Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day February 2012

Bougainvilla nursery

  

 

 local orchid that grows wild in trees

 

this species of shaving brush tree (Bombax) is new to me 

 Vanda orchid

 Another local tree orchid, I have some like these and they have never bloomed for me. I wonder what must I be doing wrong?

 Angel's trumpet (Brugmansia) is hallucinogenic

 Hello and a warm welcome to garden bloggers' bloom day where gardeners from around the globe post what is blooming in their garden. For some it is chilly and for us it is hot and dry with some brisk trade winds. Many of the blooms shown here are from  the  open garden program held by our local Horticultural Society. Bloom day is the brainchild of Carol at May dreams gardens. To see more of what is blooming around the world take a short walk over to Carol's.

Happy Valentines and Happy Blooms day.

A day out in the bush

 The group minus Virginia who took this photo, what a rag tag bunch we resembled!

Wild man Terry having some fun, imagine meeting him for the first time in a setting like this!

 Juliette all decked out with her gloves et al.

 I found a palm that is indigenous to Barbados and many of the other Caribbean islands Cocothrinax Barbadensis, so I decided to dig it up with my new fork.

 Well the new fourk became a twork after attempting to dig the palm up!

 Virginia, Terry and myself in front one of the many shallow caves found in this area.

 Juliette joining Virgina and I

 Andrew reflecting on the morbid past in an area known as Negro's Rock. He related a story known to many in that area, about plantation owners during the time of slavery hanging their slaves there. Over time the name has been distorted and vulgarized and is now known as Nigga's Rock. Andrew who hadn't been into the woods for several years was surprised at some of the damage done by Hurricane Tomas two years ago. There were lots of fallen trees and thick underbrush that covered many of the tracks.

 These roots from trees located on the cliff  above have grown down unto the floor of the gully to anchor themselves.

Maiden hair ferns grew naturally on these damp rocks

ferns dotted the floor of the gully

Thunbergia fragans

 Cabbage palms found growing along the stream bed

 

 wild hops Flemingia  strobilifera were plentiful

 Job's tears Coix lacryma-jobi

 This morning I took a trek with some friends to a former dairy farm on Mount Wilton which borders the parishes of St. Thomas and St. Joseph. It is co-owned by Andrew the group's leader and his brother. The farm covers some ninety acres with small sections under cultivation. We trekked into the wooded part of the hilly terrain  and there we found  many species of palms  growing wild; there were  Cabbage palms, MacArthur  palms, Macaw palms with their menacing spikes and the Barbados palm Cocothrinax barbadensis. We came across a plant by the name of job's tears Coix lacryma-jobi that has been used by  indigenous peoples around the globe for centuries in jewelry making. As a child I remember making necklaces and bracelets with its beads. We are planning another trek soon in that same area and I can't wait to see what we might discover.

Bloom Day January 2012

Red  Kalanchoe 

Snow on the mountain (euphorbia leucocephala)  making clouds around the garden

Star burst clerodendron (clerodendron quadriculare) making its debut this month

Hello and welcome to Garden blogger's Bloom day where gardeners around the globe show what is blooming in their gardens. It has been a cool month so far with frequent sprinkles. Our dry season starts this month and am hoping that it won't be too dry. For more of what is blooming in gardens around the world take a stroll over to Carol on may dreams gardens

Wishing all a happy, healthy and peaceful 2012!

Facial lift project

A few weeks ago I was asked to make some improvements for a client whose lobby and bar area badly needed a facelift. It was challenging because we had some monsoon weather for about two weeks and had to work between the raindrops.

For the bar area soil mix was put in around the palms after removing the stones. Boston fern and Cardwell lilies were then planted to soften the area.

The pond area I used Travertine tiles for the back wall and glass mosiacs for the pond. Bamboo ginger was added to the side planters.

Seasons Greetings

Wishing all a Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a Joyful and Healthy 2012

Garden Blogger's Bloom Day December 2011

Callistemon  or bottle brush in bloom

 Christmas candle (cassia alata) doing their thing in my garden.

 I discovered this lovely new nursery in the east of the island last week.

I was driving by this wall and had to do a second take with this Garlic vine in all its glory

Hello and welcome to Garden Blogger's Bloom Day where gardeners from around the globe show what is blooming in their garden and in their part of the world.  We had monsoon weather the latter part of November and that hindered me in the garden.  I have been busy working on another project that will soon be completed. My next post will feature this project. 

To see more of what is blooming in other gardens please take a stroll over to Carol at may dreams gardens . Have a great day gardening!