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Windsong Villa Garden

Windsong Villa on the eastern end of Anguilla has one more problem to deal with aside from the dry conditions and lack of soil that the rest of Anguilla faces. Salt air from the sea. Although human residents would barely notice, salt can be a problem for plants. These hardy local varieties don’t mind a bit as is evident by their health.

All this stuff is growing at Windsong Villa on Indian Bottom Hill, which is subject to medium sea blast, very sandy, desert-like soil and virtually no rain. All were purchased or taken from friends or the bush here in Anguilla.

Frank Costin, your popular host at Anguilla's own Savannah Gallery is the gardener and most of these plants are watered once a week with a shot of Miracle Grow to help along. They have all been planted since February, 2002.

Garden Details

"Yellow Lantana" - a great ground cover, which flowers profusely and is goat-proof. (purchased at Anguilla Garden Centre)

"Blue Daze" - fast-spreading, hardy ground cover but is NOT goat-proof (purchased at Anguilla Garden Centre)

"Half-a-Flower" - a semi-succulent, which "hitches" onto the ground as it grows. It is so-named, as the small white flowers it produces have petals only on the lower half. (Purchased at Malt's, Rey Hill)

"unknown cactus" - this may or not be a cactus as it is succulent. It has huge, elephant-ear type leaves, mottled green with brown spots. The interesting thing is that it reproduces on the tips and edges of its leaves, with small versions of the main plant, only the roots (reddish in colour) hang in the air. Transplanting is easy - simply snip off the section of the leaf with the new "baby" and transplant to a pot. NOT goat-proof (purchased at Dept. of Agriculture) (propogation tip courtesy of Lesley Richardson)

"Texas Sage" - a wonderful, salt-resistant bush which produces beautiful, small purple flowers. Makes a great hedge. Survives well in sandy, dry soil, but will get salt-burned on the eastern side if in a windy place (like our house....) (Purchased at Anguilla Garden Centre)

"Papyrus" - fascinating plant that loves your grey water (from the kitchen and bathroom.) - it grows quickly, but does not transplant well if the roots are broken. Will grow in ponds (remember the Bible story?) but is best used where your grey water comes out. Not only does it thrive, it also purifies this water, so there is no odour whatsoever. These plants are about 4 feet tall. Propogation is best, believe it or not, by snipping a few stems, turning them upside down in a saucer of water and waiting - roots actually start to grow from what was the top of the plant, and new shoots appear. Then, simply transplant to a very moist area. Salt-resistant (gets a tad brown) and do not know if it is goat-proof (stock received from garden of Liliane Stroobant, with propogation tip courtesy of Iris Lewis)
Article by David Johnson

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