The tropical gardens in St. Lucia
The island is a beautiful place where many movies have been made, the plants are incredible! even the poorest homes had gorgeous gardens and flowers, the volcanic soil is the best.
Here is some of what I saw...
The pitons
Remember the pirates of the Caribbean? it was filmed here
I like this coconut raised bed
I like this ground cover
Crotons are huge!
Silvia
Comments (23)
whgille
8 years agoHi Tom
Lol, in my opinion the island is one of the most beautiful places that I visited still not touched by progress, rainforests, fishing villages, friendly people and most important good food!
Royal Poincianas were in full bloom everywhere, they called them Flamboyant
Some of the pictures from the garden, I was taking them while walking with the tour guide so they are not the best.:)
A lot of the same plants we have them in Florida but they are not as big like the ones that I saw.
For the next trip, we can go in one of these pirate looking ships.:)
Silvia
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I saw this in St, Lucia, can anyone help name it?
Comments (10)delonix regia is the latin name for Royal Poinciana. It's also known by other names. There are some photos here: http://images.google.com/images?gbv=2&hl=en&q=flamboyant+tree&btnG=Search+Images This set of photos include photos of seed pods: http://www.hear.org/starr/hiplants/images/thumbnails/html/delonix_regia.htm Also Dave's Garden has photos and other names: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://pics.davesgarden.com/pics/pdb_Chamma_2003-04-23_1051118417903.jpg&imgrefurl=http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/15917/&h=1024&w=768&sz=144&hl=en&start=3&tbnid=uj3T_EIPf19VkM:&tbnh=150&tbnw=113&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dflamboyant%2Btree%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG Wikipedia has a list of places in the United States where it can be grown: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Delonix_regia...See MoreFree admission at Tower Hill Botanic Gardens April 1st (Sun)
Comments (3)I went to the Spring open house yesterday. Did anyone else make it? They had a great turnout. It was difficult to get parking. Some of the early spring bulbs were just coming out - crocus and snowdrops but many perennials, shrubs are yet to emerge (as expected). The orangerie was lush and tropical. Last fall I visited in November and what a different landscape. Many shrubs and trees with fabulous fall color and berries galore. I have put my fall photos and spring photos in an album. I urge anyone who hasn't visited Tower Hill to consider visiting this spring time. Sue Here is a link that might be useful: Tower Hill Photos (Fall 06 and Spring 07)...See MoreUPDATE: Tropical Sub-Tropical Surplus Swap
Comments (150)Hope everyone is having a great weekend! Barb! look at all of those flowers! Those violets are pretty but they are a real pest here! spread like wiregrass! You really make me miss tulips too! (I knew winter was good for something!) Is that a trillium at the top! I can't remember the last time I saw a trillium!I am sorry to hear that Al has pain, I have suffered from hip/joint pain for several years, the doctors have told me the best treatment is 'keep moving' grrrr, sometimes it is very tough to do. Regina I am happy that you are getting some rain! (I hate to complain about water from the sky but it is still raining off and on here! The plants are loving it, but it sure makes it unpleasant outside (muggy, mosquitos and soggy) That Brug is beautiful! I can't wait till mine bloom, I have 3 potted and one in the ground, I just love those leaves! Even if they didn't have flowers My elephant ears hit the ground running too, all this water really perked them up. I cannot believe the size of the leaf on one of them (Is it my imagination or are those leafs still growing?!?!) Here is a photo of some of the plants Michelle sent (see the little rose that bloomed in the box!!! 9 different coleus cuttings!!! can't wait to pot those up! they are gorgeous! Michelle I am sorry to hear about your little GH! Glad that is was not worse and that you and your family are fine! Last of the Iris Peony my herb garden Hummingbird magnet! Tropical Sub-Tropical Surplus Swap Status 1.bigmama4ever sends to chellflower 2. ladygreensleeves sends to rosepedal SURPLUS SENT and RECIEVED! 3. fcoffill sends to Tina_2 SURPLUS SENT and RECIEVED 4. rosepedal sends to deig01991 SURPLUS SENT AND RECIEVED 5. deig01991 sends to divahethr SURPLUS SENT and RECIEVED 6. chellflower sends to ladygreensleeves SURPLUS SENT and RECIEVED 7.divahether sends to greenthumbgrow SURPLUS SENT and RECIEVED 8. greenthumbgrow sends ro Micyrey SURPLUS SENT 9. tina_2 and micyrey send SMALL (yes SMALL please) boxes to fcoffill miceyrey - SURPLUS SENT and RECIEVED Have a great day everyone! Frances...See MoreNewbie Gardener's 1st Year of Jungle Evolution
Comments (5)I know Bakersfield! :D You can live there... I don't even want to live as far south as Fresno! I understand your need. When I started growing tropicals, there was no information at all on half the plants I owned. Half the reason I was on here was to share what I'd learned through trial and ERROR. Also, you have to wade through the information about tropicals growing in humid conditions, and weed that out. Puya's need most excellent drainage.... but they aren't cacti, so they'll need more water the more drainage they get. I have mine in a clay pot, one of the few plants I put in a clay pot. I have a lot of time, being disabled, but I have still found that if I don't have too many plants, I give them better care.... that's awful news to tropical lovers. :D Since you live in sub desert conditions, I'd sink your plants in the ground. Unless we have another freaky winter like last year, most of yours will survive fine outside during the winter. If you are lucky, thank you global warming, your habanero might even survive, but I thought they needed more humidity than Bakersfield could possibly provide. :D I tried growing them, but gave up when the cats dug them up.... :( I am now trying cut my water usage, cept in the tropical area of my garden. good luck! have fun! :D...See Morewhgille
8 years agoTom, it is never too late to plan a trip that you will remember forever! It is always a learning experience for the eyes and the soul...
Craig, not only the island have the most gorgeous views but the nicest people. I told everyone there who had never left the island that they are not missing anything, they have a true paradise,I can honestly say that I never seen such beautiful and healthy plants, superb food especially the fish. We went to the rum factory where there was a tasting of all the rums they produce for $4. I had a salad like a potato salad but made with the island plantains, really like it!
The mud baths are therapeutic and also went to the volcano, smell of sulfur there. Some of the plants I have it in my garden but not as big or beautiful, it is nice and breezy from the sea. Water from the ocean is crystal clean,warm too.:)
This table have some things that they grow
Silvia
whgille
8 years agoHi Ana!
Wow! 20 years ago probably was more isolated and pristine looking than it is now. The gardens are world renown, a must see and the tour guide was very informative, I learned so many things while walking with him...
The roads up the mountain, filled with rainforests, main export are bananas.
The volcano, it was boiling in some places
The old aqueduct is still in service at the botanical gardens
Gardens view
This papaya was huge!
Anything with chocolate was very tasty, they grow cacao.
Silvia
whgille
8 years agoHi Gary
I have been to those countries long time ago and from those mentioned my favorite was also Costa Rica. My daughter is going for a yoga retreat there at the end of the month...
Before I was 21, I went to a lot of places traveling by myself, I should of been scared but I was not.:) I am sure glad that I was able to see other places then.
Some views from the botanical gardens in St Lucia for you
It was not in bloom yet
It was not in bloom this time
Ground covers
Silvia
whgille
8 years agoGary, you and I can swap some stories! lol. My trip went like this (not planned). Took a plane from Chicago to Panama, everything went fine looked at all the sites, took a bus to Costa Rica, next to me was a young girl like me and recommended a hotel in San Jose, it was very good but had secret political meetings at night. Took a bus to Nicaragua and they had a volcano eruption, had to leave soon and took another bus to Salvador, civil war was going on but manage to go everywhere, took a bus to Guatemala and stay there for a while, then went to Mexico and I had the best time ever, met with people from the Embassy that took me everywhere.
It sounds like you have the right partner to go to Colombia, with the same interests! I would go for it, wife will be fine and when you come back you will tell her what she missed.:)
Ricky, you will love it there! I have never seen so many crotons in my life! I think they grow wild because I saw them at the roads, all the houses and of course the botanical gardens. There is only one road from the airport to the resort and is very curvy.Doing my morning walk
A view from the resort
Some pics from the botanical gardens
Now I have a question for anyone that knows, while at the resort I saw this small tree that looks very dark, from far it looks black. When I talked to the gardener he said it was a lila and is dark purple and he was very fast to take cuttings and delivered to the room. Of course I could not take them all but took 2 little cuttings, one older and one newer. Anyone has experience with them? For now they are in water....
Silvia
garyfla_gw
8 years agowhgille
8 years agoHi Gary
No, I did not take a picture and it was at the resort by the beach/pool area. I only explained where it was to the gardener because it was far from the room. He told me the name when I told him it looks black and is small tree, it looked so pretty in the sun and with all the other plants. He said that is not black but dark purple and it does not get any flowers. Out of the two cuttings, the older one I planted in the garden to see if anything happens and the new one I planted in this pot because it had some roots already.
It is the one in the front
Lately, I really like black plants. I think that they can be combined with anything.:)
Silvia
garyfla_gw
8 years agokatkin_gw
8 years agowhgille
8 years agoHi Gary
Thank you for trying to identify my cutting and for the jewel orchid name, I grow mine in pots but I saw them at the Bok Tower gardens as a shade ground covers.
I have a good morning picture for you, I have this plant in my bedroom and is flowering today...
Hi KathyI hope that you are feeling better every day.!
I am sure that is not a croton, the leaves are different and has the shape of a small tree and the gardener that I asked and is very experienced would know that. I should of take the picture.:) it was used in a row of the same about 6 ft trees and different plantings underneath, everything was looking beautiful and elegant at the same time.
Silvia
katkin_gw
8 years agowhgille
8 years agoI am glad that you are recovering, I am sure it feels slow because you are not active in the garden like you used to be.
I did google Jamaican croton before and is not it, probably Ricky the croton expert knows more about that than me. The gardener at the resort said it was a lila or lela, I really don't remember exactly.:)
At the botanical gardens, I asked the tour guide about the copper leaf that was maybe 10 ft tall and he said that was a croton.
Copper leaf in my side garden...
Silvia
katkin_gw
8 years agowhgille
8 years agoGood morning Kathy!
Hope that you are feeling the best today. When is hot like now, I cut the time that I am in the garden, heat rash is no fun.
I also like the copper plants, I have seen a few...I also like mussaenda but I don't know if it is too cold for them in my area.
Saw a pretty white one at the St Lucia botanical gardens.
I like the pink variety better, here is a small one at the resort.
Silvia
whgille
8 years ago
wisconsitom