[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Whether you live on island or here for a holiday, you should put a visit to the Botanical Gardens on your list of things to do.<\/p>\n
Located inside the Montserrat National Trust campus in Salem, the Botanical Gardens were developed after access was lost to the original garden in Plymouth when volcanic eruptions began in the mid-90s.<\/p>\n
Credit for the garden\u2019s creation goes to Mapie, a naturalist and the Trust\u2019s resident expert. Mapie is a jovial and energetic character who loves to talk plants and happily shares his wisdom of how to use them to improve your health. Funding to create the space was received from donors and the British Government through the Q Society.
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\nThe gardens comprise several sections. In the nursery is where the plants for the garden are propagated and documented. The composting unit regularly generates compost from the dead leaves, branches, and shredded paper from the offices to fertilize the plant beds.<\/p>\n
There is a Palm Walk which offers an easy walk among several varieties of the elegant tree. There are bamboo and butterfly palms, the Christmas palm which loses some of its glory as it ages, fishtail and triangular palms. There are also the more well known royal and fan palms, among others.<\/p>\n
An orchid house was built to showcase Montserrat\u2019s endemic specie. The vision, Mapie explained, was to create a space that replicated the conditions in which the orchid was discovered in the Centre Hills. You would find the orchids growing alongside ferns on tree barks and philodendrons hanging from trees. This is the case in the Orchid House towards the back of the Botanical Gardens. A few hybrids have been added to the collection.<\/p>\n
The treasure in this oasis is the Medicinal Garden, which continues to be expanded as more plants traditionally used for medicinal purposes are propagated and transferred to the beds.<\/p>\n
Mapie credits a lifelong love of nature and his incessant quizzing of his grandmother, who raised him, on the use of the plants she grew and recommended to others.<\/p>\n
The garden offers several plants which can be used in the fight against cancer, for managing pain and controlling the spread of it, explains the former forest ranger.<\/p>\n
On a tour of the gardens, Mapie shares his recommendations for what plants can assist in curing what ails you. There are plans which can help a woman with period cramps and others for alleviating aches and pains in the elderly.
\nFloral plants are not excluded from the healing benefits. Marigold, with its bright yellow flowers are good for curing skin fusions.<\/p>\n
The noni tree with its fruit can be used in cancer treatment and to help lose weight. The leaves are also good for curing joint pain.
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\nThe various mint plants can assist with relaxation.<\/p>\n
Rosemary is good for hair loss. It is turned into a hair oil or soap.<\/p>\n
Ram Goat bush can help fight cancer and is used to help induce labor pains. In Trinidad & Tobago this plant is called Shadow Benny. It is also a great seasoning for food.
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\nThere are herbs which help with headaches, depression, memory loss, Diabetes and High Blood Pressure.<\/p>\n
Mapie recommends that the bushes release the best benefits when picked when the sun is highest and then steeped in hot water, rather than boiling. The liquid can also be chilled and consumed like water.<\/p>\n
The plants are labeled to help you understand the local and official name which can help you in researching how to use each one.<\/p>\n
There is a small entrance fee to enter the Botanical Gardens and you can find out more by following them on Facebook to learn about upcoming events.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1\/2″][vc_btn title=”Learn more” style=”flat” color=”primary” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fwww.visitmontserrat.com%2Fplaces-to-see%2F|title:Montserrat%20National%20Trust|target:_blank”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Whether you live on island or here for a holiday, you should put a visit to the Botanical Gardens on your list of things to do. Located inside the Montserrat […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3457,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"rs_blank_template":"","rs_page_bg_color":"#ffffff","slide_template_v7":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[],"table_tags":[],"class_list":["post-3450","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blog-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n