Cloth of Gold

We had an exceedingly dry “dry season” this year that lasted for a solid 3 months, much longer and drier than we have seen for many years. Whilst people complained about the lack of rain, some flora have blossomed in ways that we have not seen for years, and Cloth of Gold is a prime example.

Cloth of Gold is a vine that grows prolifically over trees and mill walls, amongst other things. I remember as a teenager passing a mill wall every day on my way to and from school that, at certain times of the year, was absolutely covered in a sheet of gold flowers - a magnificent sight.

Then the flowering became more sporadic and less dramatic, until this year. It is easy to see how the vine got it’s name as it really looks like a cloth of gold covering a wall, structure or tree. Absolutely stunning. 

Flamboyants have also flowered magnificently this year, and you can see one contrasting with the Cloth of Gold. I hope we don’t have to wait another 30 or so years to see this kind of colour again.

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