Hello everyone...just a quick "hi" from Costa Rica. I'm having a very nice visit and my week will be over so quickly. My hosts took me to the beach at Manuel Antonio for the weekend. It was a great 4+ hour drive thru the mountains and down to the Pacific. We spent 1 night and it poured rain during the evening...but then it IS the "green" (wet) season. It was all very scenic and the beach at Manuel Antonio was very nice. The jungle comes right down to the beach. Lots of birds and even wild monkeys. The minute we hit the beach I met a young couple - the gal was from Issaquah, WA...about 20 miles from where I live!

I've seen a number of brugs (my friends have a tall one blooming in their small courtyard behind their house)planted here and there, but they have very few varieties here. On the bus home from downtown this afternoon, I saw a few planted in a parking strip by the bus stop. They're not seen as "special" here & get whacked on a lot. The local name for them is Queen of the Night. We stopped at a very nice nursery yesterday & they had none & didn't know them by the name brugmansia nor angel trumpet.

I'll be home for Thanksgiving and should have pics to share when I get a chance...I've taken over 250 so far.

Ciao,

Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place

I'm glad to hear you're having a great time Patrick.
What a wonderful experience to see the jungles and wildlife of Costa Rica.
Can't wait to see your pictures.
I hope the remainder of your time there is just as wonderful and you have a safe trip back home.

Terry
Woodsville,NH
zone 4a

Partick, looking forward to seeing you pictures.

Ruth

Ruth
Zone7
Mathiston,Ms

Sounds like you're having a great trip, Patrick.
Can't wait to see those pictures!

Lynne
USDA Zone 9b
Heat Zone 10
Bradenton, Florida

Do you know the way to San Jose?..la da da da da da... Now that song is stuck in my head for the day...LOL

Looking forward to your pictures Patrick! Have a safe flight home. Happy Thanksgiving!

Bren
Northwest, Florida
Zone 8

Patrick, so good to hear that you're enjoying Costa Rica. Looking forward to the pictures. Have a safe trip home and Happy Thanksgiving.

Jarie
Rio Grande Valley, TX
Zone 9

Bren-you have that tune stuck in my head now! lol!
Patrick, glad you are enjoying your trip and hope you have a pleasant trip home and an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Looking forward to seeing the pictures


Linda
Zone 9
Jacksonville FL

I notice on the weather map that you are still getting rain in Seattle - can't get away from it, can you? Well, except when you visit me. Glad you are enjoying your vacation, and can't wait to hear all about it - photos as well. I know you will be passing through Dallas tomorrow on your way home, but I will be on my way to Austin - wave anyway, and a Happy Thanksgiving.

USDA Zone 7/8
Copper Canyon
North Central Texas

Hi all...I'm back home again. I enjoyed the trip...a week can sure pass quickly! Costa Rica is still in its "green" (wet) season, so I saw quite a bit of rain. Mostly, it rains in the afternoon & evening, then is sunny again in the morning. We had one big thunderstorm one afternoon and my last 2 days there were very windy & cool. On the weekend we went to the Pacific coast & overnighted in Manuel Antonio, where the jungle comes right down to the beach. Costa Rica has lots of beauty & I saw a bit of it on that weekend trip. The drive was over 4 hours on a 2-lane highway over the mountains & down to the ocean. I saw lots of birds and some monkeys, too. We spent an entire afternoon at the uncrowded beach & played in the warm ocean water.

I spotted a number of brugmansias, which are known locally as Queen of the Night. We visited a large nursery & asked if they sold brugs...got a "no" response. They're kinda looked upon as not very special & several that I saw had been hacked at quite a bit. It doesn't appear that any interesting hybrids are available there. I saw mostly white ones, including 1 double white. My friends had a tall pinkish-salmon one in their small rear courtyard and it smelled wonderful every night.

I took lots of pics and have been working on them for hours. I'll post some in my album, probably in related groups, so I can add them over a period of time.

I got home Wed. night & enjoyed spending Thanksgiving with my family.

Patrick
Brug Moderator
USDA Zone 8b
Heat Zone 3
Sunset Zone 5
SeaTac, WA...one cool place