Please ring the bell

There’s been a couple of things that have led me to post about Hunte’s Garden this week. Some friends are currently in Barbados and visiting this garden was one of my ‘must do’ recommendations, then later in the week after my Access Bars session I was reminded that Hunte’s was probably the most spiritual garden I’ve ever visited. At the time I think I wrote it took my breath away as I descended into the midst of the garden, but in truth it had me at the entrance.

And it’s those photos I’m sharing today while I process the full experience of the treatment session I had in town yesterday. I’ll share more about that in a separate post soon, so look out for that to find out more about it.

Hunte’s Garden is the first garden we’ve visited where we’ve needed to announce our arrival, though at Bosvigo in Cornwall there was an entirely self-service entry process. And so, we picked up the bell to say we were here.

Our taxi driver had been plenty of times before of course, and was more than happy to sit and wait and enjoy the garden too, while we explored this way and that, up and down and round and round, and even while we enjoyed a small rum. And it was easy to see why even though we hadn’t even scratched the surface of what we were to find.

The garden was full of curios, vistas and the most amazing plants. I remember feeling quite overwhelmed as we stepped down into the main part of the garden, a feeling I’ve not previously experienced so strongly. If you said to me I could visit again tomorrow, I’d jump at the chance - though I might negotiate a little on exactly when that visit could take place, as we already have plans for tomorrow!

The weighbridge above has certainly travelled a distance, and I’m sure has a rich history and somehow doesn’t feel out of place here - though I’ll have to admit I had no idea what it was when we first saw it.

The experiences this week have reminded me of how I felt when we visited back in December 2019 - it’s definitely true, you remember how things make you feel, and even looking at the photos those feelings resurfaced. I’ve more photos to share, but in the meantime if you want to see more of the gardens here’s some posts I’ve already shared:

• A rum with a view of the garden

• Tropical loos in Hunte’s Gardens

• Dining with faded elegance.

Oh, and before I finish you’ll be pleased to know our friends have been to Hunte’s too - I’ve seen their photos on Facebook. I’m waiting to see if they’ll be going to Fish Friday at Oistins, which was my other ‘must do’. Hopefully they’ll enjoy both recommendations just as much as MOH and I did.

Enjoying the atmosphere in the Shade House

The weather here is still mostly Winter, with a little bit of Spring. But just enough to fool you. To fool you it’s warm, and it is in the sun. But it’s definitely not in the shade. I don’t know about you but the warmth of the sun is very welcome, however brief and I’m looking forward to it being more constant. But today’s post definitely has heat, we’re heading back in Barbados and memories from our trip in December 2019, where spending some time in the Shade House was very welcome.

We’d taken a taxi to visit the Andromeda Botanical Gardens, and it was an incredibly hot day even by Barbados standards. It was nice to wander around the planned route of the garden, which was probably one of the best labelled and informative gardens we’ve been too. The Shade House was the 31st stop (of 41) on our garden tour and the guide encouraged us to sit for a while to listen to the birds.

It was a fascinating structure, providing as its name suggests shade. Which was very welcome. It’s rustic nature brought charm as well as shade. And in the climate it’s not like a greenhouse was needed, so this made perfect sense.

The plants were ferns, arums and phormiums. Though taking a seat was trickier as the arums got there first. But loiter a little we did, glad of the brief respite.

Sadly we didn’t get to spot the birds suggested by the guide - though we may not have recognised a Bananaquit if we’d seen one, or been quick enough to capture a hummingbird. I’m sure they were there, but we weren’t attuned to them. But it was a fabulous space, and as lush as the rest of the gardens, and a few degrees cooler which was very, very welcome.

A rum with a view of the garden

We’re hopping over to Barbados for today’s post, and back to Hunte’s Garden - the place that quite literally took my breath away. As is the well tried tradition, there was a shop, but not just any shop. And reassuringly it was a leave by the shop either.

When I say not just any shop, it was one displaying artwork which I’ll agree isn’t that unusual. But how many gift shops have a sideboard laden with rum?

Exactly. And it was there for sale - either by the bottle, or by the glass. And while it might have been relatively early (though I’m sure it was 5pm somewhere) after a look around the shop, we succumbed. You’ll have to wait for your glass, we need to take a look round the shop first.

I quickly fell in love with much of the artwork on the walls. You know how much I like colour, so it wasn’t really surprising was it?

The green shutters provided the perfect backdrop for yet another colourful plant picture.

There was also plenty of nik-naks, including a photo of Cilla Black - a visitor it seems - and a collection of Royal memorabilia, including a Charles & Diana mug. The verandah was where the rum was, and that too a pleasant - and welcome - addition.

Well, it would have been rude not to enjoy this view, so we happily sat for a bit and enjoyed our rum. It was good.

And so was the view.

And the artwork? I couldn’t resist leaving without some for myself. These two cards are somewhere in my house - I wish I knew where, I think I’ve put them somewhere safe, but right now that’s still a secret (even from me) - but I wish I’d bought a third for no other reason than we have one of those three aperture frames, and we agonised over which to have. It would have been easy to have more, and as it turns out sensible too.

Now I’ve told you I can’t find them, I’m hoping they’ll turn up. Keep your fingers crossed…