The 1950s were a sad time for Bermuda, environmentally, as many of the Island’s venerable cedars were decimated by a blight.But out of tragedy sprung one of the most beautiful properties on the Island, Palm Grove Gardens in Devonshire.The Garden Club of Bermuda will be offering the general public a peek at Palm Grove as part of their annual open house programme. In previous years they have opened several houses at once to the public, but this year they are focusing on Palm Grove.‘A Palm Grove Garden Celebration’ will be held on May 14 to raise money for the Garden Club’s annual scholarship for students studying horticulture and environmental science.“Palm Grove was designed by Bermuda architect Will Onions,” said Garden Club chair Dace Ground. “It was built in 1954, right after the cedar blight, so the house is full of cedar.”Between 1946 and 1954, the blight destroyed 95 percent of Bermuda’s cedars. In Devonshire, the Gibbons family gathered over 200 dead Bermuda cedar trees and milled them into wood for Palm Grove.“The house itself is quite spectacular,” said Mrs Ground. “It is not old, but it is beautiful. The house is going to be decorated by our designers. It is going to look amazing.”According to Garden Club member and Bermuda historian Diana Chudleigh, the house was once rented by Robert Stigwood, an Australian entertainment entrepreneur once famous for managing music groups such as the Bee Gees.“He rented Palm Grove before he moved to Wreck Road in Somerset,” said Mrs Chudleigh. “Palm Grove is not what I’d call an historic house although there is an older house on the property. The house was built for Edmund Gibbons, father of Sir David, Graham and Patsy Phillips. It is now lived in by James and Judy Gibbons. Edmund Gibbons was a keen gardener, specialising in palms. He opened his garden to the public. It has a pond shaped like a map of Bermuda and birds in cages. Incidentally, there is a wonderful mulberry tree with delicious fruit near the bird cages.”The gardens, which border South Road in Devonshire, are a frequent spot for wedding photos. Its romantic features include a wishing well and moongate.There will be live music at the event. Bermuda roses grown by Garden Club members will also be on sale.“In the demonstration tent we are going to have flower arrangements going on,” said Mrs Ground. “What they are going to focus on is making flower arrangements without spending money. It will be about how to make flower arrangements with a few flowers, lots of greenery and advice on how to make something out of not so much. Garden Club members Debbie Burville, Cindy Young and Susan Conyers and Deanna Moss will be doing that.”Palm Grove estate manager Manuel DeMelo will also give a talk.“He has made presentations to the Garden Club before,” said Mrs Ground. “He is very good. He is going to speak once on palms, and once on seaside plants.”The Garden Club is concerned about the growing bee shortage in the world, and bees will provide a theme for the day. Bee experts Randolph Furbert and Quincy Burgess will be giving talks about the bees.Children will also be able to do fun bee-related crafts. Another highlight of the day will be a fashion show with 22 models. Clothes will be provided by Gibbons Company.“The host, Judy Gibbons, is a garden club member and has been wonderful to work with. Mr Gibbons will personally be leading tours of the grounds. He is doing gradual re-bermudianisation of his property’s woodland, so we can actually go and see how you take a bunch of invasive things and gradually turn it over to a native garden. That will be a focus of the garden tour.”A Palm Grove Celebration will be on May 14 from 10am to 4pm. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children ages ten to 18. Admission is free to children under ten.Useful website: www.gardenclubbermuda.org