Mango Melee

And it was a Melee! What a great event. just a total "Blow-Out"! I must say, the folks of St. Croix do love festivals. Party! and all ages enjoy. I have been avoiding other 'fests because of the sheer number of cars and crowds, but getting here way early and leaving just before the end made it good. And I was holed-up in a shady part of the nursery for most of the day. I did make it to the bar tent a couple of times for iced beer, the mango slushy thing (daiquiri?) was just too sweet. Iced beer quite refreshing. One of the vendors had "mango wine", I don't think so. shit knocked your flops off. The dread-heads loved it, the look on others faces as they sipped on the shot was hilarious. Me think he mixed some mango juice with overproof rum and called it wine. Why not. Try a shot, buy a skewer of grilled meat. try another shot, buy two skewers, and so-on. The guy was a trip, and had his gig down. I just stood there for a while and enjoyed the show. I did have to try two of the shots just to make sure the wine had reached it's peak and boy had it. The meat I passed on, just not quite sure on that one, he had been sampling the wine for some time, and I didn't see and ice chest for the uncooked skewers. I'm sure one was there and they were very well cooked. Just me on that one. Good plant sales, sell-out on vendor slots, great attendance so the place should have made some $$$. Now let's us have a party!

Chaya, got some? No, get some!

Through my misidentifying a neglected plant I have been introduced to a most fantastic herb. The chaya plant. Yall folks over there in Belize et.al. May know it as kikilchay or chaykeken since this plant is a Mayan staple. It is also known as spinach tree. here "snow coral" for the white flowers. This plant has so many health benefits it is amazing. besides tastes like and used like spinach. Probably put in many a calaloo dish here. Anyway can't wait to plant some and start adding it to the diet. Pictures soon come.
I thought the plant was a neglected papaya, similar leaves and stalk. Since on of the volunteers brought in leaves of each mature I could easily see the difference. One week at the gardens and my health is already improving.
Mango Melee this Sunday, hope they got a Mango bar! No Smoothies PleaSE!

Extra Time?

Last week I remembered that the good folks out at St. Georges Village Botanical Gardens had told me back in Jan. that they would need volunteer help come summer when all the "snow birds" were gone. so i stopped by for a look at their plant sale and they were sad. really needed water and some TLC. I asked the fellow in charge and he jumped at the offer of help. Now I am a full-time water boy at the SGVBG nursery. As with any volunteer group few want the mundane and tedious tasks when there are other more exciting tasks. So, no problem. Seems like I been watering plants all my life, and they reward me! Now I get a discount on plants, goodies at the gift shop and the "garden parties"! Oh how Cool! garden Parties. Just so happens this Sunday is the "Mango Malay" all things mango, the good, the bad and the ugly. Yes, there are ugly things about mangos, especially when they rot!

Contrast in houses

just a few houses on isle croix.

As the garden grows.

The banana that Susan planted has already sprouted pups at it's base so bloom soon come I hope. the garden is coming along slowly. the soil (clay) took forever to hydrate and loosen-up, then had to dry-out enough to be "worked", ha! not hardly. this stuff is an alkaline goo when wet, and a brick when dry. Yep, gonna be a challenge. So, for the time being I spread a thick line of gypsum, top that with composted manure from a bag (2 bags per row), top all that with bags of garden potting mix (2 bags per row), put down drip irrigation cover all that with with plastic mulch and that with cypress mulch. Them some pricey beds! But fresh veggies are pricey here. But it's still cheaper than a psychiatrist. Yep! even in Paradise you need therapy.

Looks like another tropical wave is headed our way with one following that. More rain. damn, need to get that cistern built or just go ahead and buy one and put a roof on it.
Man, have the mangos been fantastic. Made a new drink with over-ripe mango; a mango mojito. Forget the mint leaves and smash a bunch of real ripe mango in a glass, add dark rum and ice. Enjoy!! Use'm before they rot. they don't freeze well.

Cheers!

It's a bunch of Bull!

The air is still and humid, but still cooler than SC. They been having 90's and we in the mid 80's. And when the clouds come along it is quite pleasant. The plants are all doing well and the garden has begun fruiting, or vegging as it were. The iguanas (Larry's) have not been a problem since the mongooses are rampant. Still have not found a good receipt for mongoose and the Crucians look at me as if I were more daft than I am. I think any prep done for rabbit would work for mongoose. Like I'm really going to go out and catch one of the damn things. But if one were given to me, now that's another thing. I did find-out that some folk do raise rabbit on island and sell dressed and frozen ones. that is on the menu.

Posting has been frustrating lately, our wireless modem comes and goes. be online then off with no notice. Unplug the thing let it rest, plug back in and maybe a few minutes of access. so when I feel like sitting here it may not want to play. damn thing. going to the shop Monday. i see it flashing that weird flash now, may be gone? Yep, gone. Hope this saves. Yep it saved now gonna post.