Flora, Fauna, and Toby

Recently, Dennis and I were looking at some pictures on Facebook that included some spring time flowers in Tennessee.  This inspired Dennis to go explore Bridge the Gap here in Belize to get some colorful flower shots.  He was especially anxious to try out a new lens that was given to him by Roger and Jane Custer.  Thanks guys we really appreciate it!!!!

This little guy joined us for morning coffee.  All I can say is wow!

This is one of Beate's orchids.  Actually, all these flowers
are a result of  Beate's hard work here at BTG.

For those who don't know, most orchids don't use soil to grow in.

O.K. this one I put in.

Another orchid, they are all over Belize, and apparently very easy to grow here.

I have been watching this little trumpety-plant.  It is next to our

drive way.  I thought for sure it was dead a few months ago.

 Beate will walk around with a stick from a tree and poke it in the

ground and a few months later a tree or flower appears.  Some of the people here will create fence lines using this technique of planting.  It makes for some really neat looking fences!

We think that these are just some leaves coming in.

This cool shrub is just outside the women's dorm.

I like the bug.

Hibiscus are in many yards, all different colors.

This is a flowering tree...with a bug.

Orchid

Lots of ferns here.  They will grow in the direct sun.

Weeds in the grass are even pretty.

I guess you get the bad with the good.  There are some pretty
astonishing insects in this part of the world.  Makes you a little
worried to leave the cat outside.

And then there is Toby.  When we first moved here we had quite a few cute little lizard/iguana

pictures to show you.  Now we have Toby.  He is the guy/gal who lives about ten feet from my

kitchen window.  At first he was a little timid and would always run back in his/her cave

whenever we went out back.  Now he/she just stands there and stares us down.  Check out the

spikes on the tail!  I am told it is an iguana.  It is about three feet long now.

We don't really mess with Toby!

We had a visitor last night at around 12:30.  I heard some shuffling sounds under the house.  So, I laid there a while hoping that it would stop, but of course it didn't. Then I did the wife thing and nudged Dennis until he woke up.  We both laid there listening to something scootching things around under the house.  He got up and started looking out the windows with his flashlight.  Then the sound started coming from above us.  Dennis turned his flashlight up to where the house fan is.  Then he saw two little beady eyes staring at him, reflecting the light.  He laughed and said it was an opossum.  How it was able to get up there is a mystery.  It took about an hour to get back to sleep...I just hope it doesn't decide to come back tonight.  (I was just imagining this epic battle between the opossum and Toby!  I think Toby would take him.)

Just wanted to share some of the beauty here in Belize.

Love you guys!