John Medley Wood was a self taught botanist who served as the curator of Durban's Botanical gardens for thirty one years from 1882 to 1913.Wood also contributed greatly to the knowledge of Natal ferns, and is generally credited with the establishment of mosaic virus immune Uba sugar cane in Natal, and for his extensive collection of Natal plants.

Medwood Gardens is situated near Durban's city hall, and was used as a military depot by the Royal Navy and British army during the Anglo-Boer. Today the small gardens serve as a tranquil oasis within the city centre. The gardens feature a large three layered water fountain, as well as a huge outdoor chess set, and a small tearoom. A well known characteristic of Medwood Gardens are the seasonal displays and carpet bedding schemes, which provide the small area in the city with much needed splashes of vibrant colour.

The mural on the perimeter wall of Medwood Gardens depicts a scene of a paradise unknown, with lush vegetation displaying indirect biblical references, and hints at a well-known Zulu mythological story. The biblical references are clearly Africanized in their depiction of a Black primordial couple occupying this 'Garden of Eden' abundant with its references to local South African scenery. This Christian narrative is pitched against traditional African mythology in the representation of the traditional Zulu story of the chameleon and the lizard.