The organisation responsible for running the Visitor Centre in the Botanical Gardens is the Bermuda Botanical Society, not the Bermuda Biological Society as stated in Wednesday's Community section.

When the Visitor Centre at the Botanical Gardens opened a year ago March it was on a shoestring budget, and with the total support of the Bermuda Biological Society.

A 15-minute video on Bermuda's flora, a snack bar, and a modest collection of botanical-themed goods in the gift shop was what all that was on offer.

Staffed by volunteers, and run by the Bermuda Biological Society to benefit the Gardens, the Visitor Centre was an experiment in optimism.

Today, it is a thriving mecca for all visitors to the gardens. The shop is bulging with unique, and in many cases exclusive, gift items; the little cafeteria does an excellent business, and there are over 100 volunteers to make it all work.

"It has exceeded our wildest dreams,'' a jubilant Mrs. Fiona Bluck exclaimed.

As treasurer of the Botanical Society, Mrs. Bluck is not only charged with managing the purse strings but also ordering the merchandise. Even a cursory glance at the shelves reveals a discerning eye.

Sumptuous gift wrappings, stationery packs and postcards vie with original watercolours by local artists -- all with a botanical theme, of course.

Similarly, lifelike wooden flowers, serving dishes in the shape of banana leaves, and Bermuda flower needlepoint kits are just part of the burgeoning inventory, which also includes gardening tools, potted plant fertilisers, decorated picture frames and baskets, herb and flower seeds, door stops, plastic aprons, pot holders, oven gloves, hair clips, banana dolls and Christmas tree ornaments.

In addition to locally made jams, jellies and marmalade, there are gift packs of adhesive labels and jar top trimmers to add the finishing touches to your own gifts of homemade preserves.

Striking T-shirts, some of them exclusive to the Visitor Centre, provide permanent reminders of the extravagant beauty of Bermuda's flowers -- and the Bermuda Botanical Society.

"Much as I hate to say it, people expect T-shirts, so I have tried to make them interesting,'' Mrs. Bluck explained.

One, which bears the Bermuda Botanical Society logo, pays tribute to the late Beatle John Lennon's album title, Double Fantasy, which took its name from a cream-yellow freesia variety which he saw growing near the Visitor Centre on his way to have lunch there.

Great prominence is given to our national flower, the Bermudiana, which is featured on such items as coffee mugs, an exquisite enamelled collectible box designed exclusively for the shop, and of course a T-shirt.

The Bermuda onion also gets big play, being featured on tea towels, chopping boards, mirrors, ceramic ornaments, and even as a Christmas tree ornament fashioned from dried plant materials.

An extensive collection of books covers all aspects of gardening -- from bonsai -- to complement the Botanical Society's bonsai classes -- to raising cacti, designing water gardens, and lush coffee table books on gorgeous gardens.

Magnetised refrigerator ornaments are not only plentiful and eye-catching, but infinite in their variety. They include Bermuda postage stamps and cottages, cedar tree frogs and flowers, among others.

Ecologically correct buttons are fashioned from the nuts of the tagua tree.

Beautiful stainless steel and wood wind chimes, precisely tuned to duplicate Gregorian, Olympus and other chants, promise hauntingly lovely sounds in the slightest breeze.

Not only is much of the merchandise unique to the Visitor Centre, but Mrs.

Bluck takes care to see that it doesn't remain static.

"While some things remain the same because people look for and like them, I try to keep the rest interesting because we do cater to a lot of locals as well,'' she said.

Above all, Mrs. Bluck believes in supporting local artists and craftspeople, and is always on the look-out for more.

"Anyone who is interested can leave a message for me at the Visitor Centre and I will get back to them,'' she promised.

Just how well the treasurer has succeeded in her aims may be measured by the fact that when the shop started it was with a budget of $5,000. Today, its inventory is valued in five figures and the shelves are not only crammed with merchandise, but spreading beyond the original confines.

"Basically, everything we have done so far has worked. If it didn't sell, I stopped it,'' Mrs.

Bluck noted.

But there is more to the Visitor Centre than shopping.

The little cafeteria, which offers simple fare such as sandwiches, soup in winter, scones and cookies, in addition to hot and cold drinks, is a popular stop for visitors to the Botanical Gardens, be they from overseas or mums with children letting off steam in the spacious grounds after school.

"The setting is quiet and tranquil, with wonderful views of the gardens and the South Shore beyond,'' Ber muda Biological Station president Mrs. Leila Madeiros explained. "Sometimes people come here for a business meeting.

Seniors enjoy stopping in for a quiet chat and a cup of tea, and it is also popular with taxi drivers waiting for people touring the Gardens.'' Now firmly established, the Centre is also available as a venue for parties, receptions and weddings.

"The beautiful setting really lends itself to such events,'' Mrs. Madeiros noted.

As with the rest of the facility, the immaculately kept cafeteria is staffed by cheerful volunteers.

"The Centre could not run or be successful without our dedicated volunteers.

They always have a smile and are very helpful. They are the absolute salt of the earth,'' Mrs. Bluck said. "They are of all ages -- some are still at school and work here on weekends or during their holidays -- while many are retirees who enjoy getting out and socialising while they work.'' Indeed, the personnel combine their duties with answering a host of questions from overseas visitors. Their friendliness is part of making the Bermuda visitor experience so special.

As its contribution to conservation and recycling, the Visitor Centre recycles soft drink bottles and cans, does not use disposable anything, and packs purchases in paper bags or recycled plastic bags.

A separate room houses a 15-minute video, narrated by Government conservationist Mr. David Wingate. Exclusive to the Botanical Society and donated by the Garden Club of Bermuda, it gives visitors a thumbnail sketch of Bermuda's flora in a comfortable, air-conditioned set ting before they set out to see the real thing.

To clear up any confusion about the relationship between Government's role in the Visitor Centre, Mrs. Madeiros explained that the Bermuda Biological Society was to the Centre what the Bermuda Zoological Society was to the Aquarium, Museum and Zoo.

"The Centre is owned and maintained by Government, but the Society runs it to earn money for the betterment of the Botanical Gardens,'' she explained. Which fits in nicely with the Society's objectives.

"The Society was started to further the education of anyone interested in Bermuda's flora. We run courses, and during our meetings we have lectures about related subjects,'' Mrs. Madeiros explained. "At our information desk in the Centre we advise what is currently in flower. If anybody wants something identified, or information on how to grow something, what flowers to plant, we will help them.'' Soon, a reference library will be set up to more properly help with flora-related enquiries.

Also on the drawing board are purpose-built lavatories able to accommodate the physically handicapped, of whose needs the Bermuda Botanical Society is acutely aware.

"The Visitor Centre is wheelchair-accessible, and we have also purchased a wheelchair for visitors to use in touring the Gardens,'' Mrs. Madeiros confirmed. "Funds have already been donated towards the cost of the toilets.

We want the Centre to be fully accessible to everybody.'' The Visitor Centre is open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and guided tours of the Gardens are conducted on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 10.30 a.m. from the nearby car park. Throughout the summer the Society will provide special lunchtime demonstrations at the Centre on a variety of appropriate crafts.

TEE-RIFIC! -- Bermuda Biological Society president, Mrs. Leila Madeiros (left) and treasurer Mrs. Fiona Bluck admire some of the T-shirts exclusive to the Botanical Gardens Visitor Centre.