Grand Bahama Island - Friends and Members of the Garden turned out on a mild late summer evening last week to celebrate the first anniversary of the "New" Garden of the Groves.

 

The festivities began at the chapel where Helen Hamilton, her sons Mike and Jim and family friends gathered to unveil a plaque dedicated to the late Leon "Ham" Hamilton who built the chapel in the early seventies. Michelle Hanson of Garden of the Groves opened the ceremony with a prayer of thanks. Mrs. Barbara Chester, facilitator and benefactor of the Labyrinth at the Garden thanked the Hamilton family for their contribution to the chapel and remarked that the chapel had been the only structure in the Garden that had never suffered major damage during hurricanes and storms over the past 35 years - no doubt a tribute to the integrity of the construction by Mr. Hamilton. She then invited Mrs. Hamilton to unveil the plaque which was followed by a presentation of a beautifully white and pink grafted Desert Rose to Mrs. Hamilton by Michelle.

 

SIDE SHOW: (Photo 1)Barbara Chester of Garden of the Groves addresses Helen Hamilton with sons Mike and Jim and friends that attended the dedication of a plaque to honour Leon "Ham" Hamilton; (Photo 2) Mrs. Helen Hamilton receives a gift of a beautiful Desert Rose from Michelle Hanson of Garden of the Groves after unveiling the plaque in honour of "Ham". Helen's sons Mike and Jim attended the ceremony together with their mother Photos: Erika Gates

 

Meanwhile, down at the Garden cafe and bar Julie and her team prepared two bars and a buffet for everybody to enjoy. Larry Lewis and his band began to warm up with mellow calypso and popular island tunes and friends and members were able to relax in seated comfort on the three spacious decks overlooking the ponds and waterfalls.

 

Erika Gates, Garden, Parks and Recreation, delivers a speech to the friends and members of the Garden of the Groves at the one year anniversary party.

 

Erika Gates welcomed Friends, members and benefactors of the Garden and brought the following remarks:

 

"Today marks the one year anniversary of the re-opening of the Garden and Michelle, Julie, Barbara and I felt that special thanks were in order to those whose support has contributed to what has been accomplished here.

 

We wanted to express our heartfelt thanks to those who toiled as volunteers with us in the heat of the summer, to those who contributed financially and to those who offered good advice or even a cherished plant from their personal garden. We also very much appreciate the support of our bench and chapel pew donors as well as the following companies and institutions:

 

The Grand Bahama Port Authority

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism

Sanitation Services

The Bahamas Weekly

Freeport Advertising

Keen i Media

Grand Bahama Info

Freeport Advertising

Lucaya Nursery

Care Maintenance/Dapl Farms

Bahamas Brewery

The Grand Bahama Humane Society

Sandy Bragg Design

Albacore Construction

Reef Construction

Waugh Construction

Island Projects

Freeport Aggregates

Dave Genette Landscaping

Nesbitt Tents

Entec

Mechanical Engineering

Blue Water Pools

Freeport Jetwash

Bahama Rock
Star General

Royal Star Assurance

Lucayan International School

Lucaya Youth Theatre Society

 

 

"When we thought about re-storing the Garden, one of the things we had in mind was creating a place that the community could enjoy - not just visitors to the island. We wanted a place where residents could get together and participate in wholesome family activities in a safe environment either night or day.

 

In keeping with that idea, Julie and her team have done a wonderful job of creating a popular gathering place  with good food, drink and entertainment right here at the Garden Cafe.

 

Barbara has introduced and enlightened many residents and visitors to the spiritual meaning of the Labyrinth. She and her friends have also been instrumental in organizing the concerts and performances that many of you have enjoyed.

 

We are just at the beginning of where we want to go with this lovely Garden. In the near future we hope to add a Japanese garden, a walk through butterfly exhibit with exotic species from around the world, a museum and a nature trail with a Lucayan village.

 

Throughout the year we have planned a number of activities such as concerts, musicals, films and workshops - and here I would like to give a special "Thank you" to Jerry and Cindy for their contribution of the state-of-the-art audio, video and lighting equipment as well as the Pedicab.

 

Much of our planned development and projects will depend very much on the rise and fall of the tourist market. Right now the cruise ships are very important in helping us meet our operating budget but equally as important, we are dependent on the continued support of the community - friends and supporters like you who are here with us tonight!

 

So, once again, on behalf of Michelle, Julie Barbara and myself we are grateful for your support throughout our first year and hope that you will continue to grow with us!"

 

SLIDE SHOW: Friends and members of the Garden of the Groves enjoyed the anniversary party and were entertained by Larry Lewis and band including Vincent 'Sprocket' Knowles, and Tyrone Green.