Howard Johnson Rhode Island

Vines are an important part of tropical flora hence we do have quite a few of those on the island, some are endemics, some are indigenous and many are exotic, we will today enjoy a small sample, to be followed by other articles as the subject is pretty...

We will anyhow be back as there still are around many interesting vines waiting for us to admire them! A previous article introduced you to a few vines growing on my tiny secluded island and as stated then just meant brushing this vast subject so here...

See you all soon! Here we come once again, vine lovers! The three preceding articles introduced climbers which are found on Reunion Island although all are exotic or indigenous, the endemic ones are very few and often not very showy therefore we will...

There are basically two seasons: austral summer from November to April with temperatures between 22°C at night and 30°C during the day, austral winter with temperatures from 17°C to 24°C, most rains occurring in summer (also called cyclonic season).

We continue through the gardens, forests and ravines of Reunion in search of the Holy VineWe already have seen a few interesting climbers and lianas but there are a lot more waiting for us out there, so let's go again!

Be sure to not entangle your feet in all those scrambling stems and make time to come back for more! And here we come again with those amazing plants that instead of growing a trunk or stem enjoy clinging to trees and bushes in order to grow; vines and...

In 1840 a plant was imported from Mexico which boosted the cirque cultivation and is still of prime importance nowadays; the chouchou (see tThe alligator pear is widely grown throughout the cirque, often on vine arbors which allow an easier collecting.

It seems orchids seeds used air-travel to reach Reunion from Madagascar and Asia. There are of course a few terrestrial species so the orchid amateur needs a very flexible neck, checking both the ground and upper branches when strolling in the wild.

Life – especially plant life – will find a way to live. Most have several. Eccentric millionaires with lots of time on their hands will grow orchids in exotic greenhouses that make visitors drip with perspiration and gasp for air.

In the restoration process, it was decided by the powers that be, that more trees needed to be planted on the island, and many were brought from Hawaii and other tropical areas to aide in this attempt.

The breed was successful until the 1960s, when numbers began to decline. Weight: 6½ to 8½ pounds Urban Uses: This dual-purpose chicken provides both meat and eggs. Egg Size: Large

After some turmoil the Comoros decided to become independent in 1974 but Mayotte voted to stay French and has the official status of Territorial Colectivity, so not a full Over-seaDepartment like Reunion but still part of the republic.

Modern times brought comfort and a large number of hikers which bring some needed income. The only way to get either people or goods in and out of Mafate is by helicopter, a very expensive and noisy solution that has created turmoil for the way of life...

The queen now has a very busy life, she lays eggs, raises and grooms the larva, provides them with food. Three weeks later they will be fully grown, completely filling the alveoli where they were born.

One of the various islets, the ‘ile aux cocos' has been turned into a wildlife sanctuary where masses of seabirds live and lay eggs even on the ground as there are no predators, people are allowed short visits and the place is supervised sharply so...

Weight: 7 to 8 pounds Urban Uses: Rhode Island Reds are excellent layers, producing five eggs per week. They are also known for their meat and are hardy enough for cold climates. One of the most popular breeds of chickens with small-scale farmers, they...

Use: Rhode Island Reds are one of the most popular farmyard chickens for their laying ability and usefulness as a table fowl. They also tolerate semi-confinement although the roosters can become aggressive.

The one we will enjoy today is mostly used by local tourists but if you stick close to me nothing too bad should happen to you...The trail starts at a place called ‘Le Nez de Boeuf' which translates as ‘the ox's nose' and sounds as strange in French...

Some species are strongly present on Reunion Island and we will meet a few of them here. There are about 250 recorded species of ferns on the island, out of which some 18 are endemic strictly to Reunion while another 25 are endemic to the Mascareignes...

As stated above, the name Nosy Be is translated by ‘island' for Nosy and ‘big' for Be but it only makes 320 square km, with a rounded shape measuring 26 km from North to South and 20 km from East to West, quite modest to say the least.

For those of you who are familiar with French language, you know that "pamplemousses" means "grapefruits." but in Mauritius and when written with a capital "P" it refers to the name of a village.

Nowadays things are very organized and regulated with the very same array of events and notation scales from regional to international tournaments. The very first events date back from the 1970s when a Californian arborist wanted to improve the skills...

S it grows in the mountains of its native islands, however, Canarina canariensis doesn't like hot conditions any more than freezing ones.So this summer-dormant winter-bloomer, which prefers temperatures between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit, makes a good...

Some of those guides will only be able to distinguish a fern from an orchid but some are very good, mainly those who worked on the field with foreign scientists and gained good knowledge.

Kwajalein is an island in an atoll of the same name, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. I did a lot of thinking about this article while walking along the beach, breathing in the scent of plumeria and jasmine.

Fruits come in clusters at the end of the branches; they can be round or oval in shape, covered with a leathery rind bright red to pale pink. Flowers are quite inconspicuous, yellowish green and without petals.

Some trees which would be large in another location tend to be bent or even broken by wind. For those of you more into wildlife you should know that you can find 22 species of reptiles and amphibians here; lizards, snakes and frogs.Whoops! I suddenly...