St George Village Botanical Garden

The gardens occupy the restored buildings and ruins of a 19th-century Danish sugarcane plantation. Sixteen acres hold over 1,500 native and exotic species: cactus and succulents in the ruins of the sugar factory, an orchid collection of some 60 species, a rainforest section, a dry palm collection and native Caribbean planting, with the mill and the stone arches of the works standing among them.

What to look for

• Gardens among ruins - planting laid out through the sugar works.
• The cactus garden - in the ruins of the sugar factory.
• The orchid house - the shaded collection.
• Over 1,500 species - native and exotic, among the ruins.

When to go

December to April is the dry season and the most comfortable for walking. Mornings are coolest. It keeps limited hours and closes on some days, so check. Two hours covers it comfortably.

What to expect

It is small and volunteer-run, so maintenance varies between sections and some areas are in better condition than others. Hurricane damage in 2017 set the collections back considerably. Labelling is patchy. It takes ninety minutes and does not justify a long journey on its own.

Nearby

Frederiksted is fifteen minutes west; Estate Whim is nearby.

Key facts