As soon as you enter the front gates of Diamond Botanical Gardens you are met with the feeling of being in a very special place. You have just stepped into a world where waterfalls gush from the mouth of a volcano, hot mineral springs fill the baths with age old medicinal waters and flora and fauna abounds. The natural beauty of this historical site gives one a true nature heritage experience not to be duplicated anywhere within the Caribbean.

These gardens, lovingly planted by Mrs. Joan Devaux some 19 years ago are a tribute to her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Andre' duBoulay. The duBoulay family owned and resided on Soufriere and Diamond estates. During that time the estates produced agriculturally as they had throughout history. Growing crops of sugar cane originally and later limes for lime oil, cocoa for chocolate, coconuts for copra, raising pigs for hams, and chickens for eggs the estate was a bustling hive of activity. The waterwheel of the estates old factory was used not only to crush the sugar cane and limes, but generating the very first electricity to the village of Soufriere. Today this can all still be seen as you tour the gardens, nature trail and estate.

Going further back in time to 1713 you will find that Soufriere Estate being a portion of the original 2000 acres granted to three Devaux brothers for their services to Crown and Country by King Louis XIV of France was strategically located for the development of the village of Soufriere. A base for the French Troops in 1784 led to the discovery of the volcanic mineral springs that was later contained and used in the baths built for the troops by King Louis XVI. These same warm, soothing waters can still be enjoyed today in the restored baths deep within the gardens.