A Natural Choice - Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park

LOCATION:  On Frank Sound Road in the district of North Side (about a 45-minute drive from George Town)  

Phone #:  1 345-947-3558

GENERAL INFORMATION:  This 65-acre Botanic Park & wildlife facility opened in February of 1994 for the purpose of preserving natural environments and places of historic significance in the Cayman Islands.  The Garden is open daily from 9:00 a.m. and closes promptly at 5:30 p.m. with the last admission at 4:30 p.m.

The admission fees are:   $6.00 for adults; $3.00 for children (6 to 12) and free for children under six.

Our visit here is part of a cruise ship shore excursion and we are allowed one hour to tour the Park.   So, we better get going!

The first thing I notice is the multi-tiered water fountain in the brick courtyard and then I see it ... . on the Visitor Center's veranda is a large blue iguana!

 (Yes, it’s fake).  Inside the Visitor Center is a gift shop, classrooms, and restrooms.  

Brick Courtyard Entrance

Blue Iguana

Veranda and Entrance to Visitor Center

We pass through the gift shop to access the Woodland Trail (under a mile in length) and the garden areas.  We have the choice to follow Clint (our tour guide) or walk through the gardens on our own.  With our limited time, we opt to do a self-guided tour allowing us to linger in areas of particular interest to us.

Currently, the Botanical Gardens are divided into several separate areas (Orchid Exhibit; Cayman Heritage Garden; Floral Color Garden; and the Lake). 

We begin by walking down a wide sandy path to the first garden area.  We turn right and enter the Orchid Exhibit.  This area is home to ten varieties of orchids (three of them are only found in the Cayman Islands).  We stroll along the wooden boardwalk in search of flowering orchids.  Unfortunately, we don't see any but the quiet trail is still worth exploring to see other interesting things like the Red Birch tree, large frond leaves, and draping vines.  I can almost imagine Tarzan swinging through the jungle trees.

Orchid Exhibit Boardwalk

Red Birch Tree

Next, we walk through the Cayman Heritage/Sand Garden. Both sides of the entry trail are lined with Conch shells leading to the Rankine House (a restored early 20^th Century Caymanian home).  We learn that this tiny three-room house was once home to a family of eleven.  Behind the house is a separate “hut-like” kitchen.  Surrounding the house are informational signs about the plants (flowering and medicinal) and how they were used.  I am amazed to see how many plants can survive in this sandy soil.  The Cayman people were obviously hearty souls and very resourceful.

Conch Shells

Rankine House

Separate Kitchen

Bush Medicine

A little farther down the main path is the entry to the 2.5 acre Floral Color Garden.  This section of the Botanic Park is organized by color like a floral rainbow beginning with pink and red and moving into orange, yellow, white, blue, and purples.  The Silk Floss Tree is native to the tropics (and sub-tropics) and cultivated mostly for ornamental purposes and can grow up to 82 feet high.  The photos I have seen of this flowering tree have beautiful pink flowers.  I didn’t see any flowers but its L-shaped tree trunk caught my eye.

Pergola in Floral Color Garden

Pathway in Color Floral Garden

Red Flowers

Silk Floss Tree

As soon as we leave the Floral Color Garden, we enter the Lake area.  A path leads us to a pond where white lilies float in the water.  I love their architectural appearance.  Nearby, a white Heron is wading in a sea of green lily pads. This is a great place to bird-watch.  We learn that this aquatic habitat is important as the wetlands on Grand Cayman Island continue to be lost to development.  The two-acre lake is about 3.5 feet deep (depending on the amount of rain it receives).   We cross the small arching footbridge and begin our walk back to the Visitor Center.

Before leaving the Park, our tour stopped at the Blue Iguana Habitat (recovery program) to see a few of these rare prehistoric-looking creatures.  We learn that this protected habitat provides a natural home for more than 40 of these endangered lizards. The best time to see them is mid-morning on sunny days.

The Park has plans for a future expansion which includes a proposed Children’s Garden.  When completed, it should be a fun place for children to learn about nature while they play. 

The Botanic Park is a great place for families to spend quality time together and learn about history and nature.  For more information about the Botanic Park, please click on the following link:

QE2 Botanic Park