Wild flowers

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

Wild Potato Vine

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

Turks and Caicos flowers

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