Category Archives: Flowers

Sword Bush

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I found many beautiful flowering Sword Bush shrubs all over the property at Harbour Club Villas

I found many beautiful flowering Sword Bush shrubs all over the property at Harbour Club Villas

This is an amazing looking shrub when you get up close to it. The leaf like branches are elongated and flattened but what’s interesting is that there are ridges or toothed areas along the leafs edge. From these toothed areas, minute little clusters of flowers appear.

Toothed ridges burst out in clusters of red miniature flowers

Toothed ridges burst out in clusters of red miniature flowers

The Sword Bush is fairly common in our area and I found both pink and red clustered flowers as I wandered around the bush here at the villas.

This Sword Bush was loaded with clusters of pink flowers.

This Sword Bush was loaded with clusters of pink flowers.

The bright red flowers make for quite a showy sight on this Sword Bush.

The bright red flowers make for quite a showy sight on this Sword Bush.

 In bush medicine, the Sword Bush can be used for coughs and colds………….I’m not quite brave enough to try this but I am fighting through a sore throat, cough and cold as I write this! The leaf like branches can be chewed and then spat out. The bitter tasting leaves can be boiled into a pretty bad tasting tea which supposedly stops vomiting.

The flowers develop into seeds and it really does look quite spectacular

The flowers develop into seeds and it really does look quite spectacular

I’ll let you know if I do decide to chew on some leaves.
Oct 3………..I did chew on some leaves for a couple of days. They were very bitter but I can’t tell you honestly if my cold got better because of this or because it had run its cycle.  Next time though, I’ll try chewing on the leaves right away!
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

A lazy Leeward Sunday

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Lazing in the water on a Sunday afternoon

Lazing in the water on a Sunday afternoon

I just can’t describe the colour of the water at Leeward on Sunday………the photo will give you an idea of just how the turquoise mixes into the dark blue at the reef line. Leeward beach is a special place as usually the beach is pretty much deserted and that’s how it was yesterday. I must say that there are two beaches Leeward and Malcolm Roads where the colours are always vivid and spectacular for ideal picture taking.
Railroad Vines were flowering and creeping along the sand and sand dunes

Railroad Vines were flowering and creeping along the sand and sand dunes

The Railroad Vine or Beach Morning Glory flowers here in the summer time. It was used for medicinal purposes in days gone by. The sap of the vine and leaves can be used for jellyfish stings and the root and leaves when made into a tea can be used as a diuretic effective in treating kidney and bladder disorders as well as gout and rheumatism.
The Railroad Vine trails along the beaches at Leeward and can grow to lengths of 10 meters (30 feet or so)

The Railroad Vine trails along the beaches at Leeward and can grow to lengths of 10 meters (30 feet or so)

Sea Purslane

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A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower

A grasshopper sits posing on a pretty, pale pink Sea Purslane flower

Sea Purslane grows abundantly in salty and dry habitats such as on the tiny cays just out from Harbour Club Villas and Marina. We decided to explore one day and stopped on a little cay with a spectacular view of the Five Cays shoreline.

View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced

View of Five Cays shoreline from one of the tiny cays where Rock Iguanas have been introduced

We spotted some Rock Iguanas but they scurried away quickly as we approached. I did manage to get a photos of one though!

This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer

This rock iguana was very wary and was ready to take flight if I came any closer

On one of the slopes of this little cay, a carpet of sea purslane cascaded over the rocks. Some had star shaped pink flowers that bloom throughout the year.

Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay

Sea Purslane carpets the rocks on this little cay

Sea Purslane is a succulent herb that makes for a great ground cover. It grows along beaches and along the edges of salinas and has smooth, fleshy leaves. The leaves are edible and have a salty taste. I’ll have to find out if iguanas eat the leaves as this island seemed pretty limited in the way of food. 

Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders

Sea Purslane is also know as Sea Pickle and can be used medicinally for treatment of scurvy and kidney disorders

What a great plant and useful for so many things!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Passion flowers

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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

Wild Flowers

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Flowering Broom Bush with it's delicate white flowers

Flowering Broom Bush with it's delicate white flowers

On a recent tour of Cheshire Hall on Providenciales, I snapped a photo of this lovely plant. The Broom Bush looks a little like dried twigs but once it gets some rain, it takes on a green tinge and then flowers.  It is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands. Endemic means that this species is limited to a geographic area and not found anywhere else.

The Broom Bush thrives in open and rocky areas such as Sapodilla Hill where I found the above growing

The Broom Bush thrives in open and rocky areas such as Sapodilla Hill where I found the above growing

The Turks and Caicos Islands contain a number of endemic species. Look out for our many wild flowers and plants as you wander and visit our beautiful islands.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sapodilla

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Sapodilla fruit and flowers locally known as the "dilly" tree

Sapodilla fruit and flowers locally known as the "dilly" tree

I just thought you might like to know what a Sapodilla is…………this tropical tree is called a “dilly” locally and grows here in the Turks and Caicos Islands.  The fruits are favoured by our island iguanas and the taste is sweet and pleasant, ranging from a pear flavor to crunchy brown sugar.

The flowers of the Sapodilla are quite beautiful and I hadn't noticed this until I went out to take photos.

The flowers of the Sapodilla are quite beautiful and I hadn't noticed this until I went out to take photos.

The bark of the Sapodilla tree produces Chicle which is a latex that has been used for many years as a chewing gum base .
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Spring Orchid

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I noticed this beautiful orchid growing at Harbour Club Villas today. I've been looking for it as I know it should be starting to bloom about now.

I noticed this beautiful orchid growing at Harbour Club Villas today. I've been looking for it as I know it should be starting to bloom about now.

 

Encyclia Rufa is the name of this orchid and the yellow flowers grow in clusters.  They are often found growing on thatch and silver palms and flowers can start to appear from early February until July.  The Spring orchid is currently listed on the endangered species list.

Yellow flowers of Encyclia Rufa our Spring Orchid that is found growing wild throughout Providenciales.

Yellow flowers of Encyclia Rufa our Spring Orchid that is found growing wild throughout Providenciales.

Have a look in the bush as you travel around Provo……….you’ll be sure to see the Spring Orchid.

Have fun,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sea Ox Eye Daisy

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The Sea Ox Eye Daisy found growing right off the sand among some rocks at Long Bay Beach

The Sea Ox Eye Daisy found growing right off the sand among some rocks at Long Bay Beach

I’m just amazed at how many wild flowers I see that are growing here in the islands. Some grow in the most precarious positions just out of pockets of dirt or sand in the rocks. There are two species of Sea Ox Eye Daisy found in The Turks and Caicos Islands. The one above has the official name of Borrichia Frutescens whose succulent leaves are covered in a fine silver fuzz. Until I took a close look at my photos, I didn’t realize there were two species.

Bright yellow flowers resembling a daisy appear throughout the year

Bright yellow flowers resembling a daisy appear throughout the year

This Sea Ox Eye Daisy is named Borrichia Arborescens and has leaves that are a deep green and smooth. These beautiful flowers are used by the locals and brewed into a tea for calming nerves and the stomach. The tea also treats colds, asthma, allergies and food poisoning. You can also eat the leaves in a salad to boost your Vitamin C content.

Watch for these pretty flowers the next time you are out for a walk.

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Passionflowers on the beach

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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

Dive Boats at Malcolm Roads

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A storm at sea intensifies the turquoise colours of the ocean

A storm at sea intensifies the turquoise colours of the ocean

It doesn’t matter what the weather is like at Malcolm Roads, the colours are always spectacular for photo taking. A passing storm and clouds turned the sea into brilliant shades of blue and turquoise. Dive boats were anchored out at the dive sites and in the foreground, two magnificent Cactus Trees framed my photo.

The Cactus Tree is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas

The Cactus Tree or Consolea nashii, ( locally called horse pear) is endemic to the Turks and Caicos Islands and Bahamas.

The Cactus Trees found at Malcolm Roads can reach hights of 12 feet and have a woody trunk. Flowers bloom throughout the year and are a rich red in colour with yellow stamens.

Bright red flowers of the Cactus Tree

Bright red flowers of the Cactus Tree

This particular species is found exclusively in the Turks and Caicos Islands as well as the Bahamas.

Visit the spectacular beach at Malcolm Roads and watch for these wonderful Cactus Trees.

Cheers,

Marta

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com