Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas, is situated on the small, lovely island of New Providence, surrounded by waters of the most unbelievable blues and greens.
We arrived in July when the abundance of brilliant and spectacular bloom was at its zenith.
Royal Poinciana
The royal poinciana continued to display its vermilion mantle while the yellow Cassia fistula had just burst into a shower of golden rain. The exquisite fragrance of the white, cream, yellow, rose-pink Frangipani filled the air with exotic perfume.
We saw the more commonly known oleanders, crape myrtles, and jacarandas everywhere. The ever-present hibiscus, with over 120 varieties in Nassau but over 600 varieties elsewhere in the world, is a source of never-ending delight, suitable, apparently, to any growing conditions.
The bright red foliages of match-me if-you-can and chenille plant, both acalypha, are frequently used in park beds, around buildings, and as under plantings, because of their foliage forms and interesting flowers. The former received its name because no two leaves on a plant are alike.
Plumbago Capensis
In contrast to these bright reds are the delicate blue, phlox-like flowers of Plumbago capensis. Treated as a semi-vine, a specimen plant, or used in foundation plantings with Bougainvillea or yellow allamanda vines, the effect is stunning.
Bougainvilleas
The Bougainvillea once limited to a few colors, can now be bought in many varieties. A handsome new white type was coming into the flower as we left.
Bougainvilleas are among the commonest and showiest vines on the island.
Other Favorite Vines
Other favorite vines are the lavender and heliotrope Petrea Volubilis, the rose-pink Antigonon leptopus (or Corallita), the Quisqualis, or which am I?
As it opens white in the early morning, turning to pale pink at noon, and a deep cherry-red by nightfall. The philodendrons and Monsteras are tremendous growers, climbing over everything, primarily the palms and coconuts.
Fruit Tree
There was at least one fruit tree, usually more, in each island garden. To think you could go out and pick an avocado, sour-sop, papaya, grapefruit, guava, sugar apple, mango, banana, and lime, to mention but a few were delightful.
Nothing is quite so delicious as fresh limeade squeezed from the small West Indian lime.
Shrubs and Perennials
Often the flower beds are raised, edged with stone or brick, and almost all are planted not so much with annuals but with masses of shrubs and perennials. The plantings are close, and the more brilliant and interesting foliages are commonly used.
Roses do poorly due to the heat, but there is a marvelous variety of hybrid crotons, pentas, crown-of-thorns (Euphorbia), and begonias.
We also saw zinnias, tuberoses, marigolds, gaillardia, tithonia, impatiens, zephyranthes, and vincas. Clerodcndrons, gloriosa lilies, stephanotis, Momordica—all dainty vines—climb up and over everything.
Handsome palms are everywhere— one well-known private garden has over 200 varieties in a collection of 300 palms. Indeed a truly magnificent sight.
North American Garden
Nassau Gardens do not generally resemble the designed North American garden. Plants grow in areas best suited to their needs.
The soil layer covering the island is not over 6” inches deep and is poor, so for every plant, a hole must be blasted to remove the limestone and rock and provide deeper areas for root development.
Topsoil imported from Miami, plus the addition of local compost, is often necessary.
However, I did see magnificent lawns of crabgrass, Zoysia, and even Merion bluegrass, but their maintenance is costly.
At present, experiments are in progress with a new dwarf shade-loving grass from Ceylon which requires no cutting. The new grass will be costly and have limited use for some time.
Special Care Necessary
The island soil is 80% to 90% limestone with no trace elements, so many plants do not grow easily except with special care and feeding.
Rather than use expensive clay pots as is done in more Southerly islands, where the clay is cheap and native, metal gallon tubs or cans are used, thus reducing the replacement costs and yet giving the plant some much-needed iron from the metal.
Ixora, one of the showier shrubs, prefers acid soil prepared by adding crushed mahogany bark and leaves. Propagating is done easily by aerial grafting, known as “mossing.”
Because of continuous growth, there are many problems—diseases, insects, and scales. Damping-off in seed beds is high.
Foundation plantings around homes are different and delightful. Though often lacking in design, the selection of materials is interesting and harmonious, but pruning is needed.
44659 by Mary Louise Davison