Tag Archives: vines

Railroad Vine

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Flowering railroad vine with delicate purple with magenta flowers.

Off to the beach we went yesterday and what a beautiful sight…….a profusion of purple flowers stretched out towards the sea.  Ipomoea pes-caprae is the official name but it is more commonly known as the Railroad vine, goat’s-foot vine or beach morning glory. Seems to me that August is the best month and when you see a carpet of flowers spread out before you.

Raindrops from a passing shower on the flowers.

The flowers open late in the evening and look their best early in the morning. On this day, we had to wait in the car for the rain shower to stop and the flowers were a little flattened but still gorgeous. When
fully opened they expose a purple star pattern throughout the center. The flowers usually fold and fade by the afternoon.

A carpet of railroad vines cover the sand as far as the eye could see.

 

Vines creep along the sand with showy purple flowers

The main pollinators include bees, butterflies, moths, flies, beetles, wasps and ants and the sap from the leaves has been used as a first-aid treatment for jelly fish stings.

A dark pink star evect appears in the centre of this gorgeous flower.........and what a backdrop of turquoise water!

And so another spectacular beach day and always something special to photograph.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild flowers

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On our way back home from the gym, I spotted a brilliant flash of red in the bush. I told Barry to stop and back up. Sure enough it was my first sighting of the Wild Potato that starts blooming before Christmas.

On our way back home from the gym, I spotted a brilliant flash of red in the bush. I told Barry to stop and back up. Sure enough it was my first sighting of the Wild Potato that starts blooming before Christmas.

 

Stunning red flowers on the Wild Potato also known as Ipomoea Microdactyla.

Also, the other day I spotted my first flowering wild orchid at Harbour Club Villas. Beautiful tall Encyclia Altissima with its yellowish brown petals and purple and white striped labellum. The labellum is the lip like part of the orchid which attracts those insects that pollinate the flower, and acts as a landing platform for those insects.

The tall, slender Encyclia Altissima orchid in bloom and such a heavenly scent too!

The tall, slender Encyclia Altissima orchid in bloom and such a heavenly scent too!

The Turks and Caicos Islands have so many different wild flowers that visitors can watch for as they enjoy their island  holidays.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Beautiful Bush Part 2

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White starlike flowers of the Jacquemontia Havanensis growing all over some small shrubs and trees.

White starlike flowers of the Jacquemontia Havanensis growing all over some small shrubs and trees.

Chains of white stars covered the bush, bright yellow Necklace Pod with pea flowers hanging off the end of the branches, a lone Marsh Gentian in hues of purple and clusters of pink with yellow Sea Sage and orange coloured Black Sage also known as Lantana. There were so many different wild flowers in bloom!

The Necklace Pod had long sprays of brightly coloured yellow flowers and apparently flowers throughout the year here.

The Necklace Pod had long sprays of brightly coloured yellow flowers and apparently flowers throughout the year here.

I think this is a Marsh Gentian....there was only the one and it had four petals in a beautiful lilac shade with dark purple centre.

I think this is a Marsh Gentian....there was only the one and it had four petals in a beautiful lilac shade with dark purple centre.

Pretty pink with yellow clusters of the Sea Sage or Lantana. It was used as a tonic for chicken pox and skin irritations.

Pretty pink with yellow clusters of the Sea Sage or Lantana. It was used as a tonic for chicken pox and skin irritations.

Black Sage or Lantana with its' bright orange flowers on a small bush was in full bloom. Often used as a sore throat remedy in bush medicine.

Black Sage or Lantana with its' bright orange flowers on a small bush was in full bloom. Often used as a sore throat remedy in bush medicine.

There were numerous other flowers but I’ll leave those for another time.

 

Our beautiful island bush is filled with all kinds of interesting and colourful plants and wild flowers. Have a look for yourself!

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild Potato Vine

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Every year before Christmas, I watch for the Ipomoea vine growing in the bush.

Every year before Christmas, I watch for the Ipomoea vine growing in the bush.

Finally, after weeks of looking I spotted this showy, red flowering vine on my neighbour’s property. I’ve been watching out for the Ipomoea vine also known as the Christmas vine and or Wild Potato. I’m thinking this last week has been rainy and cool and all of a sudden, I’ve noticed bright splashes of red adorning the tree tops and in this case, on a Poisonwood tree. Perhaps the rains coaxed the blossoms to open.

A brilliant red flower and a mass of buds on this Ipomoea vine.

A brilliant red flower and a mass of buds on this Ipomoea vine.

Usually, the Ipomoea blooms for the holiday season starting in October but as I said, I saw my first one only the other day while travelling down Venetian Road.  I wandered over onto my neighbour’s property this afternoon to take pictures of  orchids and found this Wild Potato growing on a tall poison wood……a little difficult to photograph as I didn’t want to touch the poisonwood.

The Ipomoea grows throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and is one of the prettiest with brilliant red flowers.

The Ipomoea grows throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands and is one of the prettiest with brilliant red flowers.

Watch for these flowering vines as you travel the roads of Provo…….it’s impossible to miss with those bright red flowers that stand out amongst the green foliage.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild Flowering Vines

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Tiny purple flowers on a vine that I found today.

Tiny purple flowers on a vine that I found today.

I’m not sure what made me look down on the ground but I’m glad I did. We have a rocky bank by the villas that we cleared some weeks ago and now there are many tiny clumps of creeping vines that are like a ground cover. Miniature little flowers with pointed petals are blooming all over and they are so pretty.

These little flowers are really quite lovely and if you didn't look closely, you'd miss them

These little flowers are really quite lovely and if you didn't look closely, you'd miss them

I haven’t been able to come up with a name for them. I also found what I think is a variety of  Creeping Day Flower in a very pretty blue. Some seeds must have blown in and they started to grow under one of my coconut palms.

Tiny, unique looking blooms of the Creeping Day flower.

Tiny, unique looking blooms of the Creeping Day flower.

Several months ago, I came across a plant with pale white flowers at Harbour Club Villas that I identified as a Creeping Day Flower. This one has blue flowers and the same leaf structure so I’m assuming it is a variety of the same plant. Again such small flowers that under normal circumstances you’d miss.

Amazing how many small low to the ground vines there are here in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Amazing how many small low to the ground vines there are here in the Turks and Caicos Islands

 

Keep a close eye out for these miniature flowering vines. They are exquisite with their delicate blooms.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Blind Eye Bush

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One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

One of the most unique looking flowers that I've seen here in the Turks and Caicos

Yesterday was a rainy and over cast day and in the late afternoon the skies cleared a little. I took my camera and headed out into the bush to see what I could find. The rains had made all the difference and wildflowers were blooming all over. I found this strange looking bush with the most unique flowers and seed pods and with an even more curious name………… Blind Eye Bush.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

The creamy flower of the Blind Eye Bush has a long, elongated column that curls back up into the flower.

This bush had flowers in different stages of development along with unusual screw like seed pods a little like cones.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

Here are the brown twisted seed pods.

This was a shrub about 5 foot tall and it grows throughout the Bahamas and the Turks and Caicos Islands in coastal and marshy areas. The leaves are in an elongated  heart shape often with jagged edges. The reproductive parts of the flowers are at the end of the elongated column.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

The long column coming from the centre of the flower, carries the reproductive parts.

I must say that this Blind Eye Bush is one of the most unusual plants I’ve seen. I also saw some beautiful flowering vines…..Jaquemontia, Cynanchum, Wild Alamanda, Milk Pea and Urechites or Devil’s Potato along with Jamaican Trash, Jack Switch, Mosquito Bush, Wild Senna and I also managed to get some close up photos of a Gulf Fritillary butterfly.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

Blind Eye Bush with it's showy flowers.

How lucky we are to be surrounded with all this natural beauty. Everywhere I go there’s a photo just waiting to be taken or in my case, hundreds of  potential shots!

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Turks and Caicos flowers

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Christmas vine blooming on Provo

Christmas vine blooming on Provo

Happy New Year everyone!!

Finally while travelling down Venetian Road, I spotted a vivid flash of red……….Ipomoea is the official name of this wild vine that grows in the Turks and Caicos Islands. Other names for this beautiful wild flower is Wild Potato or Christmas vine because it generally blooms around Christmas and New Year.  This one was growing along the roadside but most often you see them climbing and clinging to trees. I can’t believe the colour as it is always such a bright scarlet red.

Cheers, and I hope we can stay awake to bring the New Year in!!

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com