All quiet…

So, it’s been a really quiet week in the garden. This is our 'off week' between volunteer groups and so it’s been just the interns at the garden. I’ve also only been at the garden two days this week. We had our schools week when we go into the local primary schools and teach the kids about nature and the environment so I was in the Methodist School on Wednesday. Then I was at a funeral yesterday so I think I'm getting garden withdrawal.

            One thing we did get done this week was the entrance improvement. We planted some lovely flowers and plants in the beds on the outside of the gate (Periwinkles, poisonous flowers that the goats won’t eat) and we cut back the Oleander and removed all the Tan Tan trees from in front of the Pandanas so you can now see them in all their glory. For those not familiar with Pandanas they look a little like Yucca but have these crazy roots that grow from high up on the stem and shoot into the ground at odd angles. It almost looks like long fingers holding up a 20 ft high tree. It’s a really lovely plant and now that we have removed the Tan Tan trees you can see them a lot easier from the road as you drive up. We also cleared up all the leaves on the road and trimmed the coconut palms back so they are all neat and tidy again. Basic housekeeping.

            I also have some pics of the Statia Morning Glories to show you. They are so small still but I am really hopeful that we can get them to grow and live, they are our only endemic species and one of the rarest plants in the Dutch kingdom. Looking back over the logs we have had Statia Morning Glory in the Botanical Garden before but it has never really got established. I have a theory on why this might be. When you hike to find the Statia Morning Glory you see that it grows in hardly any soil on rocky outcrops on the most exposed northern hills, in the full sun with very little water. I think that when it is planted in good soil in the lush botanical garden where it gets watered every day and kept in the safety of the shadehouse, we are just giving it too much TLC. We have to give it a little tough love, not water it quite as much and put it somewhere more exposed. I will keep you posted on it’s progress.

            Anyway, the tranquility will be shattered next week. We have 4 new volunteers arriving so lots of projects can get done and we will be busy busy busy...

So, check out the pics below and as ever, much love from the garden on the golden rock…

Clair Blair