CRANBROOK FLOWER FOREST
A JAMAICAN OASIS

Story and Photos by Pamela A. Campbell

Jamaica is a 4,411-square-mile island in the western Caribbean with a colorful history dating back to Christopher Columbus in 1494, the Spanish and the British who eventually colonized "Xaymaca" - Land of wood and water."

Perhaps the Arawak word the Spanish used to name the island best defines the legacy of rivers, waterfalls, mineral springs and forests that attract visitors from around the world. And the rich volcanic deposits from millions of years ago have shaped Jamaica's unforgettable landscape from one end to the other.

How else do you explain Cranbrook Flower Forest, where an endless parade of scenic beauty greets the unsuspecting visitor at this 130-acre of parkland?

Roderick, our tour guide, must have felt like a kindergarten teacher with wandering charges - there was just so much to see and touch and admire, I'm afraid we would sometimes get lost in our reverie or lag behind.

Cranbrook Flower Forest is the brainchild of Ivan Linton and his wife, Faith. According to the couple's son, Martin, it all started in the early eighties with a plant nursery and landscaping business that flourished and grew into a park-like attraction on the North Coast, just minutes from Ocho Rios.

This is no ordinary garden. Trees and flowers grow beautifully landscaped on acres and acres of land. The minute you step through the entrance garden it becomes a tropical delight. My eyes dart from the variegated torch ginger lily, the Traveler's Palm (the large hollow leaf/stalk stores a quart of water, hence the name) to the pimento tree. By now, I know this is a Jamaican garden fixture - it's used as a base in perfume, as a spice it flavors porridge, jerk seasoning and Roderick says, it's used in liqueurs too.

I'm already entranced by the abundance of vibrant colors around me, but I must follow the trail along the banks of the meandering stream, and attempt to listen to all the information the guide recites. We go past beds of Philodendron, Begonia, Queen palm, Frangipani, but it's the Oralea that catches my eye. Roderick reveals this plant has a medicinal purpose and locals boil and drink the leaves to relieve a variety of symptoms. So too are the Leaf of Life and Pepperella plants, local remedies for whatever ails the body.

Look for a plant called, Match-me-not - every leaf has a different pattern. And you don't need to journey to Egypt, the Papyrus grass grows here. There's even a section called Bamboo Walk where towering trees grow in a forest like environment.

If anthuriums fascinate you like a waxen valentine, there's a large section that displays the species in all its glory. They range in color from pure white, pink-red, deep red to red and green.

The orchid nursery keeps the island supply well stocked. The many colorful species are an absolute delight to nature lovers or orchidophiles. The orchid floras alone are worth a visit to this Jamaican oasis.

Besides the tree ferns, palms, crotons in numerous varieties, the Heliconia and Bird of Paradise and Shrimp Plant that cover the garden landscape, there are several activities that visitors can enjoy while at Cranbrook Flower Forest.

If you've never gone on a Donkey Ride, this is your chance. The animals appear gentle and a groom always holds the tether (I noticed this was a favorite with teenage girls). Or, your preferences may run to Lawn Croquet, so here's a great place to perfect the skill. For more energetic folks, you can play Volleyball or Soccer.

Another popular pastime is to go pond fishing. Martin Linton says the pond is stocked with 25 different species of fish, including tilapia and fresh water snapper, for a total of 2,000 fish. The average catch is around one to two pounds in weight, and rods and bait are provided for a fee.

I saw many enthusiastic youngsters attempting to catch "something for supper" but a later check with Mom and Dad revealed that the family meal was definitely not going to be fish caught at Cranbrook! If you are fortunate to bait the fish successfully, the park staff will prepare and barbecue it for you on the premises.

A rather interesting feature of this garden/park is that the nature trail leads into the rainforest area on the property. At the end of the trail I was genuinely surprised and fascinated by the beautiful "cathedral-like gorge" where the sparkling waters of the Cranbrook River surge and flow over the rocks, amidst the tropical vegetation. It's a popular spot to cool off after enjoying the outdoors all day, so don't forget to wear your swimsuit (and I would suggest pool shoes as the rocks can be slippery - I bought myself a pair in a local store for US$8).

Cranbrook Flower Forest caters to weddings and large gatherings such as corporate functions and birthday parties or nature trips. There is a snack bar on location, but you can also take a picnic lunch if you want to plan an all-day outing.