Jim Hill Nature Walk

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Jim Hill view towards Five Cays…….such calm turquoise waters today.

What an awesome  day it was today. One look at that turquoise, flat calm water and a quick trip up Jim Hill ended up being a good two hours. There was an abundance of glorious wild flowers in full bloom after the rains of last week. The Turks and Caicos Islands are blessed with so much natural beauty.

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The wispy, dried and twig like Broom Brush has undergone a transformation and now has white delicate flowers.

Most of the year, the Broom Brush goes un noticed as it looks withered and dry most of the time. The rains of last week created the greening of the branches and an abundance of delicate white flowers. The Broom Brush is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands and the Bahamas.

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Jacquemontia Havanensis is a twining vine and the flowers on this one had pretty pink highlights.

Many of the shrubs were covered with this little vine with star shaped flowers. Many were white but there are variations with pink and light blue colours.

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I love the scent of the Bahama Strong Back which is similar to jasmine.

This shrub provides food for birds and insects and the fragrant flowers are a source of nectar for butterflies and the Bahama Woodstar Hummingbirds found in the Turks and Caicos. And when you boil the twigs and leaves making it into a tea, it relieves back pain and has medicinal properties. I’ve heard it is good for tummy problems too.

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This Old Man Cactus is about to burst out with a beautiful flower……..it generally blooms at night.

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Blooms are extraordinary…….satin like and with a cloying scent.

The Old Man Cactus flower is attractive to insects and butterflies and its bright red fruit is loved by our local birds.

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The Wild Senna has beautiful bright yellow flowers.

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The Candlewood when not flowering looks like a miniature holly bush.

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The Candlewood has bright spikey orange flowers with four longer stems that look like candles, thus the name.

 

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Encyclia Altissima, our beautiful wild orchid

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I don’t know what this is but it was a pretty little daisy like weed.

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Just love this one with its delicate seeds and turquoise sea background.

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Sea Sage has to be one of my favourites with its multi pink and yellow cluster flowers.

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Heading down Jim Hill towards the marina and Harbour Club Villas.

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How I love the Wild Passionflower vine and this one was in full bloom….. check out the little caterpillar.

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A little snail on the Sea Grape bush.

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Pretty butterfly hovers above the passion vine.

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The lovely Melochia with its’ pinkish purple flowers

A beautiful day, a wonderful photographic excursion to enjoy our local wildflowers.

Look around you as you enjoy our beautiful by nature islands.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Times of the Islands

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Times of the Island……….a beautiful island magazine that’s published four times a year.

Times of the Islands current issue for Winter 2015/16 is on the stands now and I’m so excited and proud of my cover photo! Taken on a stunningly beautiful day from the top of Jim Hill. It was one of those days filled with reflections and calm flat waters that you dream about and try to capture the beauty. I know I did!!

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Taken on the same day, a fishing boat heads off to French Cay and passing the Five Cays in the background.

This issue had several of my photos as you browse through reading some great articles. I was surprised to find my photo of bonefishing with Darin Bain taken on another clear bonefishing day on the back side of Middle Caicos.

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Bonefishing with Darin off Middle Caicos…no land in sight just a perfect, top class bonefishing day.

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Joe Cermele and his beautiful bride on his honeymoon trip to Provo. What else would you do but fish???

Joe Cermele of Field and Stream wrote an article for Times of the Islands and I arranged for him to go out with Darin on this day so I could take photographs for my bonefishing portfolio. The article is called “If You Love Me, Let Me Fish……..A newly wed’s quest for Provo bonefish.” Here’s the exert  from this moment when I had gone into the water to catch some shots of the boat.

“Are those all bonefish?,” I ask Darin in disbelief of what I’m seeing. He grins and tells me I’m not going crazy. I cast directly into the center of what must be 200 gray ghosts swimming in unison like choreographed jets in an air show. I hook one instantly and the entire school follows its struggling brother. Cameras flash as I land the fish and quickly return it to the turquoise water. The school hasn’t moved far. For the next 40 minutes, bone after bone attacks my fly in what I can only describe as the antithesis of everything I know about the species. Bonefish are sly, wary, and cunning fighters. These fish would strike a hotdog if I presented it to them, and they have no qualms about swimming right up to the boat. Christen even lands a few after I hook them up. “

 

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Times of the Islands winter issue has a great article on the TSPCA……….all volunteer run. Here are the judges at the annual dog show.

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The TCSPCA has a remarkable and dedicated group of volunteers………they are all amazing people.

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My favourite little donkey taken on Salt Cay

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He was just the cutest little guy

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A flock of flamingos on Salt Cay out at North Creek

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Such beautiful flamingos taken on a trip to Salt Cay

Times of the Islands is a publication worth taking home with you. If you’d like to read the magazine from cover to cover, the link is below.

http://www.timespub.tc/pdfpub/Winter%202015-2016%20Times%20of%20the%20Islands.html

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com