Style Observer Gardening (SOG) returns to the garden of Caribbean Financial Action Task Force Principal Advisor Maurene Simms, CD, where a vibrant orchid collection combined with unique flora form a tranquil oasis tucked away in upper St Andrew.

Far beyond a simple retreat, her garden offers Simms a creative outlet, a space to reconnect with nature, and a haven to share with loved ones.

“It is where I begin many mornings with a cup of coffee, listening to the birds and the gentle gurgle of cascading water as the valley slowly awakens. It is also where I unwind after demanding days, reconnect with nature, and find clarity and peace,” Simms reflected.

“There is great joy in welcoming family and friends into the garden and seeing them experience the same sense of calm and wonder that it brings me,” she added.

Transforming her surroundings over the past four years required equal parts patience and discovery, with every stage of the process bringing Simms closer to the haven she cherishes today.

“The greatest lesson gardening has taught me is that nature cannot be rushed. The key is understanding what each plant needs and then creating an environment where it can thrive,” Simms said. “Most important is accepting that gardening is a continuous learning experience. Every success and every failure teach something new.”

For Simms her success can be atributed to four principals: Choosing the right plant for the right location, maintaining healthy soil, providing adequate water and nutrition, and observing the garden every day.

While these elements form the foundation of her success, Simms advises aspiring gardeners to start small, study their environment, and design a space that is uniquely their own rather than copying others.

“Gardens are living expressions of the people who create them. If you garden with patience, passion, and imagination, the result will be something that is uniquely your own,” Simms suggests.

Relaxing outside in the garden are Maurene Simms’s nieces and nephew (from left) Alida-Lily Yarde, Maya Wilks and Safari Samuels. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Crown of thorns (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Madagascar periwinkle (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Silver vase plant (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Coleus (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Phalaenopsis (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Vanda (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Dendrobium (Photo: Naphtali Junior)