Of all the botanist on the island, Dinah Veeris is the most well-known, she is the local go-to guru for advice on herbal medicine. Born in Curaçao on April 20th 1939 as Lidwina Veeris, Dinah always wanted to be a teacher growing up. This was also her prime occupation when she studied at the “California School of Herbal Studies” in the United States. Once her interest in herbal medicine was awakened, there was no stopping her quest for knowledge.
She travelled around the globe to several workshops and conferences on the subject. She also sat down with several elders, acquiring hands-on knowledge on medicinal plants and alternative medicine. Wanting to spread this knowledge with the world, she opened her own botanical garden in Fuik in 1991, called “Den Paradera” (Literal meaning: where you want to linger).
The outer layer of the Calabash is used to make instruments, tools and decorations like lamps and bowls. The insides, when the fruit is green, are used to make a syrup, which is used on dogs to get rid of ticks and fleas. When ripe, the inside is black and is used as shampoo for humans. The seeds are edible and similar to sesame seeds. The trunk and branches were used to make baskets, boats and even houses in the olden days.
Although you can stroll through the small garden on your own, we recommend you take a guided tour in order to receive more useful information on the plants and herbs. The garden is open from Monday to Saturday, from 9 am to 6pm and the tours are at 9:30 and 10:30 am.
Whether you want to get rid of acne, sore muscles or an annoying mother-in-law, pay Dinah a visit to find out which herb best suits your ailment!
P.s. Working on your own green thumb? Here’s a plant song to help you along the way as you grow your own little herb garden.
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