‘Botanic gardens’ in south needs care

But this evergreen vista holds a secret. It has been aptly described as the second “botanic gardens” of TT. It was John Cyril Augustus, then curator of the Royal Botanic Gardens in Port-of-Spain who journeyed to the south to manage Palmiste Estate and created Palmiste Park.

I recently came across a speech by Sir Norman Lamont in his book Problems in Trinidad, published in1933. As the owner of Palmiste Estate, he acknowledged the assistance of Mr and Mrs Augustus and his hard working gardener Persaddi in developing the garden.

Today, the south “botanic gardens” waits to be rediscovered. It needs to be cared and curated.

While we are all aware of the Botanic Gardens in Port-of-Spain, there is a poignant and forgotten fact that south Trinidad has its own veritable botanical arrangement.

For those who have not ventured south, the area is picturesque with grand old trees with tortuous rooted trees and nearby evergreen foliage, amid landscaped open patches of green. It gives a refreshing and even therapeutic relief to many who venture for exercise, picnic or afternoon stroll.

The area boasts trees from faraway countries. There is even a pistachio tree standing proudly, unnoticed at the side of the roadway that traverses a section of the park.

Old identification signs, now faded, tell the story of the botanical name and fame of the large imposing trees like “the devil’s ear” that overshadow mortals as we walk beneath its spreading branches along the shaded path.

Squirrels scamper from tree to tree and lizards play in the afternoon sun in a community teeming with life.

Then there’s the old giant silk cotton tree that still harbours the secrets of incantations, written on bits of paper and small dolls, hidden between its large buttress roots.

And of course there’s the collection of proud Palmiste palms.

Many fell away in time but, like life, young eager trees are rising to take the place of the old and restore the sentinel that could be seen for many miles around.

Palmiste National Park is a revealing place; it speaks of our love for God and country. Yet, it remains our unheralded second major effort to prepare another botanic gardens in TT .

But while we commend the work of the respective groups that maintain its grounds, we must do more than just cut the grass. There must be new signs on the trees for children to appreciate the arboriculture and floriculture, we need to see the hibiscus and our national flowers bloom again, to be a living agriculture lesson for our youth.

Sadly, though, there are those among us who seem intent on spoiling the picture of pristine beauty by littering and driving indiscriminately over the greens, while a few nearby residents encroach with impunity into its legal boundaries.

It’s time to upgrade this heritage of the south, this lasting tribute to people who came before us. We have to honour the heritage of this noble place and the work of those who have made this place an indelible part of the mosaic of life for the people in the south.

Let us hail our heritage and appreciate the beauty of the “botanic gardens” of the south at Palmiste National Park.

TERRENCE HONORE Palmiste