Recent content by firefly

Just wanted to share the colour on this tree, not sure if it comes out too clearly though. Last week it was devoid of leaves and blooms, this week however.... (a few palms in the background for good measure) Also known as Stink-foot due to the unique aroma that comes from the seed pods when...

I'm certainly a novice and have been very lucky this year as we had a lot more moisture than usual, which has no doubt helped. I'm given to understand that they retain a surprising amount of moisture and nutrients inside bulges to see them through the dry spells. I try to pick nice shady spots...

Yes they are. I also have the similar palm that sheds the entire leaf and stalk to leave a smooth grey trunk, but forget the name..... They use this type for thatch roofing here of course.

Locally known is Jippa or Jippy Jappa - used here for laundry baskets, sun hats and fruit trays/baskets etc. Lots of room for growth, these have been doing very well in recent wet weather, when it is usually a lot drier. I have lost count of my numbers though, lots all over the property.

Things were looking bright and green this morning, my phone is not the best camera though, sorry for the low quality of the orchid photos, I will try to obtain a higher resolution camera and improve those. A yellow orchid of some kind which I just spotted has flowered. I recently got this from...

Very nice, it certainly looks a lot like my part of the world.

Hello Dr. Babu, I'm afraid I haven't yet been to Kerala although I do plan on visiting your beautiful country some day, the closest I have managed is Nepal far to your north. I can imagine our terrains look quite similar as we sit in the same tropical belt, very lush and green. I think I am in...

aha! Thank you! Looks to be hyacinthoides from the flowers. The aroma is travelling through the house now.

Please could someone tell me what I planted along this border on the right? Obtained from a friend down the road who said his aunt brought it from Jamaica years ago. Has a wonderful smell in the evening, (right now) smells like walking into a sweet shop :)

I probably have more enthusiasm than skill in the area of frontiersmanship, but thank you! Your friend was certainly a pioneer to have been out in the bush in the mid-70s, some people struggle out there even now. I imagine you were in the Pine Ridge area of the Maya Mountains maybe? I am...

Thanks, I just picked the straightest of the trees, most older ones suitable for this are over 20ft in length. You can't tell from the picture but some those beams maybe aren't as true as they appear lol. My electrician has been on the roof and he weighs over 250 lbs so it has some strength.

With an abundant supply of Acoelorrhaphe wrightii known locally as Pimenta, I have been able to make use of the trunks for a number of things. They are cut down on the new moon, shaved with a machete making sure not to nick the red underbark, then cut and split accordingly. So far I used them in...

I'm lucky enough to have hundreds of these on my property of various sizes, will take some photos on a clear day and share. They seem to thrive surrounded by other trees, the single ones I've found tend to be tall and slim. I have tried replanting/moving younger ones without success.

Sorry to hear that. what a shame, I hope I'm able to find one for myself in the forest. I have areas where my coconut palms sit in good soil but over clay which has been slowing down growth due to lack of drainage. I raised them up a bit creating mounds and seems to have done the job.

Belize really hasn't changed much since you were last here, still very unique and very interesting. Many of the roads are still impassable in heavy rain, the exception being old Bluebird school buses, which seem to go anywhere. The Mennonites are now Belize's economic powerhouse thanks to...