Category Archives: Turks and Caicos Islands

Happy Halloween

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Here's our little Ania........." pretty " scary witch don't you think?

Here's our little Ania........." pretty " scary witch don't you think?

A blast from the past with photos of Ania and Mike at Halloween. I think I made Tina an outfit too out of the same red, rubber backed material that was a set of curtains at one point. Curtains that were pretty darned ugly I would say.

Mike the Mad Hatter.

Mike the Mad Hatter.

I’m not sure where Tina’s photo is but here’s another member of the family…………….

Kona (aka Skunk breath) was out trick or treating too for all kinds of doggy treats. Apparently dogs do this in Vancouver!

Kona (aka Skunk breath) was out trick or treating too for all kinds of doggy treats. Apparently dogs do this in Vancouver!

Happy Halloween everyone. Have lots of fun.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

A Profusion of Pink Puffballs

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Beautiful pink fluff balls of the Black Bead....yes that's what it's called.

Beautiful pink fluff balls of the Black Bead....yes that's what it's called.

We’ve been going to the Sports Centre gym behind the IGA and for the past week or so I’ve noticed these bushes with pink flowers. I decided that I should do a post on all the flowering shrubs that are in the bush at this time of year and I wanted to include these pink shrubs. Today was the day and after a trip to the beach we swung down the road to the gym. The first bushes I stopped at had pink flowers too and this turned out to be the Bahama Mimosa also called Haul Back. The flowering seemed to be at the tail end and I took a few photos. A little ways further down, I saw it…….a breathtaking cluster of pink on a seven foot small tree. My book identified it as the Black Bead.

From January to April, and again from September to December, it becomes covered with clusters of puffy flowers, about an inch in diameter.

From January to April, and again from September to December, it becomes covered with clusters of puffy flowers, about an inch in diameter.

The flowers are reddish-pink puffballs with each filament tipped with yellow and with a lovely sweet fragrance. This of course is attractive to all pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

A close up of the Black Dead flower.

A close up of the Black Bead flower that looks much like fireworks!

Seed pods two to four inches long develop from the flowers and when they split, the black seeds are attached to a bright red arils. The birds enjoy the arils because they are sweet when ripe.

Beautiful wispy and delicate puff balls against a blue Provo sky.

Beautiful wispy and delicate puff balls against a blue Provo sky.

The Black Bead got its name from the seeds which were used to make jewellery. Watch for these bushes or small trees as they are truly spectacular. I couldn’t pull myself away!

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Minnie Meow

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This sweet little kitten was found meowing beside one of our villas at Harbour Club today.

This sweet little kitten was found meowing beside one of our villas at Harbour Club today.

Our guests at Harbour Club Villas found a little kitten today in the bushes by their villa. It was soooo cute but very thin, just skin and bones and starving. The girls rushed to get the kitten some water, steak and cat treats that had been left behind by previous guests.

She was quite content to be held but constantly squirming and moving.

She was quite content to be held but constantly squirming and moving.

Once Taylor and Danielle started feeding her, she became more lively. Poor little thing was so very hungry.

Danielle and the feral kitten she called Minnie.

Danielle and the feral kitten she called Minnie.

A cute handful of fluff as the Donna holds the rescued kitten named Minnie.

A cute handful of fluff as Donna holds the rescued kitten named Minnie.

I called Jane at Potcake Place who said I should call Susan at the TCSPCA or Donna at Pampered Paws. I managed to speak with Donna and we drove over to give her the little kitten. She’s much in need of a bath and a good home. Donna operates Pampered Paws on Providenciales and is often called upon to help and shelter these animals.

Donna and Minnie quite at home with each other

Donna and Minnie quite at home with each other

Minnie makes the acquaintance of little Nemo the rescued potcake Donna is nursing back to health

Minnie makes the acquaintance of little Nemo the rescued potcake Donna is nursing back to health

Please do your best to help by adopting a potcake like Nemo or a kitten like Minnie and giving them a forever home. You can help by being a courier and taking potcakes to destinations in Canada or the USA or bringing something that’s on the TCSPCA’s wish list or by giving a donation.

Contact Susan at  http://tcspca.tc/index.htm 

Contact Jane at http://www.potcakeplace.com/ 

Please help if you can. We need YOU to raise a paw and volunteer.

 

Contact me and I’ll point you in the right direction.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Times of the Island Bonefishing Honeymoon

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The fall issue of Times of the Island has an article on bonefishing.

The fall issue of Times of the Island has an article on bonefishing.

The Fall issue of the Times of the Island is now available with a great article “If You Love Me, Let Me Fish….A newley wed’s quest for Provo bonefish.”

This magazine is always full of interesting and colourful articles and is a great read. We recently had guests at Harbour Club Villas that were on their honeymoon. They picked us as their accommodation on Provo because of the proximity of bonefishing both in the lakes and nearby flats. Joe Cermele is a fishing fanatic and works on the editorial staff of Field and Stream magazine. His beautiful wife Christen, fishes a little and enjoys sitting on the beach.  Joe explains why they picked Harbour Club Villas.  “Fishing is my heroin…….we overlooked the palace resorts of Grace Bay for Barry and Marta Morton’s secluded villas for our Providenciales honeymoon. A co worker told me I could walk out the door and onto the bonefishing flats of the adjacent salt lakes at Harbour Club.” 

I'm in the water shooting, Joe has a fish on, Christen has camera ready and Darin our guide guides the boat.

I'm in the water shooting, Joe has a fish on, Christen has camera ready and Darin our guide guides the boat.

 To access the article please go to our website at http://www.bonefishing.tc and read the full story. Joe and Christen enjoyed their bonefishing honeymoon and one of the highlights of their stay was adopting a beautiful little potcake they named Ava.

Joe and Christen with their little Provo treasure.....a potcake they named Ava.

Joe and Christen with their little Provo treasure.....a potcake they named Ava.

Take a look at the Times of the Island magazine and also help where ever you can by contacting the Potcake Foundation. They’ll be so glad of any help you can give.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Tree Frog at Harbour Club

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I found this cute little fella in one of our planters this evening.

I found this cute little fella in one of our planters this evening.

I was walking down behind the villas on my way to turn the outside lights on and happen to glance at something that was on one of the planters. I took a second look and saw that it was a frog. We didn’t think we had any frogs on the property but now we know we do.

This tree frog was a beautiful green colour with some black markings.

This tree frog was a beautiful green colour with some black markings.

I yelled for Barry and he came running thinking something was wrong. He managed to catch the small tree frog just so I could take some photos of it.

Note the suction cup like feet that allows them to climb trees or the walls of our tiki hut.

Note the suction cup like feet that allows them to climb trees or the walls of our tiki hut.

The tree frog I found had large discs at the end of its toes which were like sticky pads and he had a very strong grip said Barry. These discs help the frogs grip while climbing and allow them to climb vertically on virtually anything. When we let him go, he climbed up the wall and pillar to under the eaves of the gazebo.

This little tree frog clamped down on Barry's arm with his suction cup toes.

This little tree frog clamped down on Barry's arm with his suction cup toes.

 

Good shot of the suction cup like toes gripping the wall of the tiki hut.

Good shot of the suction cup like toes gripping the wall of the tiki hut.

 

He was soooooo cute!!!

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Starfish Flower

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This has to be one of the most unique and strange looking flowers I've ever seen.

This has to be one of the most unique and strange looking flowers I've ever seen.

I’m not sure where I got a cutting for this cactus like plant and was amazed one day to see a spectacular flower appear. It is called Stapelia Gigantea or Starfish Flower.

The starfish-shaped flower of the Stapelia Gigantea is a subdued yellow covered by miniature purple hairs.

The starfish-shaped flower of the Stapelia Gigantea is a subdued yellow covered by miniature purple hairs.

The flowers can be 10 to 16 inches across and are fleshy and shaped like five pointed stars. The interesting thing about this plant is the way pollination occurs.

The center of the flower is fleshy and exudes a horrid smell!!

The center of the flower is fleshy and exudes a horrid smell!!

The flowers are known for their foul smell which resembles the odour of rotting meat. The fine hairs, colouration and surface mimic decaying animal matter and attract mostly flies, which act as pollinators.  Before I knew the name of this plant, I called it the “shit” plant but it is also known as Carrion or Toad plant.

Stapelia Gigantea blooming at Harbour Club Villas

Stapelia Gigantea blooming at Harbour Club Villas

This Starfish Flower grows well in direct sunlight and has an interesting bud shape which opens to show a beautiful star like flower with tapering ends.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pygmy Boa back to the wild

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Barry picks the Pygmy Boa up for a few last photos before letting him go.

Barry picks the Pygmy Boa up for a few last photos before letting him go.

 

A closeup of the boa's head.

A closeup of the boa's head.

 

We released him into our wild area where there's lots of places to hide. Note his forked tongue!

We released him into our wild area where there's lots of places to hide. Note his forked tongue!

 

One last photo before he slithers away.

One last photo before he slithers away.

 

Protect our wild life and I hope everyone enjoys these photos.

 

 

 

Marta

 

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Pygmy Boa

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Barry is always into new and different things and here he is rooting around trying to find a Pygmy Boa.

Barry is always into new and different things and here he is rooting around trying to find a Pygmy Boa.

We now have a bin that we created for our compost worms filled with moistened shredded paper which we feed every three days or so with scraps of fruit, vegetables, egg shells and coffee grounds. So when Barry found a Pygmy Boa in our wash house at Harbour Club Villas last night, he popped it in with the worms. I wanted to take photos in the day light so we had to find a temporary home for it.

Here's some of the worms and in about another four months, we should be able to harvest the finished compost.

Here's some of the worms and in about another four months, we should be able to harvest the finished compost.

This Pygmy or Dwarf Boa is about 12 inches long which is about the size that they grow to here in the islands.

This Pygmy or Dwarf Boa is about 12 inches long which is about the size that they grow to here in the islands.

These snakes are non poisonous and harmless. They have a yellow or orange tailtip which serves as a lure to their prey and also apparently the colour may discourage predators.

Barry holds the Pygmy Boa in his hand and you can see the yellowish tail.

Barry holds the Pygmy Boa in his hand and you can see the yellowish tail.

The Turks and Caicos Dwarf or Pygmy boa is endemic to these islands meaning that this snake is only found in the Turks and Caicos Islands.

Maybe it was the light, but the Pygmy Boa's head showed a blue tinge and it had beautiful markings.

Maybe it was the light, but the Pygmy Boa's head showed a blue tinge and it had beautiful markings.

Our island snakes are at risk and are preyed upon by cats, dogs and rats. In the past, Barry has shown boas we’ve found to several of our local friends and visitors to Harbour Club so that they can see how harmless these snakes really are. Next time you are fortunate enough to see one, remember that they need our protection in order to survive here in the Turks and Caicos.

We must try to keep these beautiful creatures from becoming extinct.

We must try to keep these beautiful creatures from becoming extinct.

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Lignum Vitae….Tree of Life

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The beautiful Lignum Vitae is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands

The beautiful Lignum Vitae is found throughout the Turks and Caicos Islands

The other day I noticed a Lignum Vitae just loaded with bright yellow-orange fruits. The fruits are capsule shaped and they split open in September and October to expose black seeds that are enclosed in a fleshy red pulp.

Lignum Vitae translated from Latin means "tree of life" and was used in folk medicine as well as being prized by carpenters.

Lignum Vitae translated from Latin means "tree of life" and was used in folk medicine as well as being prized by carpenters.

Commonly called ironwood, the wood is so dense that it will not float even in seawater. Lignum Vitae is the heaviest and densest wood in the world and will rapidly sink to the bottom when placed in water. It resists rot caused by insects and moisture that lignum vitae wood used as posts for dwellings by Taino Indians have been found. Loyalist settlers also harvested valuable hardwoods from the Caicos bush and exported them to Europe.

When the lignum flowers, the whole tree is laden with beautiful blue-violet blossoms.

When the lignum flowers, the whole tree is laden with beautiful blue-violet blossoms.

The resin has been used for many years, in the treatment of arthritis and other ailments. At one stage it was thought to work both a contraceptive and a treatment for syphilis. Teas have been prepared from various parts of the tree and have been used to treat boils, swollen glands, fevers, aches and pains.

Close up of a colourful seed pod.

Close up of a colourful seed pod.

flowers bloom at different times and is generally because of seasonal rains.

flowers bloom at different times and is generally because of seasonal rains.

What an amazing tree…………even the insects and nectar drinking birds love the nectar of the Lignum Vitae.

 

 

Marta

 

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com