Birds and Blooms of T&T

The garden in January, February and March may not offer much in terms of color, especially when you live in a snow-covered New York City. But the garden during these months is something to look forward to, when you have deep roots in The Land of The Hummingbird. Cultural hybridity has many advantages. 

These photos of flora and birds of Trinidad and Tobago were taken at the Asa Wright Nature Centre.

                                                        Beloperone guttata

Chrysothemis pulchella also grows around my parents' home in Rio Claro.

       

Holmskioldia sanguinea is also known as Chinese Hat. Beautiful and strange are the flowers. 

           Helconia chartacea

    Jatropha podagrica

Erythrina pallida or Wild Immortelle

Trinbagonians call this vervaine Ven-ven. My mom recommends a tea of ven-ven leaves as a blood cleanser. Hummingbirds love it.

Powder Puff Flower (Calliandra surinamensis)   

 

Emerald White-chested hummingbird  

 

White-necked Jacobin Hummingbird

 

 

This photo was taken by Tahlia, my brother Matthew's brilliant little girl.

                                                  Hummm. Yummm.

  Saphire

      Torch ginger (Phaeormeria magnifica)

Kohleria tubiflor

    Salvia

Bamboo patches cover the hillsides. This clump sits near the main entrance of Asa Wright.

Trinidad is home to vast number of pteridophytes.

Tectaria

         Selaginella flagellata

This heliconia is the symbol of the PNM (the People's National Movement), the political body governing Trinidad and Tobago. Humming birds love the nectar in little flowers hidden in the cups. Trinbigonians call this helconia Balisier.

Bois canot (Cecropia peltata)

The leaves of Bois canot are favored by still photographers. You can see why.

Green Honeycreeper (Chlorophanes spiza)

Purple Honeycreeper  (Cyanerpes caeruleus)