A special Coconut Tree seen in in The Garden of the Groves near the Grand Bahama Labyrinth. Photo: Barbara Chester
|
Grand Bahama Island - This week two noteworthy events took place at the
Garden of the Groves.
The first was at the
Labyrinth where we were able to plant a beautiful young Coconut Tree with a special story:
This tree (pictured) was raised by Marina Gottlieb Sarles
from a seed taken from her late Mother’s garden in Abaco.
Marina’s
mother, Owanta Gottlieb von Sanden was a zoologist, who loved gardens and all
creation.
She was, like her dear
husband, ‘Doc’, a great ‘healer’ of creatures great and small, much loved and
respected by hundreds of Bahamians. They first came to the Bahamas at the
invitation of Wallace Groves who needed a good Logging-Camp Doctor.
Doc Gottlieb and Owanta later moved to
Abaco where they lived very happily among their hundreds of friends and
patients. Owanta herself was a ‘healer’ whose energy will enhance our Healing Garden in the form of the beautiful Coconut
Tree now happily installed near the Madonna and Reflection Pool.
Linda and Kurt Sawall and ‘Bandit’at the Garden of the Groves. Photo: Erika Gates
|
The second special event of the week also involves our dear
Friends of the Garden and
Illuminators of the Labyrinth, the
Family Sarles!
A year ago Jamie Sarles came to the Garden of the Groves with a cardboard
box lined with a soft cloth cosseting a baby Raccoon which had been abandoned
by its Mother and rescued by Jamie.
Not
being familiar with the rearing of these little furry animals he brought it to
Erika Gates, mother of all
defenseless
creatures, who immediately welcomed this
new arrival and started giving it liquid food from an eye dropper, and lots of
T.L.C.
In a very short time the baby was
attracting admirers; among them were a couple who insisted on ‘adopting’ this
little creature.
His new ‘parents’, Linda and Kurt Sawall named him ‘Bandit’
and loved him as a child of their own.
He has responded to their care and affection and returned their
love.
He happily wears adornments and
very proudly accompanies Kurt and Linda for Sunday lunch at the Garden Café
where, this week we had the pleasure of sharing his 1st Birthday Celebration!