DOMINICA BOTANIC GARDENS

North of Roseau and at the foot of the Morne Bruce mountain, you can visit the Dominica Botanical Gardens. They constitute the largest space in the city. The site is home to more than 50 species of native plants and imported trees as well as the Sisserou parrot, emblem of the national flag. The gardens were established in 1890 on the site of a former sugarcane field. They benefit from optimal climatic conditions for the development of tropical plants. These gardens were organized in two parts, the first one has an ornamental vocation, the second one is dedicated to the development of plants for the local agriculture.

In 1889, the royal government decided to encourage the diversification of crops on the island. It distributed plants and seedlings to farmers. The site covered 40 acres, part of which was planted with sugar cane and sold to the government by William Davies, owner of Bath Estate. The curator of the garden, Henri Green, began the main work on the plantation. In 1892, Joseph Jones took over the garden. This activity became his sole passion and lifelong vocation. The function of the botanical garden is essentially economic and experimental. The exotic plants were collected from all over the world when it was part of the Royal British Garden of Kew.

On several occasions, the park has been visited by the royal family of England, including Queen Elizabeth II in 1966 and 1985. A cricket field, the most official on the island, is installed in the park, as well as two churches (Anglican and Catholic), which were built between 1800 and 1916. In 1930, the site is one of the most beautiful botanical parks of all the English islands. Cyclone David left traces of its passage in 1979, it destroyed the most impressive and oldest trees of the park. You can still see the remains of a bus under a baobab that the gusts of strong winds have laid on the spot. At the back of the park, it is not unusual to hear parrots singing the praises of the past.

To help you with your visit, the Fauna and Flora department offers a map of the gardens, with captions to help you recognize the different species. The gardens suffered greatly from the devastating Hurricane Maria in September 2017. The visit is nonetheless enjoyable. "The Gardens" continues to enjoy an idyllic setting for recreation, parades and celebrations. Its beauty and serenity make it one of the true gems of the Caribbean.