Where To Watch
Raymond Burr’s hidden Fiji paradise: The Garden of the Sleeping Giant and Perry Mason's orchid collection
After Perry Mason, Raymond Burr's next role was orchid-grower.
As a reward for a job well done, one could do worse than a secluded Fiji island. When Perry Mason finished its initial broadcast run on CBS, series star Raymond Burr found himself with some extra time (and money) on his hands. In 1966, Reuters reported that Burr was the new owner and inhabitant of Naitauba, an island in eastern Fiji, approximately 150 miles north of Suba.
The actor paid for 4,015 acres of land, initially utilizing the space to raise cattle and harvest "copra," the dried white flesh from which coconut oil is extracted. While these commercial interests doubtlessly helped pay off the property's cost, an even more interesting use is still open for visit today.
Nestled within the "mountainous, coral-reef-encircled island" is the Garden of the Sleeping Giant. The garden is home to over 3,000 varieties of orchids. Some are native to the Fijian island, while others were hybridized by Burr himself. In addition to his career as actor of stage and screen, Burr was also a passionate horticulturalist, carefully tending to his plants until a medical condition forced him to leave in 1983. In the interim, Burr's company, Sea God Nurseries was responsible for introducing over 1,500 varieties of orchid to the worldwide catalog. Burr even named one genotype after his Perry Mason co-star, birthing the "Barbara Hale orchid."
Burr would go on to found and fund the American Fijian Foundation, tasked with backing academic research and developing a dictionary for the islands' native language.
In addition to re-runs of Perry Mason and Ironside, Raymond Burr's legacy lives on through his garden, which is now also a tourist attraction that anyone can visit. The official Garden of the Sleeping Giant website boasts 20 hectares and 2,000 kinds of orchids.
"The exquisite beauty of the garden is unsurpassed by most, housing one of the world’s largest orchid collections plus beautiful cultivated greenery and enchanting lily ponds, the Garden of the Sleeping Giant is not to be missed. Take a picnic and enjoy the peace and serenity of some of the most stunning gardens on earth."
Related
