Jim Hill Nature Walk

ablogIMG_2391

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.

blogIMG_2121

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.

blogIMG_2182

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.

blogIMG_2272

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.

blogIMG_2303

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

blogIMG_6374

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.

blogIMG_2336

The Wild Senna has beautiful bright yellow flowers.

blogIMG_2396

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

IMG_3959

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

 

blogIMG_2415

Encyclia Altissima, our beautiful wild orchid

blogIMG_2417

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

blogIMG_2487.JPGa

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

blogIMG_2519.JPGa

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

blogIMG_2529

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

blogIMG_2547

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

blogIMG_2552.JPGa

A little snail on the Sea Grape bush.

blogIMG_2568

Pretty butterfly hovers above the passion vine.

blogIMG_2581

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

Blind Eye Bush

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