Native garden being raided

By Jewel Levy, jewel@cfp.ky

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A South Sound resident who is making an effort to replant indigenous trees is not at all pleased that her garden is being vandalized and the plants stolen.

Ms Melanie said she started the little garden alongside the road to beautify the property after her home was destroyed during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

Ms Melanie’s sign in her garden at South Sound. Photo: Jewel Levy.

But since starting the garden the plants have been ripped up and the garden’s solar lights, which were cemented into the ground, smashed.

Not even a hand painted sign erected by Ms Melanie, which reads “rass mon, don’t steal me plants, duppy mad,” is having any effect on the faceless thieves.

“I did not want to put up a big sign because I want people to enjoy the plants and thought they would think twice before taking them,” she said.

“What is really upsetting, here I am trying to replant indigenous trees such as silver button, mahoe, birch, periwinkle and beach lavender that anyone can go in the bush and get and yet people do this horrible thing.

“Everywhere in South Sound was so bare after the hurricane. All the beautiful trees were knocked over and plants drowned by seawater. I thought it was a wonderful idea to embark on this project.”

Ms Melanie was so interested in getting some of the trees back to the area she joined the Shade Brigade to learn how to get plants from cuttings, she said.

“When our home was destroyed by the hurricane I salvaged as many trees as I could, and for a year took care of them in pots so that I could replant them when the area was cleared,” she said.

“I even took a soil sample to the Agriculture Department but they said it was full of salt. What I found out was if I chose the right plants they would grow,” said Ms Melanie.

“I was hoping people would be inspired to do something similar themselves. With a little time and effort they could also create a great garden from the indigenous plants that are found around Cayman.

“One day I hope to have the plants labelled with the correct names for people to enjoy.”

FYI

For information on getting plants from cuttings contact the Shade Brigade at Shadebrigade@hotmail.com.