Saturday, March 27, 2010

Garden Cottage - Meeting Mr. Conrad J Nunes in Old Goa

If you happen to visit Goa and are a sucker for plants, Conrad's garden is worth a visit in Old Goa.

About Goa: Goa is mostly about the sun, sand and the sea and famous for its exotic beaches while Old Goa is a 15th century city, famed for its opulent buildings and churches. The remains of the city are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A week before last I made a trip to Goa with my husband, and we hired a bike to explore the place. Tropically nested, you cannot miss the palm, frangipani, hibiscus, gingers, banana and cashew trees along the coastal line.

Riding around Old Goa (off the coast), we chanced upon the 'His Creation Plant Nursery' cottage. The sprawling place is dotted with tall palm trees, and those of cashewnuts, avocado, love apple, jackfruit, italian lime and more. We felt at home as soon as we met Mr Conrad who enthusiastically took us around his garden and showing the treasures he owned. Mr Conrad is an avid plant collector, with species growing in his garden that were once considered incompatible with the tropical climate. A challenge keeps the gardener going!
The container water gardens along the pathway, flowering shrubs and trees teamed with rich foliage around it bring a colorful character to the garden. The striking feature is the assortment of unique plants he has. Mr Conrad left his job abroad to settle in Goa and follow his passion for gardening. We were glad to meet someone like him who followed his heart, and with such ease while the rest keep dreaming that some day they will. You cannot miss the feeling of excitement and pride in his voice as he spoke of his garden, very similar to that of a parent. He has a history of plant acquisitions, and interesting ones. I have rarely heard of italian and israeli limes growing in India but Mr Conrad has it all.
At the end of the visit, we got ourselves a few ferns, and free. In return, he has made us promise that we would visit him again and bring back some unique plants from the North. My memoir will not be complete if I do not mention the cashew fruits and love apples (fresh from his garden) he packed for us to carry home.
Taking a stroll around the garden, I snapped a few pictures that I leave you with. There are a couple of arrangements I loved especially around the water garden.
golden fern
dark pink hibiscus

I wish I had more time to spend at the garden cottage. Just in case you are in Goa, the address is given below.

Conrad J Nunes
His Creation Plant nursery
San Paula, Old Goa

17 comments:

  1. HI UG, thanks for sharing the photos - wow, I think I will enjoy it. Wish I were there!

    ps. Goa is in our list of places to visit so when we get there, we will surely visit this lovely nursery!

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  2. Hi UG!You seem to have had a wonderful holiday! The gaden in Goa seems to be wonderful.Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Hi, thanks for lovely post!

    That's exactly what it looks like in my garden... in my dreams!!

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  4. That looks like a truly wonderful garden. Thanks for the great post!

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  5. what gorgeous photo's. Thanks for sharing

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  6. Urban green...I give you gold for this beautiful post. I have read it and will read it again and again until I have had my fill. This is ambrosia for me. Thank you.

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  7. This garden is amazing! Kudos to Mr Conrad for creating such a wonderful garden. I love the way he put plants together to create that beautiful water garden. Glad you posted pics of this wonderful, wonderful garden. Thx a lot!!

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  8. Amazing garden. The flowers, trees, plants are really thriving out here! And so well laid out too. Lovely

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  9. Thank you everyone! I have not been able to manage time very well in the last couple of weeks, therefore I miss out on reading your lovely blogs. Hope to get more time in hand and make up for my absence....:)

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  10. I somehow missed this post, what an incredible place. Thank you for sharing it with us.

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  11. Thanks for introducing this garden. i will check this out next time I visit Goa. Great pictures here.

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  12. Wonderful post on Mr Conrad's garden of paradise! I love the plants you've shown us. Doesn't the pink hibiscus look so luminous??

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  13. Wow! Thank you for sharing this stunning garden. this is exactly the kind of garden that would make me happy. Of course I don't think I will ever have one like it but I can dream and dreams are what make people happy. Mr. Conrad is an exceptional gardener and it was so nice to read of his excitement about gardening. I especially love the water pond and the ferns.

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  14. A gardener after my own heart! I wish I had known about Conrad and his magical garden when I went to Goa last. Never mind, it gives me something to look forward to :)

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  15. I found your blog while searching for 'gardeners in goa', thinking maybe I'd find someone who could make something special of our gardens there, and was lucky enough to read this post.
    But then I also scrolled down and read your post about communicating with your parents and was blown away. Thanks, Joe.

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