Plants of a (U.S.) Tropical Island: March Program

The US Virgin Islands are a favorite cruise ship destination and vacation get-away. The island of St. Croix is the most remote of these and, as a non-volcanic island, has a different vegetation from most of the other West Indies. Also it has a high mountainous central ridge and wind that almost always comes from the same direction. As a result, the vegetation varies from rain forest to desert over a very short distance.

Mango Flowers

Formerly the home of the Taino people, the island was "discovered" by Columbus and then successively occupied by seven different nations, among whom the Danish left the greatest impact, before finally being sold to the US.

Historically, sugar cane was the main agricultural crop. Much of the island‘s agricultural history remains as ruins now buried deep in forest. As it is the most isolated, rugged and least visited of the islands it also still has large areas undeveloped and in some cases unexplored. For three years, our presenter, Brinsley Burbidge worked on St. Croix and explored the island intensively, often cutting trails into the least accessible mountainous areas. Along with his wife Julie, he also worked with local plant experts (including the island‘s "Weed Woman") and the Department of Agriculture.

On March 6, Brinsley will give an illustrated talk about the island, its dramatic and very scenic topography, and the way that plants (both native and introduced) have been important (and continue to be) in the islands history.

Join us from 6:00-8:00 pm at the First Presbyterian Church, 216 South 3rd Street. Please enter through the garden area, to the left as you face the front doors. Our meeting begins at 6pm, social time and refreshments follow, with the presentation beginning at 7pm. All guests welcome.