The great reveal

 Pergola is completed and seating installed.

 Restroom completed

 The door frame or molding was inspired by the Japanese Torii gate.

 Floor and wall tiles are ceramic.

 The vanity is an old sewing machine base, the counter is concrete with a porcelain tile.  The mirror is an antique hat rack I found in a friend's junk heap.

 The sink is a converted old brass bowl.

 Wax jambu aka wax apples were attacked by monkeys. There are none left!

 The rustic Bajan garden will be opening a Tea Garden in a few month's time. I have been toying with this idea for many years and I have finally decided to give it a try. The island is in a severe drought with water restrictions now in place. We get occasional brief showers but it is not enough. The heat is draining and some days I only go out early in the morning and late evenings.

Garden Bloggers Bloomday May 2019

Hello and welcome to GBBD where gardeners around the world post what is blooming in their gardens. I haven't posted for a while because I have been very busy trying to get the tea garden ready. The washroom is almost completed and the pergola and seating area are nearly done. 

The island is going through a very severe drought. We in the north have not had a good downpour since January.  It is hot and dry. Some other parts of the island have been getting frequent showers except those of us in the north. Sigh!!! However I still get excited whenever I see a dark cloud overhead only to be disappointed when it quickly moves out to sea. 

I have been invaded by monkeys this year. With the prolonged drought they are hungry and have taken over my mango trees. We have a very serious problem with the green monkey as their numbers have increased and are posing problems for farmers as well as homeowners. 

To see more blooming gardens Please visit Carol at Maydreams gardens

Garden Bloggers Bloomday

Sorrel our traditional Christmas drink made from the calyx of the Roselle plant (Hibiscus sabdariffa).

The calyx is removed and rinsed in plain water then covered with water with flavouring spices such as cinnamon, cloves and a couple leaves of West Indian bay leaf. Some people add ginger as well. This is brought to a boil, taken off the heat and then covered left to simmer overnight. The next day it is strained and sweetened to taste. If it is too strong more water is added.

The finished product! Sorrel ranges from smooth to acidic in taste depending on the variety grown. It is very similar to a cranberry like taste.

It has been very dry as it is the start of our dry season and I decided to water some recently planted fruit trees. In between watering, I cooled out with some snacks and tried reading a classic...didn't finish and will let you know.

Sunflowers are all around my garden, it is a shame they don't last too long.

 

These petunias are forever blooming up a storm.

My garden poinsettia with the snow on the mountain in the background will remain like this until March.

This is the flower of Muntingia calabura, aka Jamaican cherry. Suriname cherry and Singapore cherry. It is a small red cherry like fruit with miniscule seeds and tastes like bubblegum. 

Garlic vine (mansoa alliacea) with a few blooms.

Raspberry ice bougainvillea

Coral bougainvillea

This pergola is the latest project I am working on with my gardener.

Osteospermum aka African daisy, these were the last three I got from a nearby nursery. I have tried growing these from seed but they didn't grow well so I gave up until I saw these.

These double petunias look like pompoms, were given to me by my friend Nelcia.  Thank you Nelcia!

Kalanchoes brightening up this planter. 

  

Happy New Year to you and am hoping that things will change for the better for everyone. We are officially into our dry season. There is very little rain so the island is becoming less green. Those of you in North America The United Kingdom and Europe keep warm and I wish you all an early spring.

I am working on a garden project and will reveal the whole thing when done. 

To see more blooming gardens please go over to Carol's blog at maydreamsgarden