Saturday 16 February 2013

Jamaican flora part 2 plus..........

So the cotton wool brain I spoke of in my last post didn't turn out to be a dreamy post vacation glow as I had originally thought, it was actually the first symptom of Flu!
Yep I have spent the past week holed up in bed fighting the big fight against what I am convinced cannot be your average Flu, it must be some exotic flu that I bought back with me - does "normal" Flu really feel like this?
I'd love to be able to claim that I have fought this disease both valiantly and bravely but I'd be lieing! Nor did I fight it quietly!
I used to be proud of the fact that I have a high pain threshold but this......this......Flu has been more unbearable than childbirth and has left me as weak as a Gnat in water!
I've finally been relieved of the achy bones and muscles but the vice gripping headaches, acid etched throat and congestion continues, as does Neuralgia and for some strange reason aching bulging eyeballs. To top it off I now have conjunctivitis and want to scratch my eyeballs out and asthma has flared up again - I am not a happy bunny!

However, i promised another post full of Jamaican Flora and so here it is.


Travellers Palm. The gardeners did a fabulous job of training some of them into fan shapes.



Bamboo. This stuff grew everywhere and I love it! I have tried many different varieties here in the Highlands but haven't had much success. I would love a forest of bamboo.


Beautiful Plumbago.



Hibiscus. I saw these in red, White and Blue - so pretty!


Rooms at the Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton resort were in Villas and each villa was 2 storeys and had this to greet you on entrance. The gardeners really did do a fabulous job at this resort.



Palm seedpods. We were quite tempted to bring some home and attempt to propagate them but I assumed we wouldn't be able to bring them into the UK.



More totally colourful Bougainvillea.



Sniff, sniff! I so wish I was back there.


While in Jamaica we spoke to one of the gardeners who had a novel way of propagating some of the shrubs using a plastic bag. I'm not completely certain of the procedure so I'm trying to get the information and once I have it I will not only post it on here but will be experimenting with it myself.

I have so much I need to be doing out in the garden just now but I just don't have the strength to do it. I'm a very impatient person and I know I just have to get better but I really need to get those Willow cuttings done and into water before they begin growth in Spring or I won't be able to construct a Willow hedge this year.


9 comments:

  1. Linda, I'm so sorry to hear about your flu -- it sounds like the real thing, influenza, rather than the various milder viruses that we often call "flu." I suppose the two upsides here are that you didn't get sick while you were traveling (that would have been a nightmare) and that when you get your normal levels of energy back, you'll feel like a superhero. I hope you'll be back to your normal tenacious self soon. -Jean

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    1. Thank you Jean. I'm certainly looking forward to feeling human again.

      Linda

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    2. Sending healing thoughts your way. Loved Jamaica -traveled there over 10 times and was married there. We are lucky enough to be able to grow bamboo here and over the past 6 years we have a nice little forest starting. Enjoyed seeing those tropical flowers and can smell the warm air. Lovely at this time of year- here,it's 10 degrees F this morning. Hope you are on the mend. Great post,Sandi

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  2. Could that blue flower by Plumbago? Hope you feel better soon.

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    1. I have googled your suggestion and I believe you could be right - thank you :)
      I will rectify my descriptions asap.
      Thanks again

      Linda

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  3. SO sorry about your flu!! Feel better soon!
    The top photo I think is what we in the Bahamas call a Travelers Palm. I googled it and I think its real name is ravenala. We have them here as well, very cool looking trees. :)

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    1. Thank you Amanda. The pain of the flu is subsiding a little so I'm hoping an end is in sight, even if I do feel as weak as a kitten.
      Thank you for your ID of the palm, I will name it immediately!
      Thanks again

      Linda

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  5. Oh how awful...I hope you feel better soon...there is nothing worse than the flu. I have too much snow falling with frigid temps so nothing can be done or seen in the garden here.

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