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

Land Crab

Barry found this night visitor down by one of our villas

Barry found this night visitor down by one of our villas

As Barry was making the rounds this evening, he heard a loud noise and couldn’t imagine what it could be until he spotted this huge land crab.

This one was super aggressive as he waved his formidable claw at the camera

This one was super aggressive as he waved his formidable claw at the camera

Barry yelled at me to bring my camera…………I was in the shower and didn’t even have time to rinse off.

Close up of one impressively lethal looking claw.

Close up of one impressively lethal looking claw.

It moved really fast and we were nervous about getting too close but of course, the photo opportunity was too hard to pass up.

This Land Crab brings up his massive claw ready to attack.

This Land Crab brings up his massive claw ready to attack.

We quite often see these large crabs here at Harbour Club Villas. This one gave me lots of great photos for my collection.

 

Hope you enjoy seeing them!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Taylor Bay beach afternoon

Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.

Here we are once again floating around at Taylor Bay........those noodles are quite the invention.

We got a little later start than usual today and it was just perfect. The water was calm and made for a smooth ride as we pulled into Taylor Bay. The baby just loves being in the water here as it’s so warm. We introduced her to the soft sand and she just couldn’t get enough!
Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.

Sand and more sand everywhere as munchkin plays at the water's edge.

The sand was so soft that she just couldn’t get enough of it and as you can see, it almost covered all of her. So much sand all over and then it was time to rinse off and cool off in the late afternoon.

Rinsing off all that sand.

Rinsing off all that sand.

 

Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.

Yes, this was the last beer as the sun started getting lower in the sky.

 

We were treated to a spectacular sunset off Osprey Rock in the distance.
We were treated to a spectacular sunset off Osprey Rock in the distance.

Time to get onboard and head for home before dusk. We just made it in time, pulling into Harbour Club Marina just as it was getting quite dark.

Marta

Tiny shells

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A south side beach offers thousands of tiny little shells lying on the sand in a large pile.

A beach walk on one of the south side beaches and a beautiful discovery………….thousands of tiny shells deposited in a large pile on the sand by the ocean. 

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Here's a closeup of the shells that were different colours and shapes and sizes.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

Loads of shells washed up in a large pile on the beach.

 

Happy shelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Leeward Beach

Early afternoon  and the unbelieveable turquoise colours of our waters fringed with white, lacey sea foam.

Early afternoon and the unbelieveable turquoise colours of our waters fringed with white, lacey sea foam.

I simply love Leeward beach. It is always a postcard of stunning shades of blue and turquoise and always makes for a picture perfect photo. You’ll never be disappointed as the colours are breathtaking, always vivid and contrasting with the white powdery sand and sea foam.

 

Visit the beaches at Leeward on your next vacation to Providenciales.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Sword Bush

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

Kayaking

Faith, a Weimerammer, was not going to be left behind!

Faith, a Weimaraner, was not going to be left behind!

Kayaking is a fun way to see the south side of Providenciales where Harbour Club Villas are located. Kayaks can be put into the water off our Marina docks and you can have great fun exploring the little beaches and coves. On this flat calm day, we were out in a Boston Whaler and just had to snap this photo of friends down the road who were out for a paddle with their dog Faith.

 

Keep on kayaking!

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Anoles or Lizards

Lots of lizards or Anoles at Harbour Club Villas

Lots of lizards or Anoles at Harbour Club Villas

I’m constantly tripping over these lizards and they are so interesting to watch.  Anoles found in the Turks and Caicos Islands are from a group called Anolis Scriptus and there is quite a variety of them. The Turks and Caicos Islands are home to four species of lizards in addition to iguanas: one species each of anole, gecko, skink and curly-tail lizard.

These two anoles were having a heated discussion as to which one of them should leave the tree branch

These two anoles were having a heated discussion as to which one of them should leave the tree branch

Male anoles are very territorial and will often engage a rival with threatening displays. They open their mouths to show off their bright colours. Anoles are tree dwellers and are highly agressive.

This one looked like he was posing as he cocked his head to the side and looked at the camera with one eye.

This one looked like he was posing as he cocked his head to the side and looked at the camera with one eye.

Handsome anole lizard in our gardens at Harbour Club Villas

Handsome anole lizard in our gardens at Harbour Club Villas

In future posts, I will add photos of  our curly-tail lizard. Some of these guys found on the grounds of Harbour Club are getting quite large.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com