The weather here is still mostly Winter, with a little bit of Spring. But just enough to fool you. To fool you it’s warm, and it is in the sun. But it’s definitely not in the shade. I don’t know about you but the warmth of the sun is very welcome, however brief and I’m looking forward to it being more constant. But today’s post definitely has heat, we’re heading back in Barbados and memories from our trip in December 2019, where spending some time in the Shade House was very welcome.

We’d taken a taxi to visit the Andromeda Botanical Gardens, and it was an incredibly hot day even by Barbados standards. It was nice to wander around the planned route of the garden, which was probably one of the best labelled and informative gardens we’ve been too. The Shade House was the 31st stop (of 41) on our garden tour and the guide encouraged us to sit for a while to listen to the birds.

It was a fascinating structure, providing as its name suggests shade. Which was very welcome. It’s rustic nature brought charm as well as shade. And in the climate it’s not like a greenhouse was needed, so this made perfect sense.

The plants were ferns, arums and phormiums. Though taking a seat was trickier as the arums got there first. But loiter a little we did, glad of the brief respite.

Sadly we didn’t get to spot the birds suggested by the guide - though we may not have recognised a Bananaquit if we’d seen one, or been quick enough to capture a hummingbird. I’m sure they were there, but we weren’t attuned to them. But it was a fabulous space, and as lush as the rest of the gardens, and a few degrees cooler which was very, very welcome.