The Plant Hunter

Agave ( and other plant) fans will enjoy this article The Plant Hunter on Plant Delights Nursery in New York Times. Their online catalog is one of my favourites for agaves-and I know for many bloggers/readers, too.

Garden Fair

The Anguilla Garden Fair was toned down his year due to the effects of the recession, but there were still a variety of interesting things, like these orchids:

Fresh vine ripened tomatoes ( other veggies as well as basil plants were also on sale)

I really like this ceramic goat

Local artwork

The church

My sunflower tree

I hardly ever grow annual flowers, though I love those that were ubiquitous in Caribbean gardens in my childhood-sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, celosia. That’s because annuals aren’t easy to grow to bloom from seed with my work travel schedule, as so many things go wrong in between trips. Perennials are much easier. 

On my second attempt to grow tithonia, or Mexican sunflower, which I learned about in Scott Calhoun's The Hot Garden, I succeeded with two plants; the first just opened its first bloom, less than three months from seed. I’ve dubbed it my sunflower tree. I just love the plants fast growth, heat tolerance and of course flaming orange blooms against dark velvety leaves-the stems feel wonderful, like the softest velvet. 

I really do like it, I am looking for a yellow one. Given my success I will try again with annual seeds.

Happy Spring Blooms!

All over the Caribbean, the bougainvillea is blooming away in the drought

A long shot towards the sea

I took this pic in Barbados, both because I love bougainvillea and also because I have that agave-I believe it is the all green augustifolia.
Spot the yellow birdie on the orange tree

Coral hibiscus
The sweetest bouquet-mock orange

Basil lovers, you have to try "Blue Spice" the most wonderful fruity vanilla smelling leaves-great for drinks and fruit salads. Pretty lavender blooms.

The neem tree is abloom with fragrant (at night) blooms and bees a buzzing

More cool places and things, Barbados

Crane beach-picture perfect

The Soup Bowl at Bathsheba,site of many local and international surfing championships. Name comes from the foamy surf.

Beautiful platter from Earthworks Pottery

Hamilton's Pottery
Well I had to put in one garden ralted pic-if anyone know what kind of agave this is I'll be grateful. It pups prolifically.