Andromeda Botanic Gardens

Iris Bannochie began planting this hillside above Bathsheba in 1954 and kept at it until her death in 1988, gathering species on her travels and building a garden around the boulders and the stream that run through the site. She named it Andromeda because the plants seemed chained to the rocks as Andromeda was. The collection is strong on orchids, heliconias, ferns, palms and the hibiscus she bred herself, and the garden holds the island's national plant collection. The Atlantic is visible below through the trees, and the whole thing is on a slope, so the paths climb and drop constantly.

What you actually see

• The orchid collection - one of the strongest in the eastern Caribbean.
• The boulders - enormous rocks the garden is planted around.
• Heliconias and gingers - along the stream through the middle.
• The view - the Atlantic below through gaps in the planting.

When to go

December to April is the dry season. Mornings are coolest for the slopes. Flowering is spread across the year with orchids at their best in the drier months. Two hours covers it comfortably.

Honest expectations

The garden is on a steep slope with steps and uneven paths, which makes it hard going for anyone with mobility problems. It is small and takes two hours. Maintenance has varied with funding over the years. There is no shade on some of the upper paths.

Nearby

Bathsheba is five minutes below; the east coast road runs along the shore.