More importantly, on display were the traditions of the past and
the culture of the present and how they have been shaped by
Crucians interacting with the plethora of plants surrounding
them. “That’s really the connection we’re trying to make with
this event; that culture is a result of an interaction between
people and plants, anywhere you go,” said St. George’s Executive
Director David Hamada. “You can see that influence on the plant
life and all aspects of culture.” “In the colonial period, St.
George was a sugar plantation," Hamada continued, "so for almost
200 years one plant ruled the daily lives of everybody here. It
was because of that plant that these buildings were built. It
was because of that plant that enslaved Africans were brought
here from Africa. It’s because of the value of that plant that
these islands were bought, traded, sold, and fought over. It’s a
really powerful background to have that and talk about how the
plants have influenced life. The plants were here first. Culture
and civiliza