Roseau’s Botanical Gardens are a tropical haven of colour & tranquility.

On the east of the town are the beautiful Botanical Gardens (also called the Botanic Gardens). Planting of the 16ha land, formerly a sugar plantation, began in 1890. The original idea for the gardens was an economic one, propagating crop seedlings for the island’s farmers. The ornamental gardens of today are the result of the lifelong work of Joseph Jones, who managed their development from 1892. Botanists from Kew Gardens in England supplied a profusion of tropical species that they had collected from all over the world, thereby transforming the gardens from a purely functional nursery to an attractive landscape of exotic trees and shrubs. Ornately decorated iron gates were put up, ponds were created and over 80 species of palm were also added. Part of the gardens was later lawned and set aside for a cricket ground and small pavilion.

Hurricane David wrought havoc on the gardens in 1979 and much was lost. With a strong resolve, however, the gardens were cleared of debris and replanted. Today Roseau’s Botanical Gardens are a tropical haven of colour and tranquility.

The gardens are still divided into an economic section and an ornamental section. The ornamental section on the western side is the most visible; the economic section is on the eastern side. Division of Agriculture, veterinary and laboratory buildings are located between the two sections in the southeast corner. The northernmost buildings are home to the two parrot aviaries where it is possible to see Dominica’s endemic Amazonian parrots, the sisserou (pictured) and the jaco. In 2010 members of the Forestry and Wildlife Division succeeded in breeding a sisserou after many years of trying.

In front of the Agricultural Division buildings are the crushed remains of a school bus. A giant African baobab tree fell on the empty bus during Hurricane David and it was left there, exactly as it fell, in memory of this great, destructive storm. The tree was cut, but lateral off-shoots grew and produced the tree you see today.

A walk through the gardens is a nice way to spend a couple of hours. The Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division located just off Valley Road, opposite the Alliance Francaise, sells An Illustrated Guide to Dominica’s Botanic Gardens which is a great source of information if you are interested in the local and exotic plants and trees that grow here. Just enter the old stone building, turn right and ask for the book at the reception desk. It costs about EC$15.

Highlights of the gardens include: the bwa kwaib (Sabinea carinalis), Dominica’s national flower (look for it between the Roseau Gate and the crushed bus); the canon ball tree (Couropita guianensis), a South American species with unusual round fruits; Colville’s glory (Colvillea racemosa), a really beautiful tree when in bloom; a gorgeous saman tree (Samanea samaan) that grows on the margins of the cricket ground; the golden shower (Cassia fistula), with fragrant golden flowers when in bloom; the velvet tamarind (Dialium indum), an evergreen with a tangy edible fruit; balsam (Copaifera officinalis), of which there is a huge specimen growing by the sisserou aviary; and the roucou (Bixa orellana) whose seeds were used as a food colouring and a dye for Kalinago body painting.

There are also several species of palm including; the royal palm (Roystonea oleracea), the sago palm (Cycadaceae), the bottle palm (Mascarena lagenicaulis), the gouglou palm (Acrocomia aculeate), the century palm (Corypha umbraculifera), and the scheelea palm (Attalea butyracea).

In addition to cricket matches, the gardens are used for a range of activities including steelpan competitions, parades, independence celebrations and Creole in the Park, forerunner to the annual World Creole Music Festival.

The Botanical Gardens are within easy walking distance of downtown Roseau. Simply walk up King George V Street from the Bay Front and at the junction with Valley Road and Bath Road (by the Police Headquarters), go straight on. The Valley Road Gate is just a couple of hundred metres on the right.

Situated on the eastern side of the Botanical Gardens is the steep pinnacle of Morne Bruce. From the summit of this low peak there are expansive views of the town and the sea beyond. Named after James Bruce, a captain of the Royal Engineers who designed many of the island’s original fortifications in the 18th century, the site was selected by the British as the location for a military garrison. Today there is still a cannon overlooking the town as well as the original barracks and officers’ quarters. The buildings on the summit are now used by the government and the police. The giant cross was erected in the 1920s.

There are two ways to reach the summit of Morne Bruce. One is by road, taking the first turning on the left after the Anglican cemetery on Bath Road – simply follow the road up to the top. The more adventurous may wish to take a 20-minute walk to the top up a footpath called Jack’s Walk, located on the northeastern side of the Botanical Gardens near the Elmshall Gate. The footpath is quite steep so take good care as well as plenty of water. The views of Roseau from the top are really worth the climb.