Sharon

I am looking for a beautiful tropical paradise to photograph. I am most interested in gardens - public or private. Which Caribbean island has the reputation for their love of gardening? <BR>Flowers, trees and landscapes make great subjects. Any suggestions on where to find the best scenery?

Dan

I would look into Ocho Rios Jamaica. Port Antonio, Jamaica.

ryan

Try Barbados. The scenary is terrific. Also, Barbados still has a bit of an English feel to it. Afternoon tea and cricket are everyday parts of life. And I'm sure you know how much the English love gardening. <BR><BR>There are great flowers all around the island.

tivertonhouse

From rainforest to desert to savannah and lowlands, you'll find much to shoot in Jamaica where the terrain is markedly different all-over island. There's a wealth of public/private gardens on island -- and superb shooting in the bush, in the wild. www.bloomfieldgreathouse.com -- the photographer's home site (see clickable at base of bloomfield first page) has a wealth of shots:flowers, palms, fruit trees, landscapes from both coasts. May-June bring mango,litchi,otaheite apple and passion fruit into season.The orchid growers in Mandeville do big annual shows in August. There's a quite good British video out on Gardens of the Caribbean. Port Antonio, the South Coast, the interior are good starting points, though there are spectacular gardens near Ocho Rios, Port Maria and Orcabessa as well. Esau Kerr's BLUE HOLE GARDENS nearing Roaring River in<BR>Hanover through the sugarcane into the mountains might also be a good start.<BR>See www.jamaicaescapes.com

tivertonhouse

Another little-known gardenee www.mountambrin.com for MounTambrin Retreat, the former estate of Alex (aurhot of "Roots") Haley. 2000 ft up on a mountaintop on a private road past a ruined great house estate, the main house is Frank Lloyd Wright style and built in the 30s by a sugar cane overseer of rare woods. The surrounding gardens are legendary for their sculpture, follies, towers, meditation rooms, water gardens and pools....it's straight out of the old tv series 'You Asked For It' -- with probably the best botanical gardens I've seen on island.

Penney

In all our travels, one of the most beautiful places we have been to is a resort in Ocho Rios, JAmaica called Enchanted Gardens. It apparently use to be the botanical gardens and the grounds are very lush and tropical and waterfalls run throughout. Very beautiful.

curiousx

An absolute must-see is Montreal Gardens high up in the rain forests of St. Vincent. It combines tropical streams and lush jungle with brilliantly coloured formal gardens. The gardens stop at the edge, literally, of the breathtaking Mesopotamia Valley. <BR><BR>The gardens were in a sadly run down state for many years, but have been brought back, in the last decade by a dedicated Englishman and his talented local crew. Unfortunately, there are rumours that it soon may be closed to the public - and open only for special events - so get there soon !<BR><BR>In St. Vincent's capital of Kingstown, you can also visit the Botanical Gardens which, I think, are among the oldest in the Western Hemisphere.

andrea

I have to back-up Tivertonhouse, Danny & Ryan. One of Jamaica's biggest draw is the pure lushness of the island. In fact, I am not attracted to islands that aren't lush such as Aruba.<BR><BR>Penny is absolutely right about Enchanted Gardens. I remember it when it was a Gardens and not a resort back in 1990. Those pictures were some of the most stunning I have taken! <BR><BR>Also Shaw Park Gardens in Ocho Rios is Stunning.

Susan

Wouldn't that be...St. Lucia??<BR><BR>I hear it is so beautiful, almost as picturesque as Hawaii.

Island Girl

Another great place is the Romney Manor in St. Kitts -- absolutely gorgeous garden and grounds. Nevis also has some great gardens. And, although not in the Caribbean -- Bermuda!!

Sharon

Thanks for the replies. Keep /em coming.

tivertonhouse

Yards--home gardens in Jamaica all over island -- are worth investigating if only because most Jamaicans grow 'groundcrop'--banana, breadfruit,citron, a prized mango, old-fashioned roses, bougainvillea, orchids, anthurium and blue bottle vine.<BR>Some of the best gardens are real funky ones, lovingly tendered, if often overgrown jungle. Orchids are the draw here -- amazing ones endemic to island -- as well as bromeliad, palm, cycads,<BR>succulents (century plant,aloe and huge blue agaves on the South Coast) and rare green and red jade vine,amongst others. Guests recently sent us a pix of one perfect purple orchid shot in the bush against the rushing waters of YS Falls. Aside from the Seychelles Islands, Dominica and Brazil, Jamaica<BR>tops the list for the most variety within one island.