The creepers of this garden grow wildly, creating the experience of a vast forest. They intertwine and wrap around the trees as they seek the sunshine up above the trees.
Wooden bridges
The walkways are lined with huge boulders and logs of wood, which are also used for seating. This blends well with the brown of the wooden bridges that pass over the stream that traverses the garden. The railings that safeguard the bridge are painted green in tandem with the greenness of vegetation around.
A miniature bamboo forest stands within the gardens, reminiscent of river vegetation. The arboretum has different species of trees that fill the air with fragrance. The most captivating aroma is that of the blue gum. It captures the mood of the quiet atmosphere and a solitude broken only by the birds in flight.
The trees are marked with their scientific names. I take time to note a few such as Filicium decipiens also known as fern leaf tree, the Thika Palm also locally called kamiti and Ficus natalensis known in local languages as mugumo, simotwet, ol-endeti or the back cloth fig.
Also found in the gardens are wooden lounges where visitors can enjoy their meals or hold meetings.
Garden restaurant
A rocky path then leads down towards the far end of the garden where there is a huge pond that was initially a quarry. One your way to the pond, a number of crawling animals such as geckos and lizards crisscross the path as they look for insects to feed on. They can scare as they shuffle the dry leaves in under the trees.
Weâre told the pond was fenced because some locals drowned in it as a few years ago as they tried to fetch water. It is now a fishpond. Several weaverbird nests overhang the water on the towering blue gum trees that stand beside the pond. There are sports fishermen who are trying their hand to make a catch.
The main type of fish found in the pond is tilapia and it is mostly the small ones that are caught because the big ones keep to the far end of the quarry where people do not venture.
One end of the pond is a mass of rock safeguarded by a fence, which is meant to avoid fatal falls. The pond, however, is underutilised because it could offer a very thrilling boating experience.
On the way back, a visitor can enjoy a number of delicacies at the gardensâ restaurant.
