We are traveling in July to the Atlantis resort in Nassau. Just curious if anyone has recommendations for gardens to seek out on New Providence Island. I have heard that the Langlois garden is now owned by the Bahamas trust which is supposed to have a nice collection. If anyone has been would appreciate any info. Will post a travel log upon return.

Many years ago, Lucita Wait, Paul Drummond and I flew over to Nassau to visit the Langlois garden. Mrs. Langlois had a delicious luncheon waiting on us upon our arrival. Mr. Langlois was out of town, but later Mrs. Langlois gave us a tour of the garden. The one palm that made quite an impression was a beautiful specimen of Areca vestiaria. At the time it was known as Areca langloisiana, and I belive it was the only one growing in N. America. It was the most beautiful palm I had ever seen with its bright orange crownshafts and it was loaded with bright red fruit. I think the first introductions of A. vestiara to the USA came from that very tree.

That was many years ago and I don't know if the palm is still there, but it made the visit worthwhile just to see that one palm. There were other rare palms, most of them growing in sink holes, as there is hardly any top soil in Nassau. I'd be interested to see your travel log after your visit. As I recall there was no irrigation system, and buckets of water had to be carried around to water the palms.

Dick

Some of us members visited the widowed Mrs. Langlois - a very sweet lady - a few years after Mr. Langlois death. Mr. Langlois was a government employee [Post Office, perhaps], who traveled all over the world on tramp steamers collecting palms and seed - a very impressive garden, in deed! merrill

I visited the Langlois garden also called THE RETREAT a few years ago and found there is not too much left.You can see that it had been grand at one time and can still see the sink holes that had been planted with their most prized palms.