Garden Club thanks BT police with landscaping

Last Friday and Saturday, members of the Garden Club of Grand Cayman gave their time and expertise to landscape Bodden Town Police Station. A once bare piece of land has now been beautified with what will become a glorious display of hedging, plants and trees that everyone can enjoy.

Garden Club member Carole Broadbelt said they had tried to keep everything as natural as possible.

“The Acalypha should grow into a thick bushy hedge to screen the fence in a couple of years. The Salvia will self-seed in the breeze and quite soon create a beautiful sea of a bluey purple carpeting ground cover which will show up the fabulous red flowers of the porterweed and the orangey blooms of the dwarf Ixoras,” she advised. “The lemon and limes add some extra interest of height and colour underneath the Bodden Town Police Station sign, making a nice formation of green and white variegated leaves, and tiny pink and white flowers. All of which will attract bees and butterflies.”

They also planted Spanish Elm trees at each end. All the plants are from Cayman, except the Ixoras.

Ms Broadbelt, who was the driving force behind the project, explained why the Garden Club chose to help Bodden Town Police.

“Being on a neighbourhood watch group committee, I got to know PC Gardia at Bodden Town Police Station. He communicates with 19 separate neighbourhood watch groups from Bodden Town to Prospect. It’s great that we have this personal contact with RCIPS in the community and we wanted to give something back,” she advised.

But getting the project off the ground was not as easy as Ms Broadbelt had hoped. The Garden Club Committee enthusiastically supported the project, and the RCIPS formal approval was readily given. But because the land is rented by RCIPS, approval had to be sought from the landlord. Then plans had to be submitted to the CUC and the Water Authority to ensure there was no interference with supply.

The project could not have happened without the support of the many Garden Club members. Joanne Ross (Caribbean Blooms) and Janet Morse brought specialist plants and trees. The QEII Botanic Park stepped up with 50 salvias and two of their gardeners. A large team turned up, not just with their expertise, but also to muck in to do the heavy work with shovels and wheelbarrows.

SPC Clay Coleman came out to thank the Garden Club and the team of volunteers. Chelsea Blake, the community officer, told them she was thrilled with the transformation, promised to help with watering, and suggested a plaque should be placed on the yellow electric monolith in recognition.

At the end of the day, the team of tired, sweating volunteers was satisfied with their work, and pleased to be able to do their bit to help the police.

“These same officers have to deal with terrible things in their daily jobs,” Ms Broadbelt confirmed, “and it’s nice to do something in return, to show our appreciation: make them smile and know someone cares for them, too.”

Heather Bodden, the local MP, came by and enthusiastically posted photos. “Heather deserves credit too,” said Ms Broadbelt. “She helped us set up our neighbourhood watch group. She is big on creating community involvement. It’s rubbed off!”

If you would like to join the Garden Club of Grand Cayman, or get more information please visit www.caymangardenclub.com

Special mention to: Laura Egglishaw, Janet Morse, Elaine Campbell, Anita Hartwell, Carole Broadbent Josephine Linton, Diane Vasic, Vivian Bould and Shirley Roulston.