 Heather
This is a very sweet low growing ground cover. Even when it is not
in full bloom as you can see in the photograph on the left,
it has an appeal.
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden at the Hotel Atitlan on Lake
Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: I have only seen this plant growing
in the sun in a place where it receives very routine rainfall or
watering. If you know more about it I would love to hear from you.
Text
and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO 2010
|
|
**Heliconia
The heliconia could almost be a symbol of the Caribbean tropical forest and
they will grow in full sun or shade depending on the variety. The height
varies as well; some are huge.
From: These extraordinary plants are native
to the West Indies and South America
Planting and Care: They require lots of water
and fertilizer and when they are happy they can quickly get out
of control. Try to plant them in a place sheltered from strong
winds as the leaves tear easily.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO 2008, 2010
To
see more photographs of heliconias, please click the photograph
above or click HERE!
|
|
| Heralds
Trumpet Please
See the "E" Page - EASTER LILY VINE |
| |
|
HERB GARDENS
Our
herb garden at our home in Montserrat in the Caribbean West Indies
While
it is traditional to grow only herbs in a garden like this,
I thought
it would be more interesting and provide more places on the property
for herbs to grow if they were planted intermixed in
ornamental
garden beds. This garden became a real centerpiece for herbs for
a while and though we still call it the "Herb Garden,"
it is now taking on a more exotic flavor with several varieties
of canna lilies and amaryllis now planted. Some of the herbs
have moved on to other garden
beds, but we still have basil, parsley, fitweed (a tropical cilantro
alternative), Cuban thyme, lemon grass, chives and rosemary.
Text
and Photograph Copyrighted ©Krika.com 2008, 2010

|
|
In
this lightly shaded part of the Herb Garden in the photograph
below we have basil, parsley and
Cuban thyme growing.

|
|
|
| |
**Hibiscus
Bush/Shrub
Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L.
We have varieties and colors too numerous to list, including
the Japanese Lantern or Coral Hibiscus Hibiscus schizopetalus.
All of them flower for at least six months of the year. Buds picked
in the evening will bloom all the next day and make lovely dining
table centerpieces.
Benefits: Apart from their showy flowers, hibiscus
plants are a source of food and beverages, medicine, perfume and
dye. Here on the island, our friend Roots told us how to make a
refreshing drink with the flowers. In the Caribbean, the lovely
hibiscus flower is also used as a treatment for colds and to relieve
menstrual problems.
Photographed: In
our garden at our home in Montserrat.
Planting
and Growth: Hibiscus plants thrive in full sun
and they prefer to be planted in an acid soil which is great here
in Montserrat where we have regular acid rain from the still active
Soufriere Volcano. They will do just fine with a reasonable amount
of rainfall, but in drier periods of time they could benefit from
additional watering.
Insects:
The pink mealy bug has infested most of the once tall and beautiful
red flowering hibiscus hedges in Montserrat with disastrous results.
In other parts of the world biological
controls have been used -- insect predators of the pink mealy
bug such as the half inch anagyrus wasp from China
and the crypto laemus ladybug have been introduced into hibiscus
gardens. The latter is considered a more effective treatment because
it will dine on enormous numbers of mealy bugs. In Montserrat
such environmentally friendly solutions are rarely available.
With a small number of reachable plants mealy bugs can be eliminated
by hand with cotton swabs dipped in alcohol. For larger applications
a mixture of soap and warm water has had beneficial effects when
used as a spray in the early evening or very early in the morning.
Text & Photograph
Copyrighted ©KO 2007/2010
To
See Great Photographs of many different Hibiscus Click
Here
To
get some ideas on how to safely control insects on your hibiscus
plants
See the "P" Page -- SAFE
PESTICIDES FOR ORGANIC GARDENING IN THE TROPICS AND ELSEWHERE |
How
to keep your Hibiscus flowers fresh for 2 whole days with no
water!!
 Step
one (left): You choose the flower. Mention to the plant that
you're grateful for allowing you to pick this lovely flower.
You then
find the stem of the flower where it joins to the branch: Step
two (right) now you bend the stem without letting your fingers
and especially your finger nails touch the joint, and bend. The
stem will snap off.
|
|
 Step
three (left) Without ever touching the stem end with your hands
or fingernails, bend it, while holding the stem just below the
flower and above the exposed end from the plant. Bend this
flower stem
until
it breaks (you now have what you see in the photo on the left).
You can see a close up of what the stem and flower look like in
the picture on the right. |
 You
can now take the flower and put it anywhere with complete confidence
that it will remain open and beautiful for at least the next
two days and maybe longer. Remember you cannot use a scissor
or knife.
Only by breaking the flower from the plant will this technique
work. To give you
an idea
of
what you
can do with this cut flower see the photograph on the right.
We thank Amanda (picture on left and below, for being so kind
as to tell us this
secret.
Much
thanks Amanda and many thanks to the lovely hibiscus plants for
giving us so many pretty flowers.
Our thanks go to Sra. Rocael Catalán
of Solalá,
Guatemala, pictured on the left while working at the Hotel Regis
in Panajachel.
 
|
|
|
| |
| Highway
Iceplant See
the "I" Page -- ICE PLANT |
| |
 Hollyhock Alcea
rosea
What traditional New England garden doesn't have a hollyhock
or two? These are old standbys for good reason and I've now found
them growing happily in the Guatemalan highlands in a lovely hotel
garden
by Lake Atitlan. They flower in early summer and reach four to five
feet making them excellent background plants.
Photographed: In the Botanical Garden
of Hotel Atitlan at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Care: Hollyhocks are perennials
liking full sun and regular rainfall or watering. In warmer
places they will tolerate some mid day shade, but always plant
them away
from windy areas. If you are lucky to live near a well supplied
garden shop, buy plants and set them out directly in the garden.
If you are less lucky, have a go at planting seeds, but the
plants will take two years to bloom. Aphids and spider mites
like hollyhocks as much as we do so consider using Rotenone
as a control or try a soap spray.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO
2010
|
|
**Honeysuckle
Vine P. edulis flavicarpa Degener or Lonicera
japonica
I
remember a bush variety of this heavenly smelling plant from my
childhood in Rhode Island. I would probably carry one with me every
where we go if only I could.
Benefits: This lovely smelling flowering vine attracts butterflies
and hummingbirds.
Photographed: In
the Botanical Garden of Hotel Atitlan at Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Growth: This vigorous vine prefers
being in full sun and receiving regular rainfall or watering. It
is very adaptable to a variety of garden placements, growing well
on a fence or even to retain the soil on an embankment.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO
2010
|
| |
Horseradish Amoracia
rusticana
This is an essential ingredient in the most popular dipping sauce for cold
shrimp and other similar seafood. In a northern garden growing it should be
a snap, but here in the Caribbean who knows? We have yet to get any seeds.
Text Copyrighted ©KO 2007
|
| |
| **Horsetail See
the "C" Page -- CASUARINA TREE |
| |
| Hottentot
Fig See the "I" Page
-- ICE PLANT |
|
Hydrangea Hydrangea
sp
From: Germany
Photographed: At two hotels on Lake Atitlan in Guatemala.
Planting and Growth: This old traditional garden
bush loves an acid soil with lots of organic material. It is perfect
for New England gardens because of the acid soil and apparently
also for the South as a friend from South Carolina once spoke of
the poor country farms there being loaded with hydrangea. But the
South is still the south and she couldn't bring herself to have
it in her garden which is a shame because it is a beautiful bush
with large showy flowers in blue, purple/blue, pink and white.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO
2010


|
|
Hydrangea Landscaping
Landscaping
with hydrangeas is a terrific idea. The foliage is lush and beautiful
and the flowers are huge and bountiful. The plants have character,
but also make a wonderful backdrop for individual plants that
are more exotic in nature.
Photographed: At the Hotel Atitlan on Lake Atitlan
in Guatemala.
Text and Photographs Copyrighted ©KO
2010

|
|
**Hylocereus,
Pitaya Hylocereus
undatus (Haw.) BRITT. and ROSE or Selenicereus sp.
We found one of these growing in the forest on the
way to Tenerillas a small village outside of Taxco, Mexico.
We took a piece
and brought it here to plant at our home in Montserrat where it is
doing just fine.
From: Mexico and Central America
Planting and Growth: Liking sun or semi shade and routine
rainfall or watering, the hylocereus is easy to care for and appears to be
resistant to most insects. Its
flowers and fruit are fabulous!
Link: To see a wall of hylocereus click on Oaxaca
Botanical Garden.
Text and Photograph Copyrighted ©KO
2008/2010

|