Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre in Nassau, Bahamas

 

Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre

 

Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre in Nassau, Bahamas

When most people think of Nassau, they picture massive cruise ships, white-sand beaches, and the sprawling luxury resorts of Paradise Island. But tucked away just minutes from downtown is a completely different kind of sanctuary.

Ardastra Gardens & Wildlife Conservation Centre is a four-acre tropical oasis that feels a world away from the busy cruise ports. As the only zoo and conservation center in The Bahamas, Ardastra isn't just a place to see animals—it is a living piece of Bahamian history, a rescue sanctuary, and home to a world-famous flock of marching birds.

Here is everything you need to know about visiting this iconic Nassau destination.

Palm Poinciana

 

"Palm Poinciana" -  ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Saunders Beach Coconut Trees - ©A. Derek Catalano 

 

The Coconut Palm: The Tree of Life

Often hailed as the "Tree of Life" (Tree of Heaven or Kalpavriksha in Sanskrit), the coconut palm is one of nature’s most resilient, versatile, and economically vital plants. Across tropical regions worldwide, it serves as a cornerstone of nutrition, culture, and industry. Every part of the tree—from the roots deep in the sand to the leaves high in the canopy—can be used, proving that very few plants match its utility.

Petrea Summer

 

 

 Bougainvillea and Petrea Wall - ©A. Derek Catalano

Petrea - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Petrea - ©A. Derek Catalano

Stinking Passionflower

 

"Stinking Passionflower" - ©A. Derek Catalano

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The Stinking Passionflower, scientifically known as Passiflora foetida, is one of the most unusual and recognizable wild vines found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including The Bahamas. Read more>>

Pickin' Cherries

 

Nassau, Bahamas. A cherry tree cut and shaped into a low hedge for easy picking. Sweet like sugar. I picked all. West Indian(Bahamian) Cherry

 

 

 Cherry Plate - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

Related photos: Pickin' Mulberries Again

Yellow Orchids - PC Wallpaper

 

"Yellow Orchids" - Bahamas AI Image

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Royal Poinciana Rock

 

"Royal Poinciana Rock" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Bahamas Driftwood Art Souvenir

 

 

"Bahamas Driftwood Art Souvenir" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

I took this photo of a piece of driftwood I found on the beach and used AI to paint it. Also tweaked it a little with Adobe Photoshop.

 

Original

Tropic Isle - Phone Wallpaper

 

"Tropic Isle" - Bahamas AI Image

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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 "Tropic Isle" - Bahamas AI Image
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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"Cerasee on Lattice" - ©A. Derek Catalano

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Cerasee (Momordica charantia) in The Bahamas: A Comprehensive Study

 

Introduction

Cerasee is one of the most widely recognized and commonly used medicinal plants in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean. For generations, Bahamians have relied on cerasee tea as a traditional bush medicine for a variety of ailments, from digestive complaints to skin conditions. The plant is deeply rooted in Bahamian folk medicine and remains popular today despite the availability of modern pharmaceuticals.

Known scientifically as Momordica charantia, cerasee belongs to the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae). It is also known internationally as bitter melon, bitter gourd, balsam pear, and karela. While cultivated as a vegetable in many parts of Asia, in The Bahamas it is primarily valued for its medicinal properties.

Tropic View - PC Wallpaper

 

"Tropic View" - Bahamas AI Image

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Hibiscus Sunset - PC Wallpaper

 

"Hibiscus Sunset" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Pink Poui Close-Up

 

"Pink Poui" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Bougainvillea Spring

 

"Bougainvillea Lane" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Bougainvillea Upshot" - ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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Golden Showers Flowers

 

"Golden Showers Flowers" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Golden Showers Flowers" - ©A. Derek Catalano

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Shirlea Bougainvillea

 

"Shirlea Bougainvillea" - ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Stinking Passionflower" - Bahamas AI Image

 ©A. Derek Catalano

The Stinking Passionflower in The Bahamas

The Stinking Passionflower, scientifically known as Passiflora foetida, is one of the most unusual and recognizable wild vines found throughout tropical and subtropical regions of the world, including The Bahamas. It belongs to the passionflower family, a group of plants famous for their intricate flowers and climbing vines. Although some passionflowers are cultivated for their edible fruit and ornamental beauty, the Stinking Passionflower is mostly known as a wild-growing medicinal vine that thrives in disturbed soils, roadside thickets, bushy lots, coastal scrublands, and abandoned fields.

In The Bahamas, the plant is familiar to many older Bahamians who grew up in the Out Islands or rural communities where knowledge of “bush medicine” was commonly passed from one generation to another. Despite its unpleasant odor and somewhat untidy appearance, the vine has long been valued in folk medicine and traditional remedies.

Plantation Isle Resort - PC Wallpaper

 

"Plantation Isle Resort" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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Tropic Isle Seagulls - Phone Wallpaper

 

"Tropic Isle Seagulls" - Bahamas AI Art

 ©A. Derek Catalano

 

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"Tropic Isle Seagulls" - Bahamas AI Art
 ©A. Derek Catalano
 
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