Dig This
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Eighteen Degrees

Eighteen Degrees North of the equator, and what do you get? Lots of sun, plenty of heat, and a lovely tropical climate. So far, being on St. John has been a total rush. We've been through the jungles, downtown in Cruz Bay, eaten on the ocean, and savored every view. Of those things, the jungles... a precious gem that this island has that other virgin islands don't. This morning, I had the pleasure of taking a nice romp through the jungles, down into a gut, and then back out to the road. It was intense, both pleasureful, and refreshing. There were all kinds of fantastic plants, from the ancient relative of the popular pineapple, and the red peeling bark of the "tourist trees". I have not yet had the pleasure of a true botanical walk with an expert throught the bush.

The view from a spot on the island- not even one of the better ones!

Apart from extensive walks, and extreme working, this island has had several other nonchalant adventures in stock for me- for example, at the grocery store, one might think they would fancy a watermelon for some dessert that evening. Which is just fine, except that they're $18! Not exactly wallet-friendly.

Plumeria alba- on top of Gifft Hill- right before we went on a romp through the bush!

Anyhow, thinking in a cooler, more garden-savvy manner, how do people live on an island where the watermelon is $18, there

is very little soil, and where nearly all the food is imported? Typically it involves somthing like a really relaxed attitude, and a will to survive. In my opinion, people really just shouldn't even live here. There's a lack of water, the erosion factor is absolutely through the roof, and people can't really grow too much of their own food. And yet, mind over matter, as they say. People continue to... persist? I'm not even sure. I'll admit, the place is absolutely wonderful. The beaches (which I haven't been to yet) look really great, and the flora is an absolute jaw-dropper. Some plant dropping- Agave missionum, Plumeria alba, Opuntia dillenii, and Tillandsia utriculata. All commmonly available here, and all tons of fun! For example, the Agave is sometimes used as a "christmas tree" if it happens to be blooming at the right time. Tillandsia is the "Air Plant"- it just grows on trees and sometimes powerlines here. On our hike this morning, we got the pleasure of seeing the "tire palm"- the only native palm to the island! All of these things, in conjunction with all the learning that's been going on, makes for an absolutely fantastic adventure. However, don't get it in your mind that I'm here to have fun, hanging out in the jungles, and sitting poolside during the daylight hours. I'm here to explore, work, innovate, create, and  relate. If all goes well, things will start to look a little different on this quaint little island. Very different indeed.

-Winnie, St. John, USVI.

Some more photos- Enjoy!

A closeup of a leaf... see the thorns? Not so small, but there are thorns on just about everything here!

An Iguana! Again, up on Gifft Hill, just hanging out...

Some flowers that had some fun things going on with the red/white.

A Golden Orb Spider? If you arch your middle finger and connect it to your thumb to make a zero, it was about that big...

Sorry about the lack of good technical names, but there's nobody here who knows them! I'm still waiting on my dichotomous ket to all the flora of St. John! It'll be here in several weeks!

Peace- Winnie b.