The St. George Village Botanical Garden was filled to the brim with adults, seniors, and families coming to see and participate in the 28th annual Mango Melee on Sunday. Activities and booths were hosted throughout the garden.
Parking was at a premium, with cars lining the road on both sides from Queen Mary Highway well past the garden. The parking lot was full, and the bus ran a continual loop to the garden.
SGVBG’s biggest fundraiser was a success. Money was raised for operating expenses. Volunteers worked long hours in the hot sun to keep Mango Melee running smoothly.
The Children’s Museum in Laura’s Garden was filled with families. Tables were set up with a range of activities providing learning experiences. Along the path from the Bodine Visitor Center to the Great House, the Children’s Museum let children make, chase, and enjoy big, bright bubbles. Parents stood in the shade watching and taking pictures.
Micheal Armendariz cuddled and kissed a soft, sweet puppy in the St. Croix Animal Welfare Centers’ puppy kissing booth. The center’s staff assisted with the puppies and information about adoptions and animal wellness.
Athena, the red-tailed hawk brought to Mango Melee by Toni Lance, was a hit with adults and children alike. Under the supervision of Lance, the hawk sat quietly as she was admired. Heather Pearce and her son, Joseph Glatz, both took advantage of the opportunity to hold her in their fists using a falconer’s glove.
Island favorites, the Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies with Willard John, performed on the Great House lawn. After the performance, they stood in a bright row of handmade costumes as people took turns taking their pictures.
The SGVBG Great House was alive with attractions. Local fruits and mangoes were on display. Mango Dis Mango Dat cooking contest kicked off with judging at 12:30 p.m. and tasting by the public at 2:30 p.m.
At 4 p.m., the Great House lawn was packed with people eagerly awaiting the Children’s and Adult’s Mango Eating Contest. The winners were Children’s Arianna Sage, aged 10, of St. Croix and Adult’s Noel Mendez of New Jersey. Eating mangoes quickly can be a messy experience. Many in the crowd had their cameras ready to record the fun and take photos of family or friends in the contests.
The St. George Village Botanical Garden, founded in 1972, is a non-profit organization of 16 acres, planted with over 1,000 plants and trees growing among ruins and repurposed buildings of an 18th-century Danish colonial sugarcane plantation. Become a member, a volunteer or both by visiting the SGVBG website.
