Our island is known for its gorgeous pink-flecked sand beaches and clear blue waters; its rolling Bermuda grass golf courses; its shorts and triangle! But, with the development of international business and a large population, you would rarely hear someone talk about our ‘open space’, because let’s face it, there isn’t that much. But the beaches, nature reserves, and parks give us plenty of places to enjoy the outdoors.
Just on the edge of the bustling city of Hamilton though, there is a unique outdoor space that shouldn’t be missed – The Bermuda Botanical Gardens.
Throughout the 35-acre garden, the trees and flowerbeds are marked with small signs, providing information on the type of plant, so whether you know your caryophyllus aromaticus from your lanicera caprifolium, you can enjoy all the gardens have to offer.
On the western side of the park, there’s a sensory garden, with all of the signs in braille, a geometric landscaped ‘maze’ and a gazebo. This part of the park is usually very quiet, with few visitors, so is great for a quiet lunch, or to sit and read a book. In this area is a giant Banyan tree with long rope vines. Bermudian children spend hours climbing and swinging on this natural playground.
The Premier of Bermuda’s official residence, Camden, and The Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art are on the eastern side of the gardens. Camden, built in the early 1700s is a stunning example of Bermudian architecture. The property is private and used by the Premier for entertaining special guests, but they sometimes do public tours.
Masterworks, located just behind Camden, welcomes all visitors and is one of Bermuda’s most vibrant and engaging art galleries. Their collections feature works by international artists who have been inspired by Bermuda, including Georgia O’Keefe and Winslow Homer, and there is also a rotating exhibition of local art. You can easily spend a couple hours exploring this gorgeous, well-curated space.
Don’t forget to stop into Masterworks’ shop for a special gift or souvenir that’s more than just a typical tourist t-shirt, visit their new eatery, The Botanist Cafe, and get your photo taken beside the sculpture tribute to John Lennon’s ‘Double Fantasy’ – the song he wrote after finding a flower of the same name here at the gardens back in 1980.
Dotted around the gardens you’ll find numerous greenhouse buildings, exhibit halls and a huge arena. Depending on the time of year, you may see a farmers market, live poultry, or a dog show, but these spaces are chock full every April when the Botanical Gardens is transformed into a huge agricultural exhibition, sort of like a county fair.
The ‘Ag Show’, as it’s known locally, celebrates Bermuda traditions and our agricultural history and gives professional farmers, amateur gardeners, home cooks, and even school children the opportunity to showcase their best animals, plants, baked goods, and crafts. Over the three-day event, you will see horse jumping, school choirs, and maybe even some pig racing! Food vendors provide typical fair food, including the Bermudian version of a slushy called a ‘snowball’ – a chunky ice and syrup treat that is a necessity on every summer day.
And for those not looking to visit galleries, traipse through gardens, or cheer pig racing, remember that The Botanical Gardens is just a huge lovely park. Lay out on the grass strewn with sweet-smelling freesias or under the shade of a Poinciana tree, open your picnic basket, share some crumbs with the ducks that call the gardens home, and enjoy a respite from the sun, salt and sea.
While we don’t offer regular tours of Botanical Gardens, our bespoke experiences, including scavenger hunts and private tours can be curated to include a visit! Get in touch with us to plan your own unique experiences.
For more information:
Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art: www.bermudamasterworks.org
Part of this essay was originally published in Destination Bermuda Magazine 2016/17. Updated and edited in 2024.
