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| View of garden and house (partially hidden) |
I recently visited Ahhh Ras Natango Garden and Gallery, the
brainchild of Tamika and Ian Williams, who on Monday were declared the TripAdvisor 2013 Winner, and were awarded a
Certificate of Excellence. This premier attraction is in Camrose, on the right
hand side of the road running from Montego Bay, through Granville to Kempshot.
A steep driveway leads to the house and the amazing garden, built into a
hillside where you would think any kind of cultivation would be washed away.
However with skillful use of terracing, suitable habitats for a wide variety of tropical
and temperate plants have been created, alongside walkways which allow the
visitor to admire them. Among the plants grown for their flowers and foliage are
Iris, Coleus, Nasturtium, Aquilegia, Roses, Orchids, Crotons, Kalanchoe – Mother
of Thousands (which if you’re not careful will take over your whole garden)
Anthuriums, Bromedliads, Impatiens, Red Ginger, Cockscomb, Moses-in-a-Basket
(Rhoeo) and many more. You can see Tamika’s beautiful photos of her flowers on
Ahhh’s facebook page.
Beside the walkways are whimsical touches such as unusual
carvings of animals including sharks and snakes, a miniature village, Jurassic
Park, and the Zen Garden.
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| The Village |
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| The Waterfall |
At the far end is a waterfall, not less attractive
for being man-made. You can relax in comfortable seats near the waterfall,
soothed by the gentle sound of water, and take in the breathtaking vista of Montego
Bay and the Caribbean Sea. Stately
cedars and other native trees enhance the view.
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| View of Montego Bay |
I must also mention the compost heap, in which garden waste
breaks down to form a natural soil-conditioner. I was heartened to hear that no garden
waste is burnt here, and neighbours are encouraged to do likewise.
The Art Gallery and Gift Shop occupy rooms on the ground
floor of the house.
The Gift Shop was placed 1st among shops of this kind in
Jamaica, mainly because all the merchandise is made locally and no pressure is
put on visitors to buy. The Art Gallery is filled with paintings of flowers,
people and scenery, by Ian and his son Ayale, who show great versatility.
The beauty of the garden is complemented by the friendliness
and courteousness of the staff working there. My thanks to Tensie, who showed
us around the garden, and to Marcia who came with us to Buckingham Primary
School, where I was to do a book reading.
