The destruction in the Botanic Gardens was no less severe. Trees that had taken a hundred years to reach their majestic maturity were felled in an instant, some were torn apart with only the shorn stems standing, broken branches, some massive, were everywhere. Many of these old trees had been brought from distant tropical and semi-tropical countries in Africa, Asia and South America, and had required years of careful and dedicated nurturing.

    The wide, spreading, yellow Ficus, which stood opposite the wrought iron water fountain, had several branches broken, and died not long after; the tallest tree in the Gardens, a magnificent Panama Tree (Sterculia alata) was severely topped but survived; several of the large Saman trees (Samanea saman) around the cricket field suffered major damage and subsequently died, only one remains today; and the tall Litchi tree (Litchi chinensis) near the fish tanks was also damaged and died not long after. In addition, the Pistache Tree and its African Tulip (Spathodea campanulata) neighbor were demolished, and so were the Mangostein trees (Garcinia mangostana), the giant Eucalyptus, and numerous other wonderful and exotic trees.