Tag Archives: passionflowers

The Gulf Fritillary Butterfly

Posted on by
Reply
The colourful wings of the Monarch butterfly........wings have white spots on the outer margins, and have orange patches.

The colourful wings of the Gulf Fritillary........wings are a brilliant orange and the undersides have large silvery spots.

I was wandering along the road side by Harbour Club Villas and spotted this pretty Gulf Fritillary Butterfly also called a Passion butterfly. It wasn’t the least bit concerned that I was there and seemed almost to pose for the camera. I had never before noticed that butterflies have a coiled proboscis by which they sip liquid food. This tube-like proboscis is a long, flexible “tongue.” It uncoils to sip food, and coils up again into a spiral when not in use. Gulf Fritillaries’ favourite nectar is provided by the passion flowers and the vine’s leaves are the caterpillar’s preferred food.

Here's a close up shot of the Monarch Butterflies' coiled proboscis.

Here's a close up shot of the Gulf Fritillary's coiled proboscis.

The Monarch butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

This magnificent butterfly stayed still for quite a long time and I was able to get up very close without it flying away.

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Gulf Fritillary is the most common large butterfly in the Turks and Caicos Islands

The Turks and Caicos Islands have some 35 species of butterfly.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Mini Passion Flower Vine

Posted on by
8
A beautiful miniature Passion Flower vine started growing under one of our palm trees

A beautiful miniature Passion Flower vine started growing under one of our palm trees

I was doing some weeding the other day and came across the most beautiful miniature Passion Flower vine complete with tiny fruits the size of peas. The flowers were a pale yellow and smaller than a dime. I don’t really know what kind of Passiflora it is but it could be a Passiflora suberosa according to some of the books.

You can see how tiny the fruit is as I hold them on my fingers.

You can see how tiny the fruit is as I hold them on my fingers.

My fingers are quite small………my middle finger is 2 1/2 inches long so that gives you an idea of the size. This mini Passion Flower Vine was growing very happily under one of our Palm Trees.

Beautiful and tiny this wild passion flower bloom was just resting on some gravel.

Beautiful and tiny this wild passion flower bloom was just resting on some gravel.

Here's a couple of passion fruits hanging from the vine

Here's a couple of passion fruits hanging from the vine

 

When the fruits turn a dark purple-black colour, they are favoured by the birds

When the fruits turn a dark purple-black colour, they are favoured by the birds

This pretty,  small passionflower vine often creeps along the ground throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands. You really have to look closely for it !!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Passion flowers

Posted on by
Reply
This pale wine coloured passion flower vine was found on Venetian Road not far from Harbour Club Villas.

This pale wine coloured passion flower vine was found on Venetian Road not far from Harbour Club Villas.

I mentioned in a previous post “Passionflowers on the Beach” that I had old photos of a bright red passion flower and the one above which was growing along side Venetian Road and had a paler wine coloured flower. Both were very striking and in colours that I’ve never seen before.

Several varieties and colours of passion flower vines are found on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

Several varieties and colours of passion flower vines are found on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands

These flowers are showy and frequently appear after spring and summer rains. The filaments that are around the central column can vary in colour from yellow to orange to red.

Red passionflower vine that I used to have growing along the pool fence in the early days at Harbour Club Villas

Red passionflower vine that I used to have growing along the pool fence in the early days at Harbour Club Villas

This passion vine had flowers that were a bright red and very striking.

Pretty, bright red passionflower vine that used to grow here at Harbour Club.

Pretty, bright red passionflower vine that used to grow here at Harbour Club.

Hope you enjoyed taking a look at these extraordinarily beautiful flowers. I love them!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Passionflowers on the beach

Posted on by
Reply
Our trip to the beach today was spectacular as I found these beautiful passionflowers growing along the sand dunes.

Our trip to the beach today was spectacular as I found these beautiful passionflowers growing along the sand dunes.

This flower is also called a Wild Apricot and a number of them are found in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I wanted to take some photos of the water through the waving sea oats and discovered passionflower vines blooming, some with pinkish red fruit and the flowers were also a little different. The one shown below had a pale pinkish tinge to the petals.

A delicate passionflower with a pink tinge to its petals

A delicate passionflower with a pink tinge to its petals

This passionflower had a deep purple centre...........just so beautiful so look for them on your next trip to the beach

This passionflower had a deep purple centre...........just so beautiful so look for them on your next trip to the beach

I’m still looking to find some red passionflowers and also I once saw a deep crimson one. I believe somewhere in my photos I do have pictures so I will look for them and put them up in another post.
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com