The Season For Losing Leaves

Believe it or not, Barbados experiences enough changes in weather and daylight hours to affect the bahaviour of plant life on the island. At this time of year when there are fewer hours of daylight, many trees lose their leaves, such as the Frangipani tree shown below. In a few weeks the same tree will be wearing an umbrella of spectacular flowers with a few leaves thrown in for good measure.

The Women’s Tongue Tree shown here is covered in brown seed pods. In a few weeks, these will be replaced by new leaves, and the tree will go from yellow/brown to bright green - quite a dramatic transformation.

Though January is, technically, part of the dry season, these changes are governed by the number of hours of daylight. If these same trees were growing in close proximity to a streetlight, the leaves would not drop off, and far fewer seed pods and flowers would be produced.

Many shrubs and trees are governed by the changing season - poinsettia, flamboyant, golden apple and plum are just a few.

If you’d like to read more about Barbados, please visit my other blog, Things Barbados.

Orchids & Barbados

Barbados has a flourishing Orchid Society and many enthusiastic orchid lovers. Not only are orchids exhibited in the Barbados Horticultural Society Flower Show (25 and 26 January 2014), but the Barbados Orchid Society also hosts their own show in March.

Not to be forgotten for lovers of these amazing plants is Barbados Orchid World, where thousands of different orchids are grown and displayed year round. This attraction is located in the center of the island, is well sign posted, marked on maps and is well known by taxi and bus drivers, so it’s easy to find. It’s even practical if you’re just visiting for a day on a cruise ship.

My personal experience of growing orchids is limited, though I have attached two to a tree stump behind my home. They seem to be growing, so I’ll just have to wait and see what flowers appear - I’ve forgotten what they are now. Also sprouting up next to the stump is a young pawpaw (papaya) tree - presumably from seeds dropped by either birds or monkeys.

If you’d like to read more about Barbados, please visit my other blog, Things Barbados.

Barbados Horticultural Society Flower Show

Every year at the end of January, the Barbados Horticultural Society hosts a 2-day flower show at their headquarters at Balls in Christ Church. It is an excellent opportunity for interested visitors to see local blooms at their best.

There are flower arranging displays, fruit and vegetable displays, exhibits of tropical ferns, succulents, cacti and other plants, plus demonstrations. Plants, flowers, garden equipment and accessories, locally made jams and jellies, craft works and a host of other items are also on sale.

The Flower Show is open to the public from 10 am until 6 pm each day, and there is lots of well organised parking. There is an admission fee of BD$20 per adult (US$10) and BD$7 (US$3.50) for children under the age of 12.

The BHS also sponsors an Open Garden programme from January through March each year. Private gardens are opened to the public for a small fee, and refreshments are served.

For more information on either of these events, please visit the BHS website.

If you are interested in reading more about Barbados, please visit my other blog, Things Barbados.