gradual restriction of many garden items. Before those last autumn beans are picked, we mix apprehension with the deepest appreciation of sunlight and soil. Since fleeing the temporary chills of England, my bones have relaxed into the easy warmth of this paradise.

In the morning, we have an appointment to visit a gentleman who raises tulips and avocadoes in the local manner. This gentleman has a portion of Scots-Irish heritage and is in fact distantly related through a second cousin on my mother’s side. We met many years ago at a Highland function for Clan McHarg. It was during the late sixties and I recall his strong ambition to build a residential community in one of the outer London suburbs. I was equally enthusiastic about the organic movement and we naively discussed the ideals of sustainable agriculture and self-sufficiency. Somehow, he ended up in Montserrat. Arrived when most of the population was evacuating following the volcanic eruptions of 95. Time moves so quickly and it will be wonderful to catch up.