Good day everyone,
We look forward to welcoming to the Waboso’s Garden this Sunday, January 12th 2025. Please see below for the garden description and directions.
We hope you will enjoy the diverse beauty of this garden. This east coast garden is set in a c.17,000 sq. ft plot of land on which the main house was built in 2003. The property also includes field that extends to the sea’s cliff edge. It is lined with coconut trees and a mix of other plants such as Silver Dollar. These mature plants have all helped to protect the main garden from the effects of the coastal air.
A theme of the garden is “fusion planting” which the owners have developed to combine different plants together and
create a unique blend of colour and scape. For example, the “Gate of India” is interlaced with Yellow Allamanda in one of
the circular beds.
The garden has been developed over the last twenty years using mainly salt-tolerant plants because it is so close to the
sea. Through careful selection and a degree of trial and error, a thriving landscape of colourful plants and palm trees has
been established. An abundance of intermingled durable hedging plants, including Silver Dollar, Ficus and Bougainville
have been used around the perimeter. These provide screening from the Atlantic trade winds, thereby allowing less salt-
tolerant plants, such as Hibiscus and Oleander, to grow inside the screening as evident adjacent to the gazebo.
Several different zones of interest have been created, from the front patio to the front lawn which is bordered by golden
palms on one side and a mix of plants and shrubs such as Lantana, Shooting Star, Crinium and Giant Taro all of which
create a rich area of foliage under a Frangipani tree. On the inside of the border by the main front road, Red Crown of
Thorns are interspersed with Aloe Vera.
Another engaging zone is found by the pergola in the far front corner of the garden. This contains a vibrant mix of local
plants such as Periwinkle, “Zebra” plant, Red Cockscombs and “Persian Shield”. Here Ruellia, Ficus and Bougainvillea peep through the Silver Dollar hedging. The theme of the hedging changes along the western side, where “Sea Lettuce-
Tree” has been used extensively.
Belair Pines derives its name from the pine trees (Casuarina) that originally lined the road on both sides. Sadly only a few
remain but the owners have nurtured some of the original trees, others having been lost to drought and disease but even
then, the stumps have been retained as a feature. A row of Christmas Palms has been planted along the front approach, to
replace the original intensity of pine trees.
Coconut trees, a tough salt-tolerant species, have also been extensively used, originally along the borders but more
recently as focal points inside the garden.
A zone known as “the office” is located immediately to the right of the side entrance. This nook consists of a circular hard
base with seating, surrounded by a reed screen and lush vegetation including Crotons, Papaya, Mangrove Lily, Thunbergia,
Dianella, Heliconia and Cordyline.
The border to the lower part of the garden is a dense mass of Monarch Ferns along with other taller climbers such as
Duranta and Bauhinia and tall specimens of Gate of India, Cordyline and Red-Hot Cat Tail.
Features such as stone, paving, mirrors, hanging baskets and different types of seating are used throughout the garden to
create interesting and shaded resting points during the day. The garden remains very much a work in progress but over the years has developed into a landscape that can bring peace and joy to all who visit it.
DIRECTIONS TO THE WABOSO GARDEN
Take Highway 5A, pass Six Crossroads and continue for some way along until reaching UNION ROAD. Tum right here and
continue to the junction. Now make a left turn onto Long Bay Road as if going to Sam Lords Castle Hotel. After passing the
Belair convenience store on your left make the next right turn at the sign for Belair neighbourhood watch Take the second
main turn on the left and turn onto Belair Pines. No. 16 is on the right.
If travelling from the airport, pass the Crane Hotel and follow the signs to Sam Lords. As usual, BHS signs will guide you from the main road.
