From thebahamasweekly.com -
October in Review at the Garden of the Groves
By Erika Gates
Nov 4, 2009 - 12:32:46 AM
"Shakespeare in the Garden" actors and production team moments prior to their performance; filming of Shakespeare in the Garden; Paul Mockler, film producer, and Jackie Dack, producer of "Shakespeare in the Garden" and crew, during filming of the event
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Grand
Bahama Island -
It has been a year that the Garden of the Groves was re-opened after many
months of restoration.
Friday, October 30th we celebrate our anniversary!
It's been quite the month at the Garden of the Groves!
Here is a review of all the wonderful things that took place in October.
Jackie Dack's outstanding production of
"Shakespeare in the Garden" was
undoubtedly the cultural event at the Garden this month. The
talented youngsters were amazing in reciting a multitude of "classic"
Shakespeare and Jackie Dack is to be commended for daring to introduce this new
type of "roving" theatre to Grand Bahama. She guessed right: both performances were a sell-out and
the audiences loved the events!
As if months of grueling rehearsal and two first-class performances were
not enough for the young actors! On Monday morning world-renown cinematographer,
Paul Mockler and his team, came to the Garden of the Groves and created a movie
of "Shakespeare in the Garden". A roving audience with extras had been invited
and for the next ten hours scenes were taken and re-taken with never fading
enthusiasm of Jackie's little group. Congratulations to Jackie Dack, her
students and assistents!
"Under the Harvest Moon" production on the Labyrinth; Friends of the Garden, the Clements, enjoyed dancing under the Harvest Moon on the Labyrinth
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"Under the Harvest Moon" was the first Eldon/McGlone production of the
season on the Labyrinth where during a perfect starlit late
summer evening the crowds delighted in songs and dance from a bygone era. The young and young at heart were seen dancing to "golden oldies" at
the end of the evening. A special treat was the new sound and lighting
equipment, generously donated by Jerry Hill, friend and benefactor of the
Garden of the Groves!
Chef Tina prepares succulent German dishes like Kohlrouladen and Gravy, Sauerkraut and Red Cabbage during our Oktoberfest.
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Who would have thought that Bahamians, Americans,
British and other non-German residents of Grand Bahama could enjoy a real
German
Oktoberfest at the Garden of the Groves? They sure did, and Julia Ryan and her
staff at the Garden Cafe went all out to keep plates heaped
with Sauerkraut, Red Cabbage, Cabbage Rolls, Rouladen and Gravy, Peasoup,
German Potato Salad and many varieties of Bratwurst (freshly flown in
from Florida!) For desert there was a selection of German Pastries as well as
Apfelstrudel and Poppy Seed Cake, generously baked by friend of the Garden,
Irene Koch. Irene's advice on seasoning and expertly rolling the cabbage rolls
was very much appreciated!
Worm-eating Warbler; Red-eyed Vireo; and Swainson's Thrush can all be observed at the Garden.
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International
Migratory Bird Day in the Caribbean was celebrated at the
Garden this past Saturday. Participants met at 8am for an early morning birdwalk
to observe and study migratory species that would either spend the next seven to
eight months at the Garden of the Groves or just briefly rest here and then
continue on to wintering grounds in South America.
IMBD is a celebration of the spectacular journey that migratory birds take
between their summer and winter homes. Many species of migratory birds spend the
winter in or migrate through the Bahamas. They rely on food, water and shelter
provided in our forests, wetlands and gardens for up to nine months out of the
year.
Happy faces of birders that recorded "lifers" during International Migratory Bird Day at Garden of the Groves; Birders can study a permanent display at the Garden of the Groves that shows migratory species observed previously
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During the winter season last year 21 species of migratory birds had been
observed at the Garden. Due to the ongoing restoration efforts and planting of
flowering and berry bearing vegetation it is expected that even more
migrants will be coming to spend the winter at the Garden. As a matter of
fact, participants of last Saturday's birdwalk were able to record 33 species in
2 1/2 hours - 15 of these were migratory birds and three species had not been
recorded at the Garden of the Groves before!
During "God's Creatures in the Garden" Father Cooper blessed the animals by the St. Francis statue; Humane Society volunteers brought pets for adoption; and many children were introduced to their first ride by Geronimo who always exhibits "saintly" behaviour!
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Another event which took place this past Saturday was
"God's Creatures in
the Garden" in observation of St. Francis Day, the Patron Saint of the Animals
and the Garden of the Groves. This event is a fundraiser for the Grand Bahama
Humane Society and all proceeds go to the animal shelter. The community turned
out to have their pets blessed by Fr. Cooper of St. Stephen Anglican Church.
There were even two turtles that received a blessing prior to being released
into the ponds at the Garden. Other fun things to do for the kids were
face-painting, hoopla, raffle and the playground. "Fund" things were a ride with
Geronimo, a Saint of a horse, car and dog wash and lots of baked goodies and pet
items to buy! This was the second year of celebrating "Gods Creatures in the
Garden"
2008 Garden Re-Opening: October 30th 2008 Re-opening ceremony; Erika Gates talks to guests.
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It has been a year that the Garden of the Groves was re-openend after many
months of restoration. On
October 30th 2008 the Grand Bahama Port Authority
handed the Garden over to the new operators, Bahamas Parks and Gardens. The
community support during this first year of operation of the "New" Garden has
been outstanding and overwhelming. This coming Friday the Garden of the Groves
team is showing its appreciation to its friends, members and benefactors by
hosting a
cocktail reception from 5pm until 6 pm. There will also be an
unveiling of a plaque in the chapel to honour the builder of the structure, Mr.
"Ham" Hamilton. The chapel has withstood every hurricane since 1973. A
brief service will be conducted at
4:45 pm in the chapel. Mrs. Helen
Hamilton will be performing the unveiling.
Our Plant Nursery Sale takes place every last Saturday of the month; and we have butterfly-attracting plants available.
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Please don't forget our monthly Plant Nursery Sale this coming Saturday.
The Nursery will be open from 8am until 2pm and direct access through the back
gate off Midshipman (turn off at the Plant Nursery sign) makes it easy to drive
right up to the nursery. All our plants are grown from cuttings or seeds from
the Garden. Prices are affordable and we offer advice on planting to attract
butterflies and birds.
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