August Blooms

This dellicately coloured anthurium is one of the most popular in the cut flower market. It lasts for about three weeks in fresh water.
This little vine is the blue pea. I'm not sure of the real name but it is a cheerful addition to any porch as it is always in flower. It will grow easily from seeds that develop in the pods.

Dendrobiums are among the hardiest of the orchid family. The genera is ever increasing as breeders continue to develop hybrids.
More and more of my bromeliads are coming into bloom now. The only problem with bromeliads at this time of the year is that they collect water and can sometimes serve as reservoirs for breeding mosquito colonies. With dengue always a concern, it is a good idea to check bromeliads for mosquito larvae.

Hurricane Dean

Part of the first ever "family portrait" of the solar system taken by Voyager 1 in 1990, this image of Earth was captured from a distance of more than 4 billion miles. Pictured here as a dot only 0.12 pixels in size, the Earth is, as described by Voyager contributor Carl Sagan, "...a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly and compassionately with one another and to preserve and cherish this pale blue dot, the only home we've ever known."
http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/top10_views_of_earth-1.html

These pictures are part of the series of the top ten photos taken from outer space. I'm taking a slightly different slant tonight as Hurricane Dean bears down on our Caribbean neighbours. As I type this, it is roaring towards Jamaica. I can't help but think of all the people that will lose homes, security and everything familiar. But I also think of the trees that will be uprooted, the animals lost and the carefully tended gardens destroyed.
This picture is an earthrise taken from the moon. It really is a pretty small planet.
My point is that we are all sharing the same space. And while we can't stop the course of Mother Nature, we can all play a part in reducing global warming.


As I go to bed tonight, I will be thinking of all our Caricom neighbours who are not fortunate enough to live below 10 degrees north.

Shades of Red

Red is a strong colour in any landscape. Here in Trinidad, it is more common to see both flowers and foliage in bright, vivid colours. Something about the tropics doesn't lend itself to subtlety. Everything is larger than life and brighter than photoshop. Could it be that the warmth is so conducive to life that everything is more competitive?
The anthurium is about as in-your-face as you can get. As a child, I hated them because I found them so vulgar. However, they have grown on me and the sheer variety available is dizzying.



Gerberas are not indigenous to the region and, as much as I love them, they are very demanding. Almost the stereotype of the hothouse flower. They love cosseting and feeding and are vulnerable to many insects, fungi and root rot if they are kept wet. I always admire the people who grow both gerberas and roses in our tropical, humid climate. It shows an attention to detail and a nurturing that is all the more admirable because I am incapable of growing either one. Maybe I will try again.



Bromeliads belong to an enormous family of mostly epiphytic members. The most famous bromeliad in the family tree would have to be the pineapple which epitomizes the tropics. While most are indigenous to South America and the Caribbean, hybridization has created whole new generas. I think that the one above belongs to the Aechmea group which are characterized by broad fleshy leaves in a rosette and striking inflorescences that rise from the centre. If anyone knows the name please post and let me know. Propogated by means of offshoots that form from the base of the mother plant, the new babies are known as "pups". If you come by a bromeliad and treat it kindly , it will throw pups for you and enable the beginning of a collection.


This lovely vine is a member of the ipomoea family and is known locally as "red morning glory" or "princess vine". It was available for sale a few years ago and has since become very difficult to find. It is beautiful and not overpowering so it will do very well in a porch or on a small trellis. It seems to be fairly difficult to propagate. My sister-in-law Joy has had luck with seeds but has not been able to get a batch in some time. I had one at my town house before we moved to our house and it nearly broke my heart to leave it, but by that time it was well settled in the ground. I think the correct name may be I. Horsfalliae. If anyone can confirm this, please post.

Tobago

Sundown on Pigeon Point beach
The friend that I made on the beach. He came all the way down the beach with me to take pictures.
Calabash gourds are marvellous as bird feeders or as outdoor lanterns when used with tea lights. They are meticulously worked and carved into all types of unique shapes. They are useful for so many things.


We met these macaws on an afternoon drive through Bacolet one afternoon. They live at a lovely little boutique called the The Cotton House . Neither Macaw is indigenous to Tobago. The blue and gold was once quite prevalent in Trinidad but are now quite rare. Our Forestry division is currently reintroducing several back into the wild. The red macaws are not usually seen on the islands. They are indigenous to South America. I owned a blue and gold that I had from a completely featherless baby. His name was Zak and he was hand fed andI had no idea how loyal and intelligent they are until I owned one. I would not encourage the black market trade now but it is still painful to see the smuggled babies when they come through from the mainland. The Forestry division is very good now and have clamped down on the smuggling of these beautiful birds. Zak had free rein in our house and walked around terrorizing the other animals and destroying the furniture. When I began travelling for work, I gave him to a farm where there were lots of other macaws for him to bond with. He was very happy until all the birds caught a virus and died. I still feel guilty.This flower is Pride of Barbados. I'm not sure if it is related to the Flamboyant family as the buds and leaves are so similar. I will have to check.

River Lime

Does the river lime culture exist anywhere else? Or did it evolve here quite by accident?
Whatever the origins, it has reached new heights around rivers all over the island. Here we were on a rainy Tuesday afternoon heading up river when we stumbled upon this lime.
It all looks quite picturesque and natural but having packed my car for a hike, I know that someone had to do a lot of packing with a list. While I considered myself chock-a-block full having packed chairs and a cooler; what about not forgetting:
1. The Pot

2. The Seasoning
2. The Meat



4. The Gas Cylinder


5. The coconuts (to go with the Johnny Walker Black)
6. The Johnny Walker Black
7. The cutlass to cut the meat and the coconuts
8. The speakers
9. The extension cord
10. The Generator
11. The enamel plates
12. The cooler with the ice
13. The gas ring to cook the food.

Anything else?

Marianne Falls (Avocat)

With all the rain that's been pouring down on the island for the last week, the rivers are full, which means the waterfalls are at their best. And what better time to explore the rainforest.

Marianne Falls or Avocat Falls are located about five miles in on the Blanchiseusse /Arima road. The river runs all the way down to the beach but this is quite a way inland and it is surrounded by much of the same Northern Range terrain that we saw at Asa Wright. The bird watching is similar with quite a heavy presence of the white bearded manakin. The peace lilies that grow on the river side defy description. They run at about five feet tall and are glossy and healthy. When mother nature does the landscaping, it's all perfect and laid down in huge swathes of green with costuses and ferns interspersed in the back.


The water is so clean at this time of year as it is comes rushing down the forest. Exploring many of the natural gorges at this time of year can be risky as the water levels can changes very quickly. So a placid looking stream can become very spirited in a matter of minutes depending on the location and the tides of the sea.

Diving in Tobago

This is our dive instructor Tian (?) Watson. Tobago is steadily earning a reputation as a premium dive destination. The underwater life is spectacular because of, among other things, the superb Buccoo reef (which has suffered damage despite being protected) and the proximity to both Caribbean and Atlantic marine life .
This is our scuba gear. We were in training mode and only went down to about 40 feet. The weather was not ideal and was a little murky but it is still truly amazing. We saw a stone fish which I didn't even know we had in Tobago. Diving is a very personal thing because you are so encapsulated. Literally an insulated bubble. It is probably as close to being in outer space as you will get on Earth. Sounds odd, I know, but that's what I kept thinking of while I was down there. Such a different world.Diving buddies.

Wayne and Barbie's Trip to Asa Wright

These photos are taken by my friends Wayne and Barbie. They are from Zimbabwe originally and they've bought with them a huge love of the outdoors.
I think that this is a clerodendrom. Please correct me if I'm wrong. :)One of the best known heliconias. This beauty has become so common that it is easy to take her for granted.

Sunset from Wayne and Barbie's house looking over the western tip of Trinidad.The torch lily which if given room will walk its way all over your garden. We excuse it because it is so beautiful.
Hummingbird in unaccustomed repose.

Resting his wings and taken a well deserved rest.
The cornbird . And I will look up his proper name and post it but unfortunately have to be at the airport in an hour to go to
Tobago. If Ross only knows that I am blogging and not packing, I will be in big trouble. So please revisit this post in a few days for some more comprehensive details. Most amazing however, are his blue eyes.