ANOTHER TASTE OF COSTA RICA

I added some more pictures of a fairly recent trip to Costa Rica.

NOTE: CLICK ON THE PICTURE TO MAKE IT LARGER.

Arenal volcano - it is active and smoking which makes it rather unnerving to spend the day here. Back in 1968 it erupted and destroyed the town of Tabacon killing 87 people there.

Of course the place we went is the Tabacon Resort. But it makes you feel better to know that the management disavows any responsibility if the volcano erupts. By the way have a pleasant stay with us.

Anyway once the feeling of impending doom wears off you can enjoy the tropical plants and landscaping.

I think this guy is a helionia Rostrata or common name lobster claw

One of the streams volcano heated around 1o4 degrees. Perfect to take a dip in the hot mineral water. When you get out you resemble the lobster claw plant above.

Or you can stand under this small waterfall and let the hot water cascade over onto you.

A cool looking tropical plant. I have no idea what it is called.

And lastly my friend the Costa Rican Lizard . This little guy followed me around for the longest time.

This is a really beautiful place in a country that is a tropical plant lovers dream. My advice is if you ever get a chance to visit Costa Rica take it.-----------------------------sanddune---------------------------------------------------------------------

SOME COSTA RICA TROPICALS

Some more pictures of the tropical plants in Costa Rica from earlier this month. All of these photos were taken in the Tortuguero National park . This is a Heliconia plant in bloom. I had some of these in my front yard before that I bought from Home Depot. They did well up until it got cold here. They are the poor mans Bird of Paradise plant.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------This guy is really cool but I have no idea what it is. If you know please leave a comment .

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Another cool tropical that I want for my backyard. I found the name on the internet after some searching . It is called a Chenille plant or more correctly Acalypha Hispeda.

This plant really draws attention to it with it's red fuzzy tails.

This one is going on my wish list.-------------------------------sanddune------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

CROTONS TROPICAL NATIVES

One of the tropical plants that I like is the Croton. Codigeum Variegatum if you are so inclined for the proper name. I just think they look good and can grow in South Florida.



I got the opportunity to visit the Tortuguero National Park in Costa Rica the first part of this month. I took these pictures of some of their Crotons growing in a small park there.



From what I have read there are over 750 different types of these plants.


The colors change in the leaves according to the amount of sun that the plant is exposed to each day.



They don't like the temperature to go below 60 so to grow them outside you should be in a warm climate. The warm tropical rainforest found in Costa Rica is
perfect for these guys.
You can tell from the pictures that they
really like it here and are really healthy.


Several different variety's can be found growing in this park.




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This guy is my South Florida contribution. I started it from a cutting back on May 6th [ see post --- NEW THINGS FOR SUMMER --MAY 6 th]. I made two cuttings from the parent plant. This one rooted and the other one didn't. Thats why one of my hard learned garden rules is: Plant several and hope for one.

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