Port of Spain - Trinidad

In February 1907, Margaret was in the West Indies. She visited the Botanical Gardens in Port of Spain. No doubt seeking inspiration for the gardens at Winterbourne. Her diary reads as follows:

"Walked around the Botanical Gardens with the Curator Mr Hart from 8.30 to 11. Saw different rubber trees, cloves, cinnamon, camphor, tea, nutmeg and mace, beautiful fruit, fine bamboos and different varieties of palm. Went across to nurseries, tasted different sorts of oranges. Painted some of the specimens in the afternoon".

Although the Botanical Gardens are still there, all the visual references I can find are of manicured lawns and flower beds, which I don't think suit Margaret's descriptions of wondering amongst lush plants and bountiful fruits and spices. I will therefore use photographs that I have taken recently in the orchid house at Winterbourne.

Once again Edward Linley Sambourne's photos of young women will be useful to capture the image of Margaret as she walks through the tropical gardens.

My initial sketch of the print looks like this: