Bixa

http://www.ubcbotanicalgarden.org/potd/2009/11/bixa_orellana.php

Jaboticaba

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/jaboticaba.htm

Golden Chalice Vine

http://toptropicals.com/catalog/uid/SOLANDRA_GRANDIFLORA.htm

Trumpet Tree

http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/pink_trumpet_tree.htm

Powderpuff

http://www.backyardgarden.info/redpowderpuff.php

Huevo de gato

http://anthrome.wordpress.com/2009/02/28/apocynaceae-thevetia-ahouai-huevo-de-gato/

And for a wide array of images of Roberto Burle Marx gardens, artwork, landscapes, etc.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images?_adv_prop=image&fr=slv8-hpd05&va=roberto+burle+marx

For the past month or more I have seen a small number of roseate spoonbills feeding in the lagoon at Tigertail Beach. This morning I was able to get some very nice photos of some of them.

The red eyes are amazing! And hypnotic.

She was removing unhatched eggs (top center of photo) as well as eggshells of turtles that apparently did hatch (bottom left) and tallying them on a handheld counter. Obviously, it was a very bad day, as this was not the only ruined nest she had to deal with this morning.

On a hopeful note, down near the bottom of the nest there was a living turtle, just coming out of its shell.

Yesterday I found three of these umbrella tables with cold-water containers, one in the Brazilian Garden, one on the grass by the lower water basin and another near the hammocks in the Caribbean Garden. Guests were so happy to be offered a cool drink as they walked through. (Me too!)

Our first “visitor” on Monday enjoyed some shade too, although much closer to the ground.

The newer, smaller ironwood in the circular area below the waterfalls looks even better now with additional plantings around its base.

And the waterchestnut tree continues to bloom.

Regrettably, the special and magnificent gumbo-limbo tree (Bursera simaruba) in the garden has been removed. This tree came to the garden like Cleopatra — on its own barge. It was saved from a property renovation on Marco Island, where it had been planted in 1976.

You can see a video of the gumbo-limbo tree being moved from Marco Island at this site:

http://www.marconews.com/videos/detail/gumbolimbo_takes_boat_ride_hamilton_harbor/

It’s quite a lovely picture as the barge moves under the bridge and away with this spectacular tree aboard.

Goodbye.

A giant bromeliad widespread in southeastern Brazil

What a stunning plant! And it is in excellent shape. I have looked at various web sites with pictures over the past hour and I have not yet seen a photo of one with such an imposing bloom spike.

I look forward to seeing the flowers and smelling the fragrance, which as the name indicates is exceptional.

The giant waterlilies are back too and growing fast. Visitors really enjoy seeing them. Here’s how some of them looked this morning.

The Brazilian jasmine (Mandevilla splendens) is another beautiful plant beside the pool below the water feature.

Water Chestnut has begun to flower

A new, smaller ironwood tree has been installed at the center of the circular observation deck by the lower basin of the water feature.

The big planters that had held bromeliads on the platform in front of the mosaic were gone. It’s interesting to see how stark the platform and long concrete bench look without that element.

Circular planters were formerly located at near end of bench

Early in the morning there was a wild parrot (or parrot-like bird) perched on an upper branch of one of the fern trees. Very large, very attractive and very squawky.

The bixa or annatto tree (Bixa orellana) had a number of about-to-open buds also. I am looking forward to seeing this interesting tree in flower soon.

Possibly a trifle hot for human comfort after a couple of hours in the sun, but the plants couldn’t be happier. Plus, I participated in a most excellent educational program, a training for future tour guides, which caught me up to date on changes in the garden and in its policies since my original trainings last fall and also provided me with even more information  to share with visitors. Because quite a few of the other participants were garden staff members, many people could contribute to answering questions about a wide range of subjects.

First, everyone will be delighted to know that the giant water lilies are back. Well, okay, they’re still babies, but they are back. Several are already placed in the upper basin in front of the Burle-Marx mosaic and more are being nurtured behind the scenes. Fertilized weekly, they will grow quickly so that summer visitors will soon be impressed with their remarkable size and beauty. 

The golden chalice vine that climbs up one column in front of the mosaic is growing well too, although there were no blooms on it on the days I was there this week. However, it has spread horizontally well across the first trellis-like support, so there is definitely some shade in the pavilion’s future. Thank you, gardeners and designers!

The fern trees are leafing out, but they have not bloomed yet, and it is possible they will not bloom this year at all, we were informed.  I was a little surprised to see these trees being pruned back quite a lot a couple of weeks ago, because, to me (just an amateur),  their height is part of their striking beauty. From what I have read, my understanding was that their very tall, slender limbs with the airy, fern-like leaves at top serve to filter the sunlight to the plants below, thus giving  people an idea of how “layers” of plants and trees can co-exist in a tropical forest.  At any rate, whether it is this year or next, we can anticipate a beautiful showing of yellow flowers when they do bloom.

The Brazilian ironwood tree that had been in the circular viewing area next to the large basin below the waterfall looks good in its new location, at the western edge of the Brazilian garden “top floor.” Its replacement is a much smaller water chestnut (Pachira aquatica) .

Wednesday’s tour gave me pages and pages of information, and I haven’t even got to the Caribbean garden yet. Please check back and I’ll share more of what I learned this week. And by all means, come visit the garden and see for yourself. You’ll be glad you did.