Sage Island: Flora

Showing posts with label Flora. Show all posts

Thursday, November 3, 2011

A Rainforest Flower Garden

Papillote is one of the most magical places I’ve ever experienced and is the definition of a nature sanctuary. It has been called “Eden on Earth” by Caribbean Travel & Life. Papillote is located in Roseau River Valley on Dominica and their gardens are internationally recognized among the best in the Caribbean. They where closed while we where visiting Dominica last September but the owner, Anne Jno Baptiste, was kind enough to let us walk through the garden and make these photographs. One day I hope to have the full Papillote experience and stay here for a week.

Visit Papillote's website HERE.

Labels:Best Things I've EVER Done,Dominica,Flora | 0 comments

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Tomato Tuesday

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There is nothing tastier than a tomato grown in your own garden. For whatever reason the tomatoes from the market never taste the same. The last couple of weeks Eric and I have been enjoying the most amazing tomatoes with our dinner. I planted “jet star hybrid” and they seem to be the perfect size. I do have to fight the thrush birds to get them; if I don’t pick the tomatoes before they turn red the birds will eat them.

I’m also growing basil in my garden.

Labels:Flora,Garden,Tuesday | 0 comments

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Sage’s Basil

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Have you ever been good at something and then one day no matter what you did you where no longer good it? When I moved to St John all my herbs died and I couldn’t get them started again, I thought the seeds where bad, so I planted a lot to make up for the fact that I had failed a few times. I’ve never claimed to have a “green thumb,” there are a few things that I can keep alive, while other plants just wither-up and die if I touch them. Basil has always been an easy plant for me to grow.

If you know me then you know I don’t like to cook but I do like to grow fresh herbs and veggies to eat.

My point is that I’ve over compensated and have more basil then two people can eat. Eric suggested that I start a new business selling basil and call it “Sage’s Basil.” My thought was pesto! Again, if you know me, you know that I could eat pasta every day and be happy, really!

So like any un-chef I went to allrecipes.com and found a pesto recipe I could butcher. I added a lot more garlic, basil, pine nuts, and of course my “magic bullet” thought it was too thick, so instead of more olive oil I added a bit of water so it could turn. Long story, but it is amazing! I wish you could taste it or that I didn’t eat all of it so at least I had a photo to share ;)

Labels:Cooking,Flora,Garden,Tuesday | 0 comments

Monday, March 28, 2011

Smells like Frangipani

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Spring has started here on St John. It feels a little warmer and I’ve noticed that the Frangipani, Plumeria, is starting to come back to life in the yard. Frangipani is not only fun to say but also smells amazing. The Frangipani Flowers are most fragrant at night for pollination and have a poisonous milky sap that will irritate the skin and eyes if exposed to it. I’m not sure what these caterpillars are called but they will at one point cover the entire tree and eat every leaf. It’s a beautiful process watching the Frangipani come back to life, covered in green leaves, delightful flowers, and even these amazing Frangipani Caterpillars. Let the cycle begin.

Labels:Flora,Frangipani,Seasons | 0 comments

Friday, March 18, 2011

Pineapples are a Tropical Plant

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Have you ever tried to grow a pineapple?

I have seen a lot of wild pineapple bushes growing on St John but never any pineapples.

Here are some tips on how to grow your own pineapple:

http://www.wikihow.com/Grow-a-Pineapple

Labels:Flora,St. John | 1 comments

Friday, March 11, 2011

Air Plants

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While I sit on the porch at my house, AKA Sweet Bottom, I get to stare at this beautiful Flamboyant tree that is covered in air plants. St John has a lot of different epiphyte growing naturally throughout the National Park. Hope you enjoy these photographs of the air plants I’ve found in my neighborhood.

Labels:Flora,Natural,St. John,Sweet Bottom | 0 comments

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Turk's Cap Cactus

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This funny little cactus is originally from Brazil and has spread throughout the more arid Caribbean Islands. The long phallic flowers actually produce an edible fruit that tastes like a mild strawberry (see photo below.) The trick is to wait until the pink little fruit is almost popping out of the flower, then it will be ripe and sweet.