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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!

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.

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.

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

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

**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

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