More than five acres of nature, bathed by the sun and the rain in a land where the temperatures rarely fall below 60 degrees or soar above 90, are filled with exotic fruit trees, coconut palms, bromeliads, orchids, brilliantly colored bougainvillea and hibiscus blossoms of every hue.
Perhaps the most memorable part of an Ardastra visit is the amazing gardens.
Around winding pathways, the informal gardens hold constant surprises - a cozy limestone bench in a secluded corner or the sight of a kingfisher that just flew in to enjoy the view. A footbridge over a pond where Bahamian ducks mingle with African Geese and fresh water turtles sun on the shore, overlooked by archways of shrubs and exotic plant life.
Created in 1937, the gardens have matured into a contemplative setting bursting with color. The gardens are always changing, but with a sense of a time past when the pace of life was slower and there was time to enjoy the stillness, the tranquility, to marvel at the gnarled vines climbing a 40ft mahogany tree, to watch a wild bird eat seeds or just collect your thoughts and restore your spirit.
A nature reserve, a place to beat the stress of daily life, Ardastra Gardens attracts wild birds of all species, some on a migratory path, others just being neighborly and searching for the same pleasure the visitors seek - a feeling of peace, of being one with nature in a setting that is as quiet as it is colorful.
Photogallery from the gardens of Ardastra
Want to learn about plants? Particularly plants of the Bahamas and in Ardastra? Check out the Ardastra Educational resources!
