Catching up

Golden chalice (solandra grandiflora) sharing a spot with the yellow mandevilla now called  vine allamanda.

A plumeria seed pod waiting for wind dispersal

Shaving brush (bombax ellipictum) tree flower bud

Shaving brush tree flower

Hello friends, I decided to take a little break and I am back. I fell ill with a very bad sore throat and then a second bout of gastro.  I was puking from both ends.  I felt really bad because my daughter was at work and my hubby was in Miami. I had looked like something the cat had dug up.   I also had some computer problems, my old faithful finally died on me and I had to resurrect my daughter's. I had used it for a week then it died on me. I diagnosed that it was the fan that had stopped working and had to put in a new one. It then worked for a while then it died on me AGAIN. I figured it was the power supply so I took the old one from my dead computer and installed it. Now my  computer is working fine zipping along nicely. (And I did all of this by myself).  

Lotus leaf begonia (begonia nelumbifolia) in bloom

The dry season is now here and it has not been too bad. We have been getting some rain  so the garden is still looking good. Take care and I will post again soon. Have a great weekend!

April Showers

Bombax cuttings I made last year are now blooming in their pots

Bombax is also known as the shaving brush tree, it really does resemble a shaving brush

the Barbados Amaryllis

pink cassia in full bloom stands out amongst the tree tops

We finally had some rain showers the past few days, it is not enough however I am happy. The garden has a spring like air since the recent showers. The grass is making an effort to regenerate and hopefully soon it will be all emerald green around.

With the lack of rain the past three months, it has created an awareness in me that the world's water supply is threatened on a daily basis. Many countries are experiencing shortages, some are being devastated by drought while others are trying to recover from serious floods. We are facing extreme climate changes that some say have been the fault of man while others say that is the natural cycle of things.

I believe that we have all contributed to some of the changes and the natural changes appear more pronounced than before. The raping of the land for development, timber and mining is continuing with such frightening rapidity is fueled by the hunger for wealth. I sometimes wonder how much money does a person really need to live a sustainable life.
Man is so blinded by his quest for wealth and power that it seldom dawns on him that without trees and water, life will not be sustainable. I ask myself from time to time, how can I attempt to live a a simpler life? I will now make a conscious effort to

• think before I purchase and ask myself what damage am I contributing to the environment

• grow more of my food thus reducing the packaging

• recycle and give away rather than throw away (and hoard)
  

• look around my immediate surroundings to see what I can do to improve and contribute to a better environment.

• I will plant more trees, trees give shade , help cool the atmosphere as well as promote condensation that is necessary for rainfall.

• spread the message about protecting the environment, think it, live it, and breathe it

I have just finished reading and viewing Newsweek 100 places to remember before they disappear. This was an eye opener and disturbing. No person nor country is immune to this phenomena. Perhaps we need to see for ourselves rather than hear from others.

Bombax in bloom

Bombax or shaving brush tree

Brazilian red cloak

Bismark palm

On Saturday I visited Philip a palm grower in the parish of St. George. The St. George parish is located in the middle of the island. Philip is very knowledgeable about his palms and plants and had shown me some of his very rare palms. After a short tour of his home garden , we got into his pick up and traveled over very rough terrain to his nursery not far away. At the entrance to palm nursery I was in awe of the colours that confronted me. I saw the Bombax or shaving brush tree in full bloom. I was offered some cuttings which I gladly accepted. I have been planning to get a tree but was undecided where I would plant it since it is a very large tree. I purchased seven palms, two foxtail palms, two bottle palms, two canary date palms, and a red veined palm I can't remember the name of. I then stumbled upon this large specimen of a Brazilian red cloak, it was spectacular. I later discovered it at a nearby garden when I went to chat with a friend who then offered me two small plants. Philip took me to his mother's in law house to look at a spectacular Bismark palm and just to the side of it was this double poinsettia still in full bloom and didn't look like Christmas had come and gone. Philip also gave me two of these poinsettias for my garden. That was a great visit to his nursery and many thanks for the bonus plants.