Allerton Botanic Gardens, Kauai
To the south coast to visit the National Botanic Gardens for a tour of Allerton Gardens. The gardens are a 10 minute ride from the entry point. After a rather unpromising drive through fields on a high cliff we caught sight of the bay, then the beach and finally the beachhouse of the gardens. We then went on a one and a half hour guided walking tour of the place. The setting is impressive .. it has a private beach guarded by steep cliffs on each side and the valley at the rear which goes up to the mountains. A stream in the centre of the gardens is fed from reservoirs above.
Robert and John Allerton bought this place in 1938 while travelling the world and eventually moved from Chicago to live here and establish these gardens. It was once part of Queen Emma’s gardens and a small house from the 1850s has been retained.
The plant collection is rather eclectic and to me the most striking thing about place is the feeling of total design. Several ‘rooms’ have been created in the garden, each featuring a pool or fountain of some type. Careful selection of trees and shrubs create the ‘walls’ for these rooms, so it is for fine landscaping that I will remember this garden (although there is no way to forget the dramatic setting with its secluded beach). The guide said that the Allertons collected many plants during their travels including the Moreton Bay fig trees which were planted alongside the stream. These are really stunning ; I also enjoyed the small bamboo forest. There is much to enjoy here but I would really have appreciated another hour to simply roam around and enjoy the place without benefit of a group but that is not allowed.
To link to Photo Gallery, click here.
The fine detail
Date of travel : October 8 - 15 2008
More information on Allerton Gardens : click here