Lately, the immaculately kept lawns and well-maintained trees at Devon House have solicited many favourable comments from visitors. It is however, according to Devon House Property Manager Vaughan Moore, “a work-in-progress, worked on daily by a dedicated 12-man team of gardeners”.

The Gardens, one of Kingston’s largest public spaces, hosts a range of seasonal and non-seasonal plants and is positioning itself to become a botanic garden with a diverse selection of tropical plants. The gardeners are divided into teams complete with a team leader.

Each team leader is responsible for the care and maintenance of his respective zones (Northern, Southern and Eastern) and this entails pruning, mowing, planting and the proper irrigation of each plant. Devon House now boasts a new irrigation system (the old one stopped working in 1980).

There are also plans to create a proper greenhouse which will be used to replenish the flora and fauna. The plants will in turn be sold to generate revenue.

In addition to using the bougainvillea plant to skirt the fences of the property and enhance the grounds, there are also plans to create a Property Maintenance Manual – a detailed reference for the maintenance of the great house and grounds.

A lot has been done, but be mindful that it’s still a work-in-progress. SO encourages visitors to Devon House to show appreciation for the restoration taking place by taking care of the grounds.