Villa Des Pitons At Night

My Joby Gorillapod and long exposures while waiting for dinner at the hotel. We ate next to the pool.
Overlooking Soufriere.
Sleepy kitty on the balcony.
Soufriere.

Big Yellow Flower

On the Tet Paul Trail.

Tet Paul Trail

These are views from the Tet Paul Nature Trail, south of Soufriere on the west coast of St Lucia.
The trail head is at a relatively high elevation, and the first part of the trail overlooks interior valley farmland. In the distance, views of the central mountainous region of the island.
Bamboo growing on the side of the trail, and the farmland below.
In addition to aerial views of the island, the trail is planted with a fantastic Caribbean garden. Above, huge crotons.
Rows of vegetables growing up the side of the hill.
More views of the garden. Lots of things grow in the Caribbean.
The trail proceeds toward the coast.
First view of one of the Pitons from the trail. Notice the teeny sailboats.
Sailboats at the base of the Piton.
The trail turns back inland.
View of the garden from above.

Dallas Blooms

Spring flowers at the Dallas Arboretum in March. Pansies, Daffodils, and Tulips.
Yellow and red Tulips next to a pond.
Pink Parrot Tulips.
Large planting of yellow and red Tulips in front of a perfect lawn.
Pansies in dappled shade.
Picnic on the lawn.

Brayden At The Arboretum

Last year Brayden and I went to the Dallas Arboretum and took pictures on the frogs while Grandpa was having surgery.
This year we brought Mommy.
And made some very nice photographs.

Drive-In Volcano

This was probably the most touristy thing we did on St Lucia. It was ok, but it would have been a lot better if they didn't have all of those safety barriers preventing you from walking in to the volcano. Stupid guide who fell in a couple of years ago and ruined the fun for every one.
It's ok though. The Valley of Desolation on Dominica was basically the same idea, and we got to stick our fingers in that and rub it on our faces.

Banana Flower

Growing on the grounds of Villa des Pitons.

Diamond Botantical Garden

The first day of our honeymoon we went to Diamond Botanical Gardens near Soufriere. It was just the start of a long journey on which Thomas became very tired of going to botanical gardens! Above, pretty heliconia.
Part of the estate was originally farmed as a plantation. However, large scale farming in the Caribbean is generally unprofitable now. The owners have planted instead dedicated the land to tourism and planted it with species important to Caribbean life. I think the variety of useful, beautiful plants that grow here so well is wonderful and amazing, but I'm a plant geek...
Nutmeg.
Helical Ginger.
Anthurium Lilly "Naughty Boy".
A very pretty Celosia growing in December. I got the feeling that many of our annuals and house plants are perennials kidnapped from the tropics.
More Heliconia.
Torch Ginger.
Red Ginger.
Pink Ginger.
It's been so long already I don't really remember what the rest of these are called. Just enjoy.
Hummingbird.

The Diamond River runs through the estate. It is fed from a volcanic gorge up-valley. The high mineral content gives the water it's black color, and gives the town of Soufriere it's name (Sulfur).
These mineral springs were thought to have healing benefits. In the 18th century a bath built just downstream from Diamond Falls (above) was quite popular. We didn't partake.