Jardin de Balata

Anastasia
Phil May and Andrea Twigg
Tue 16 Jun 2015 22:43
Aside from swimming, snorkelling and shopping (lots of shopping) what else is there to do in Martinique?  TripAdvisor rates Jardin de Balata as #1 so we went there on Saturday.
 
It was one of those rain-foresty days, scattered showers and steamy heat, but the garden is up in the hills and quite a lot cooler.  
 
The gardens were designed by Jean-Philippe Thoze who was as much an artist as he was a horticulturalist.  The garden is kept in immaculate condition and there are some interesting plants and great views.  The chicken curry for lunch was pretty good as well.
 
m_humming
The humming birds are rather more graceful than the bananakeets when it comes to feeding from the nectar dispensers
 
m_P6130362
The garden’s classic view.  Sultry beauty on this steamy day.
 
m_bromeliads
There is an unusual lawn, scattered with bromeliad-covered tree stumps
 
m_P6133288
Andrea negotiating the treetop walk (Either wearing her lucky pink bow or being followed by a kid in a pink anorak)
 
m_P6130333 
The Red Ginger Lily or “porcelain rose”