Ornamental Banana Bloom, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica October 2019

True banana plants grow well here but this ornamental variety (Musa ornata) serves as a fast-growing privacy fence lining many yards. Plus, as you can see, they really are quite stunning. Though they do produce fruit, it is largely inedible due to the size of the seeds.

Last thought on bananas for now, did you know the fruit is actually, botanically speaking, a berry? Go ahead, look it up, I’ll wait. Oh, and once you have the weird world of berries all figured out, could you explain it to the rest of us?

Dead Sea Urchins, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica October 2019

These are my favorite kind of sea urchins, dead ones.* I know that sounds harsh coming from a self-professed nature lover but there is a personal reason for my animus.

Years ago (no, I won’t tell you how many, suffice it say it was quite awhile ago), my husband of one whole month and I traveled to Grand Cayman to attend my sister’s beach wedding. It was a special event that I almost missed thanks to a damn sea urchin.

While wading in a tranquil, turquoise-colored tide pool I had the serious misfortune of stepping on one. I have a really high pain threshold but this was excruciating! It not only stung but it spasmed as if being stabbed by dozens of tiny, electrified skewers. In other words, I don’t recommend touching a live one.

As I limped back to the hotel we passed our housekeeper who empathized with my predicament and said as a child she would just pee on any sea urchin stings. At that point I was willing to try anything! Only one small problem, as a woman, it is a considerable challenge to pee on the underside of my own foot.

So, I turned to my spouse (who had that manly ability to aim) and ordered him to pee on me. His answer? “But, I don’t have to pee!” I could’ve murdered him (justifiably so). Thankfully, a couple bottles of water later the curative pee was dosed to my instantaneous relief. So, yes, I still hold a grudge against sea urchins.

*Note: I found these tests during a recent beach walk, I did not have anything to do with their demise.

While sitting on a rock watching the waves I noticed movement out of the corner of my eye. Since I still have so much to learn about the wildlife down here I immediately gave it my full attention. Thankfully, it was just an herbivorous lizard.

After looking me over carefully, this Black Iguana (Ctenosaura similis) swiftly clambered into the bush and proceeded to dine on the leaves. Looks like the hardest part of its day is deciding which leaf to eat!

Indigenous to this area (Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean), frangipani is technically in the Plumeria family. The beautiful flower and sweet scent may beguile you. Be warned though, the milky sap of the tree is poisonous. To be honest, that is not Frangipani’s worst trait, I award that honor to the sneaky little trick that it pulls on moths.

The pale, white blooms open at night, enticing sphinx moths with their intoxicating scent. Yet they have no nectar. So, the moths crawl in but leave hungry, covered with pollen that they then spread to the next deceptive flower. Pretty sneaky!