Orchids in the spotlight at the Botanic Park
(CNS): The QE II Botanic Park in Frank Sound was offering thanks recently to a local donor who has given over $6,000 to its new orchid garden. Park officials said the new garden will be unveiled at the forthcoming annual Orchid Show on 13 and 14 February, and it provides another avenue for the protection and conservation of Cayman’s native orchids, as well as a focal point for education. The new garden will consist of a boardwalk over the natural woodland area that is home to Cayman’s extensive orchid collection, including nine of the 26 species known to be native to the Cayman Islands. (Photo – Cayman’s ghost orchid)
“This new feature in the park will allow us to help protect, conserve and educate visitors on the importance of orchids, as well as our cultural and natural heritage,” said John Lawrus, Deputy General Manager at the Botanic Park.
The donation of US$6,130 came from HSBC Bank (Cayman) Limited, a ‘gold’ sponsor of the project developed to ensure a safe haven for native and Caribbean orchids.
“HSBC Cayman is pleased to support this project, which represents a big step forward in preserving a part of Cayman’s natural heritage. A lot of care and attention has been put into this by the staff and supporters of the Botanic Park and we are proud to assist,” said Gonzalo Jalles, Chief Executive Officer of HSBC Cayman. John Lawrus and Sue Gibbs accepted the donation on behalf of Friends of the Botanic Park. “We are grateful to HSBC Cayman for assisting in such an important development in the Botanic Park,” said Lawrus.
The Botanic Park is home to ten of the twenty-six orchid species recorded from the Cayman Islands, and three of these are found nowhere else on earth. One of these unique three, the most commonly seen by park visitors, is Cayman’s National Flower, the indigenous Banana Orchid.
Category: Science and Nature
The Botanic Park is a fantastic project. Thank you HSBC Cayman and everyone else who gives of their money and of themselves to keep it going…
I agree with Dennie, but wouldn’t the botanic gardens be better with a shooting range in them. Everything is better with guns.
Is there any positive contributions out there anymore, or is oue country just filled with negativity, bias and ill will. The Botanic Park is an oasis amongst the doom and gloom and I would recommend everyone go take a walk amongst our nature and beauty and see what it does for the soul.
Everyone who works, has worked and who visits the Botanic Park should be very proud of it.
whatever happened to the rare Cayman ghost orchids that were stolen by CIG from Ironwood forest and get detained in Netherlands?
thieving..in th e cayman’s….that is a surprise.
That was the previous administration by the way.
H.M. The Queen has only been there once and get the whole park named after her!
I’ve been there, twice, can I have a part named after me too?
I CANT BELIEVE THAT THE PARK OR SOME SECTION OF THE PARK IS NOT NAMED AFTER KIRK NIXON OR MARGUERITE BARWICK WHO WERE THE PIONEERS OF THE PARK. THATS THE NORM IN CAYMAN.
Yes we need to move away from the ridiculous "everything must be named after someone" mentaility.
You mean like the Linford Pierson Highway and the Truman Bodden Sports Complex for example? I would ask if anyone knew exactly how much of their own blood, sweat, tears and cash went in to these projects but I already know the answer. I hear plans are afoot for the remaning of one of our Districts, McKeeva Bay is not far away folks!
To be shortly followed by McKeeva Day !!