The Garden Club of Trinidad began 2026 with a firecracker of a meeting. The committee had decided on a new format for the meetings, and it worked very well. Our gracious hostess for the first meeting of the year was the wonderful Jennifer Scott. She opened her immaculate home and heavenly garden to near 50 of us. We thank you, Jen, for your unbridled kindness.

Before the meeting commenced our hostess took us on a tour of the back garden. About half of the area was hardscape, with a bar area and a pool, and surrounding stone flooring. All very tastefully done. The pump room for the pool was hidden by a backfilled, short, retaining wall. This is where once stood a large sapodilla tree. When this tree fell, the current garden was born, giving credence to the proverb “from the ashes the phoenix rises”.  Jen’s phoenix is beautiful indeed!

A majestic, flowering, red Rondeletia shrub stands centrally, demanding attention. Not far from this beauty proudly stands a young Lignum vitea (the national tree of Jamaica)  and just to its right the double Chaconia (the national flower of Trinidad and Tobago), both seemingly representing Jamaica and Trinidad growing happily together. The knowledgeable and artistic selection of shrubs in front of these produced a symphony of colour, architecture and texture. Truly a spectacular sight!

Just to the side of this area is a swathe of grass, with boarder beds of gingers and Heliconias along with lower plants like fire flash chlorophytums and aglaonemas. A mango tree casts shade over a stunning rabbit foot fern. Within the mango tree a couple of rhipsalis can be seen, adding further tropical flare to the space.

The front of the house sports an Amherstia, which is a stunning tree when in flower. Below this tree is a collection of gorgeous bromeliads. Two very young mediterranean olive trees can be seen beginning to flourish on the eastern perimeter and will be a sight to behold in the future.

The business part of the meeting began with a formal thank you to our hostess and presentation of a gift to her. The president then highlighted a few points, and the floor was handed over to the two speakers of the month. Carole Lewis educated us on the double Chaconia and Michelle de Verteuil on torch lilies. Both talks were highly informative and interesting.

The show bench was Sansevierias, with judging done by Janice Potter, Katie Bennett, and Michelle de Verteuil. La Vega Estate supplied the beautiful prizes.  Mingling and chatting -a most important part of the meeting, whilst enjoying a sandwich and a drink signaled the end of the meeting. The ending was blessed by a dry season shower of rain.

The next meeting will be at San Antonio Farms on the 21 February. Until then be safe and happy gardening.