In the verdant heart of the Diego Martin valley, where the slopes of the alluring Northern Range descend to the fertile suburban plain, is a little sanctuary known as Blue Range. It is here, at the home of Marion D’Almada, that The Garden Club of Trinidad met for its Annual General Meeting. The occasion was not merely a formal event but a pilgrimage to a private paradise. A masterclass in tropical design!

Marion’s space was not a garden that whispered; it roared with life. A veritable mosaic of textures, colour and form, each plant juxtaposed to maximize the impact of the other.

A stone pathway is emblazoned with stunning bromeliads, cycads and other more drought-tolerant plants on one side and glorious Hibiscus and Crotons on the other. This pathway draws the visitor to an arbor dripping with Sweet Almond Verbena in flower, emitting a scent that both pollinators and human alike cannot resist.

Emerging on the other side of the arbor the visitor is obliged to inhale deeply, as if to breathe in what beholds the eye. There is a pool, tiled in tones of blue, surrounded by specimen plants that soften the edges, allowing it to merge into its breath-taking surroundings, enticing the visitor to sneak a plunge with a broad-rimmed hat and a cocktail.

To the left of this area is the undisputed soul of the garden. A grassed area flanked by the “who’s who” of tropical specimens. There are heliconias and acalyphers, firecracker plants (Odontema strictum) and Irises- all in flower! Hemigraphis edges the beds very effectively. There are Calydiums and Anthuriums, Philodendrons and Aglaonemas all screaming for attention.

What is evident is Marion’s knowledge of which plant will thrive where. Her piece of tropical paradise is testament to that.

 At the far end of the garden there is more! A lovely gazebo, flanked by a pond, replete with delicate water plants fit for Monet to sit and paint.  An ideal area for relaxing with a good book or for listening to soft music or even better, nature herself. Allowing oneself blend, body and soul, into the landscape.

To visit such a garden is to understand that tropical gardening is an act of collaboration, not conquest. Marion’s garden in Blue Range is more than a collection of plants. It is an atmosphere! The fusion of the vibrant, layered plantings, the water feature and the pool seemed both stimulating and serene.

The AGM could not have been conducted in a more appropriate space. The meeting was very interactive and productive. The sitting committee was re-elected in its entirety but for the last year the committee has functioned with one member short. This year we welcome Denise Hackett to the empty spot. Thank you, Denise and we all look forward to working with you.

At the end of the meeting members lingered to enjoy a glass of wine and a few bites of delectables and, of course, each others company.

The next meeting will be at La Vega Estate on July 18^th.