We've had an usual November, weather-wise, in Toronto as there were more than a few days over 10 degrees Celsius (about 50 Fahrenheit). This is a blessing for me working outside as I'm wrapping up the business season with fall cleanups. I dislike that term "cleanup" (or "clean up") when combined with the words "garden", "spring" and "fall". Yes, I use the phrase in my advertising as it's commonly used by potential clients but it implies the garden needs to be cleansed of some apparent dirt or grime like you find in one's bathroom or kitchen. And perish the thought that the garden is teeming with bacteria and germs (it is). I guess many non-gardening types would just prefer using a metaphoric disinfecting wipe and sanitize things going into the winter. Hence the armies of landscape maintenance workers with their leaf blowers at full throttle for the past several months. But, as usual, I digress.
My work around this time of the year includes discarding many annuals that have done their duty adding colour in flower beds and outdoor containers since they were planted in May. Many plants like potato vine, verbena, impatiens and begonias can't tolerate the frost and just wither away. Buying plants for 6 months is just how it's done in zone 5 Toronto and I assume many other places gripped by winter for months on end.
But when you live 13 degrees north of the equator, you really don't have to deal with such issues.
Linda and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary this year by going on a cruise to the Southern Caribbean in October (sans enfants!) One of the islands we visited was St. Lucia and we booked an excursion for that hot and humid morning. Visiting the Diamond Botanical Gardens in the Soufriere area was on the itinerary and this post covers many of the photos I took.
In 1983 on the death of Mr. Andre du Boulay, his daughter Joan Devaux (du Boulay) become manager [sic] of this family property and began designing and planting these gardens that you enjoy today.
I won't bother you with further botanical inquiries. You want to see lots of colourful flowers and lush foliage and I got them!
It's one thing to see these Heliconia blooms in flower shops but another to view them in situ.
No need to "over-winter" this Musa or banana indoors. That shed is about 6 feet high, to give you a sense of scale.
I wonder if the staff harvest these when the fruit are ripe?
I was reminded of a coneflower (Echinacea spp.) but this flower is huge and glossy! Buds are edible and commonly used in Malaysian cooking, especially in fish dishes. You can learn more about the culinary aspects of this Torch Ginger by clicking on the link.
The colour of the bridge is echoed by the flowers from the Chenille plants (Acalypha hispida) in the background.
There were many of these Red or Tahitian gingers blooming profusely. I'm betting hummingbirds find this a favourite, just based on the flower shape.
"Lush" would be a good adjective to describe the plant growth around Linda and the others going along the path. As a bonus, we didn't experience mosquitos or biting insects but did have a thick layer of bug repellent on our skins as a precaution.
The stream's water has a high concentration of minerals which gives it this murky grey colour.
Here's a photo opportunity at the waterfall. You'll forgive me showing my "mid-cruise paunch" as the ship's dining was excellent!
This Alcalypha is also known locally as "Joseph's Coat" due to its random mottled leaf colour and markings.
These begonias are locally called "bread and cheese" plants.
I "heart" Caladium. That's what I see in the centre of this big leaf anyway.
Don't you find these coconut husks much nicer to look at than the pre-cast concrete monstrosities found at big box hardware stores?
You can see how this ginger got its common name as the flower certainly has a crepe paper-like texture.
I always enjoy taking pictures of Croton and this one didn't disappoint.
My better half smiling in the heat and humidity. She's a real trooper when it comes to putting up with me taking pictures and ignoring her in my attempts to capture the "perfect" shot.
The mineral deposits have accumulated over time at this waterfall. This was a very popular place to take photos although, frankly, a little under-whelming.