Farm stroll today in Puerto Rico

[Cindy Adair]

As frequently happens (actually nearly daily) I start out to do one thing and end up gone from the house for at least a couple of hours.

Today I was already covered with dirt after planting some new palms, but wanted to just photograph a few things for posting here before heading for a shower.

I ended up with 90 new pictures. Here are some of them including the non palms (common and not) that I sometimes forget about.

First my newly planted Pseudophoenix lediniana and some orchids along the way.

[Cindy Adair]

Then another orchid (Cattleya mossiae) a bit limp from last night's downpour and the Copernicia ekmanii I planted this morning.

[Cindy Adair]

I spotted a native orchid while looking for mangosteen flowers (still too early in the year), Ionopsis utriculariodes. I see a number of these here in bloom in full sun. Then I hear a cow which sounded too close (turned out to be a false alarm) but noticed some photo worthy palms along that trail. 

The ones with stilts are Areca guppyanas.

[Cindy Adair]

I move along a well photographed area and then decide I better make sure the cattle weren't hiding amongst their favorite delicacies, my Areca vestiaria avenue. Just yesterday I finally could stand to clean around there. It was just to sad to walk there after they were freshly chewed. Still not at all as they should be but recovering. Really hard to photograph as some are in mostly sun and some in mostly shade so the exposure can't be optimized and the path also curves. 

I do like the orange trunks! Still maybe 15 more to clean around but not today.

[Cindy Adair]

So I head back as the sky is getting darker but stop to snap a photo of a double hibiscus. Not really my favorite but it will be gone by tomorrow. I capture the area cleared yesterday by a wonderful worker with his machete! That is an allspice (Pimenta dioica I started from seed and a bunch of other neat stuff that can now get more sun and be more easily admired.

[foxtail]

[Cindy Adair]

I check on a burahol tree with its new pink leaves and a 'cactus tree' with its wicked spines, but nice flowers. I am nearly back to my house but stop to capture some flowers. Then at my little courtyard I remember I wanted to check on a newly potted up pair of Marang seedlings a friend requested so I head to another area. Still close enough that if rain is imminent I can get under cover before I am soaked to the skin.

I think I have a couple more palm photos so be patient!

[Cindy Adair]

I stop to check on my Medinilla magnifica in bud for the first time! I admire the shiny lipstick red of my biggest Cyrtostachys renda and check for buds. None seen yet but lots of runners.

I see a little cute hybrid phalaenopsis orchid from a trip to the famous Hausermann's nursery in Chicago several years ago.

I admire the little Dypsis bosseri planted as a seedling 2 years ago. It seems happy enough although still small-note my size 7 boot and the ever present PVC pipe for scale.

Lots of ground cover episcia that is charming in this area and a nice curcuma, none of which I planted. I did attach the yellow orchid that I had not seen before today in bloom and I did plant the lipstick palm I captured from the other side as I finally returned to the house.

And just in time to have the rain hit my clothes I optimistically hung out to dry before dawn this morning. A second rinse can't hurt, right? They are under cover now and I will try again tomorrow.

So this thread is just a fraction of what I did this morning before a second cup of coffee. Quite different from my typical mornings at work until last July!

 

[Really full garden]

Just beautiful Cindy! I really like your mix of palms and other plants. I try to plant my gardens as a community of plants,not so much a collection.

[doranakandawatta]

So beautiful , thank you.

I am surprised your climate allows you to grow so many orchids in the wild style (out of pots), In Sri Lanka we can't….
But we have some weeds looking same like yours!

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks so much both of you! 

Oh, why can't you have orchids in Sri Lanka out of pots?

Too pronounced a dry period? 

[redbeard917]

That's a gorgeous garden. Feels very natural, like Scott said, not just a collection of plants. Flows and fits together well too.

[Kim]

So much beauty in one thread!  I have to come back when I can take the time to more closely admire the individual plants.  Your garden is really taking shape!

[Jeff Searle]

Cindy.....you are absolutely living out your dreams down there in PR. You deserve it!  I enjoy seeing all the orchids and was especially surprised to see you planted some Episcias. I collected these over 25 years ago and really like them.

[Josh-O]

Great pictures Cindy!!!

im drooling over here 

[BS Man about Palms]

Quite luscious!

[Cindy Adair]

Thanks everyone for your many kind comments! 

I am inspecting the weak barbed wire fence separating my plants from the cattle and so far so good. However all it would take is one huge Cecropia tree to fall over and the cattle would happily enter. 

No way to cut down all the big trees that could crash down so I am always happier when the cows  are rotated to the pastures that do not connect with my land!

To get meds for travel I am currently stuck in a doctor's office waiting room where it is way too cold! Soon back to my jungle I hope. Yesterday's walk didn't begin to cover checking on everything!