Tag Archives: Wild flowers

Christmas Wild Poinsettia

Posted on by
Reply
Wild Poinsettias grow throughout the islands.

Wild Poinsettias grow throughout the islands and we're fortunate to be able to see them growing wild.

The wild poinsettia is found throughout our islands. It has leaves that are shaped like a lance and are often tipped with a deep red towards the centre. This cluster of red leaves gives the impression of a flower but the actual flower is found at the centre and in the photo the flowers have grown into green seed pods. Poinsettias are a favourite at Christmas time and many will buy the cultivated variety.
A floral bouquet of wild poinsettias and wild plumeria or frangipani in the gardens of Harbour Club Villas.

A floral bouquet of wild poinsettias and wild plumeria or frangipani in the gardens of Harbour Club Villas.

These beautiful wild flowers are found growing wild almost everywhere you go. The milky sap from the poinsettia is used as bush medicine and is a remedy for warts and corns.

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Wild Flowering Vines

Posted on by
2
Tiny purple flowers on a vine that I found today.

Tiny purple flowers on a vine that I found today.

I’m not sure what made me look down on the ground but I’m glad I did. We have a rocky bank by the villas that we cleared some weeks ago and now there are many tiny clumps of creeping vines that are like a ground cover. Miniature little flowers with pointed petals are blooming all over and they are so pretty.

These little flowers are really quite lovely and if you didn't look closely, you'd miss them

These little flowers are really quite lovely and if you didn't look closely, you'd miss them

I haven’t been able to come up with a name for them. I also found what I think is a variety of  Creeping Day Flower in a very pretty blue. Some seeds must have blown in and they started to grow under one of my coconut palms.

Tiny, unique looking blooms of the Creeping Day flower.

Tiny, unique looking blooms of the Creeping Day flower.

Several months ago, I came across a plant with pale white flowers at Harbour Club Villas that I identified as a Creeping Day Flower. This one has blue flowers and the same leaf structure so I’m assuming it is a variety of the same plant. Again such small flowers that under normal circumstances you’d miss.

Amazing how many small low to the ground vines there are here in the Turks and Caicos Islands

Amazing how many small low to the ground vines there are here in the Turks and Caicos Islands

 

Keep a close eye out for these miniature flowering vines. They are exquisite with their delicate blooms.

 

Marta

 

http://www.harbourclubvillas.com

Blind Eye Bush

Posted on by
Reply
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

Sword Bush

Posted on by
Reply
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

Passion flowers

Posted on by
Reply
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

Posted on by
Reply
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

Spring Orchid

Posted on by
Reply
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

Posted on by
Reply
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

Posted on by
Reply
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

Wild Cotton

Posted on by
Reply
The Sea Island Cotton flower is a beautiful pale yellow at first and grows wild on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

The Wild Cotton flower is a beautiful pale yellow or white at first and grows wild on Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands.

From a very pale yellow, the cotton flower turns into a pretty pink

From a very pale yellow, the cotton flower turns into a pretty pink

 

British Loyalists who were taking refuge from the American revolution set up Cotton and Sisal Plantations in the Turks and Caicos Islands. These were worked by imported slaves with the Cotton and Sisal being sold in London and New York. The cotton plantations were doomed as the competition was fierce and the soil was thin and not very fertile. After a hurricane in 1813, the cotton plantations were to perish. 

After the blossom falls the Sea Island Cotton forms a tiny fruit called a boll.

After the blossom falls the Wild Cotton forms a tiny fruit called a boll.

The cotton boll bursts open when ripe to expose the packed seeds that are surrounded by the cotton fiber.

The cotton boll bursts open when ripe to expose the packed seeds that are surrounded by the cotton fiber.

 

The dominant plantations in the Caicos Islands were those growing Cotton and apparently, cotton needed one slave for every 5 acres compared to one slave per acre on sugar plantations.  Many of the plantation owners left the Islands because of the hurricane of 1813 and also the pest infestations. Many of the slaves were left behind.  Apparently by 1820 many of the plantations had been abandoned but we do know that Wade’s Green (North Caicos) was still in use. It is also likely that Wade Stubb’s other interests at Cheshire Hall and Haulover were still in operation. The Turks and Caicos Islands have a short and limited History in the cotton industry.

All the cotton photos are taken of the plants growing at Harbour Club Villas ……… Yes, you too can grow them or come and see us in the islands as it grows wild here in different spots.  

Cotton flowers and pods ready to burst forth with cotton fibres

Cotton flowers and pods ready to burst forth with cotton fibres

 

My cotton plants are loaded with cotton bolls right now and I'm sure to see more cotton plants sprouting up all over Harbour Club Villas
My cotton plants are loaded with cotton bolls right now and I’m sure to see more cotton plants sprouting up all over Harbour Club Villas

Enjoy the photos as this plant is quite showy when flowering as well as when full of cotton. The local birds here use this cotton when making their nests.

Cheers,
Marta
http://www.harbourclubvillas.com