Garden Mums

This Mother’s Day 2026, the Style Observer honours the women who have brought warmth, wisdom, and beauty to the SO Gardening pages over the years, and whose love for gardening has blossomed into a lifestyle of nurturing and inspiration.

Janice Grant Taffe

Janice Grant Taffe’s lush garden nestled above the Kingston & St Andrew metropolis is a tranquil oasis for friends and family in need of a respite from the hustle and bustle of city living. The green utopia also serves as a place for the recently retired former general counsel and corporate secretary of Sagicor Group Jamaica to get lost in her own world, embracing mindfulness and renewal.

The Manchester native has long had a love for gardening, but it was eight years ago — after moving into the home with her husband Joe and daughter Jada-Rae — that she truly began curating the vibrant outdoor sanctuary she enjoys today. “It’s a space that is full of life and vibes, where we can come together and celebrate life,” she shared with the Style Observer during our July 2022 visit.

Her blooms include a variety or orchids, anthuriums, pink and red gingers, bromelias. While edible shrubs like mint, thyme and peppers occupy the herb section of her garden.

Karleen Smith

Karleen Smith

Karleen Smith has nurtured a passion for gardening for as long as she can remember. “It’s brought me great solace,” she shared with the Style Observer during our November 2021 visit, as she guided us through her impeccably landscaped property — a serene retreat bursting with colour, fragrance, and life.

Smith described her garden as lush and abundant, home to an impressive collection of plants, fruit trees, vegetables, and a treasured assortment of orchids — and she certainly did not exaggerate. Blooms of roses, periwinkles, ferns, bougainvillea, 10 o’clocks, crotons created a vibrant tapestry throughout the garden, while fruit trees including sweetsop, mango, orange, and June plum add a distinctly tropical charm. More than just a garden, the space stands as a reflection of Smith’s lifestyle — rooted in patience, care, and an appreciation for the simple luxury of living surrounded by nature.

Jacinth Byles tends to her Aranda orchids (Photo: Karl Mclarty)

Jacinth Byles

“My husband and I share a passion for gardening. We built our first home in Stony Hill, which has the perfect climate for gardening, and spent hours every Sunday from dawn until dusk in the garden. The results were quite satisfying, and so it became a hobby for us,” Byles told the Style Observer.

Although now relocated from the cool, salubrious climes of Stony Hill, Byles welcomed the team in November 2021 into her new garden to show us that the passion is still there. “We have created an eye-catching garden, but we cannot replicate what we had in Stony Hill. Today Byles says she’s mostly into bromeliads and orchids.

Other hardy plants that adorn their garden are bougainvillea, periwinkle, areca palm, cascade palms, and other types of palms.

Angie Ammar shows off her blooming white frangipani (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Angie Ammar

Back in July 2022, readers were introduced to Ammar’s enduring love affair with orchids — particularly the elegant and vibrant vandas that first captured her attention. “They didn’t seem to need much care, as they had their wiry roots just hanging out, so I tried my hand at those,” she shared with SO, reminiscing on an era when orchid blooms were “huge and colourful” and cross-breeding was far less common.

Like many passionate gardeners, her journey came with a few hard-earned lessons. “I killed quite a few due to underwatering,” Ammar admitted candidly. But rather than discouraging her, the setbacks deepened her fascination. Determined to master the art of orchid care, she joined the Jamaica Orchid Society (JOS), attending meetings, and seeking advice from seasoned growers. Guidance also came from close to home through JOS founding member and her uncle, Dr Eddie Valentine, whose knowledge helped nurture her growing passion. “From then, my obsession grew — or rather my addiction,” she told SO.

Retired teacher Laurel Green sits among a collection of orchids in her garden in Upper St Andrew. Green’s garden was featured in a two-part profile of — Style Observer July 2025. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Laurel Green

For over 50 years, retired teacher Laurel Green has nurtured a dynamic garden in upper St Andrew, a true reflection of the diverse flora and fauna she once cherished growing up in St Mary.

When Green invited the Style Observer team to tour her property in July 2025, we eagerly accepted — and quickly discovered a breathtaking countryside escape brimming with tropical beauty and quiet charm. Anchored by a magnificent ficus tree, the garden unfolded as a visually stunning oasis layered with orchids, anthuriums, crotons, and vibrant red gingers. Heliconias, monsteras, and blackberry lilies added texture and colour throughout the space, while fruit trees and edible delights including breadfruit, pineapples, and strawberries brought an irresistible farm-to-garden appeal.

Vanda Princess Mikasa (Photo: Joseph Wellington)

Among the many standout species in Laurel Green’s garden, featured in the Style Observer’s July 2025 profile, was the Floribunda rose. (Photo: Naphtali Junior)

Papilionanda (Photo: Karl Mclarty)