The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park ceremonially opened a new attraction in February – an orchid garden accessible by 600 feet of boardwalk through indigenous woodland.

The site, conveniently located between the Visitors Centre and the popular Colour Gardens, is now home to several hundred local and Caribbean orchids and bromeliads.

Although Cayman orchids generally bloom only in June, the goal is to eventually have a sufficient variety of regional orchids so that visitors will see blossoms all year round. Meanwhile, the plants themselves and the vistas opened up by the boardwalk are intriguing on their own.

Planners, including park staff and members of the Cayman Orchid Society, had to decide which trees could be removed to make room for the boardwalk and which trees were the best to keep as hosts for the plants. The result is a chance to see an array of trees, vines and ferns in their natural environs.

If a hike on the Mastic Trail or the one-mile Nature Trail in the park seems daunting, the boardwalk is the perfect introductory excursion to Cayman’s interior.

The area is prone to flooding, making it the right habitat for orchids, which need the humidity. But visitors have access in almost any weather because the boardwalk is lifted off the forest bed.

Andrew Gibb, architect for the project, explained at its opening that the structure is supported by solid wood posts set in concrete, with all connectors stainless steel. It has railings on both sides – comfortable for support, if needed and handy places to rest one’s camera for a special shot.

The boardwalk is four feet wide, making it accessible to standard wheelchairs and baby strollers. There are just two spots where a tree was deemed too precious to remove, so a hole was cut in the walking surface, but with a little care a wheelchair can still pass through.

The Orchid Garden provides a new home for Cayman species collected from land before it is cleared for development. Land owners are encouraged to call the Orchid Society and members gladly arrange to go out on rescue missions.

Society member Kirkland Nixon cites another function of the Orchid Garden – education. “When people see how beautiful the orchids are, they will want to help preserve them,” he believes.

Orchid Society members continue to donate their labour as they tie plants to host trees along the boardwalk.

Park General Manager Andrew Guthrie, who is also an Orchid Society member, points out that proper labelling is an important aspect of the display and part of the ongoing work.

The Orchid Garden boardwalk is one more attraction for tourists to enjoy and one more reason why residents will want to return to the botanic park again and again.

The Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park is off Frank Sound Road, about a 35-minute drive east of George Town. From April until September the park is open daily from 9am to 6.30pm with the last admission at 5.30pm. Entrance fee is $8 for adults; children 12 and younger are free with an adult.