The compact, shady garden is cared for by two sisters of the Caridad family.  A modest entrance gate decorated with star fruits and guavas welcomes visitors to its curiosities. Although modestly sized, the garden is a botanist’s delight and contains 189 species of orchids and many medicinal and ornamental trees and shrubs.   These include mango, starfruit and papaya trees, and begonias and orchids.

I came with my tour guide, Manuel, from Locally Sourced Cuba, a wonderful tour company that had been guiding our group for 5 days through Cuba. I noticed Manuel’s reaction to this garden after we entered. He was afraid of the doll heads attached to the trees.  I believe the Caridad sisters practiced Santeria, a Caribbean religion that combines Roman Catholic saints and Nigerian nature Gods or orishas.  Dolls can be used by Santerians to worship orishas, such as the plant deities.