Huntes Gardens, Barbados

Possibly the most magical garden I have ever been in. Of all the grand and small places I have visited, brilliantly designed or cleverly planted, or both, this garden surpasses all others. It has a heavenly feeling; enhanced by the classical music that Anthony Huntes filters through the foliage, mingling with the muted hummingbird birdsong.

You are greeted with statues, and theatrical areas – like stage sets for entertainment on a grand scale.

Narrow paths lead you downwards, with shorter tracks taking you to some vantage point with a couple of chairs, where you can sit and absorb the beauty of a particular vista.

Elegant, tall trees are the backbone of the garden, with lush layers of under planting, where foliage is the mainstay of the picture that is painted. It is here I realise, in this setting that I could live with foliage alone. The diversity of the leaves, not just in size and texture but in colour too, is evident in every turn of the head. Anthony’s love of orchids is peppered throughout the garden, with small pots of a single plant, balanced on a narrow wrought iron stem, many of which are at eye level.

There are other plants that flower, some very showy with creamy/green bracts, through which thrusts a small single orange flower. Others hang from pinkish-red stems.

Morgan Lewis Windmill, Barbados

Thanks to our wonderful hosts – during our recent trip to Barbados – we were taken on a drive around the island – and to our delight to Morgan Lewis Windmill, the only intact sugar mill remaining on the island, and one of only two in the Caribbean. The bodies of many now defunct mills can be still be seen but this one, maintained by the Barbados National Trust, includes an ‘exhibit of the equipment used to produce sugar at the time when the industry was run by wind power generated from mills such as this one.’ (www.barbados.org).

The wildness of the eastern coastline, which this windmill overlooks is so different to the tranquility of St James where we were staying. Apparently, the air is so laden with salt that rust is a real problem, with the railings and the white goods within the properties that dot the hillsides. The surrounding area too, is reminiscent of parts of Scotland and is named the Scotland District.

Sadly the windmill was closed by the time we arrived but if we ever return to this beautiful island we will make a return visit.