Hi Rebecca! Love your constant postings of beautiful pictures and haven't seen any new in a while. I have got 16 more sleeps til arrival in TB! All the negative postings got me a little down. How about some beautiful pictures of what I can expect when my friends and I arrive? Maybe some pics of Great Pond?

I'm afraid the only one I could find is this one which has Great Pond in the background. I seem to only take photos of Great Pond when there is flooding occurring. I guess I should rectify that, eh?



Here is one I took while at Alligator Hole a few months ago. I would assume this bird can be found in Great Pond as well.



And here are some fresh flowers for you to enjoy until you reach.



See you soon littlemamalisa!

Beee U Teee FULL! Thank You SO Much!

Have you ever thought of writing a picture filled book about TB and its vast beauty? You take really nice photographs!

Lovely pix Rebecca, me glad to here and see something from you. keep kool you know you big out deh!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Rebecca, You take the best pictures, what kind of camera do u have? I want to get a very nice/good camera.

Remember it's not the camera...it's the photographer. LOL.

Canon Powershot

Nice! I work for Canon! They DO have fantastic cameras!

Looking at the green grasspiece and the old Lignum Vitae trees brings back treasured memories of the good old school days at Sandy Bank School.We would rush off to Mr Gilpin's place to eat lunch under some of those same trees.We would then play shevvy,lick-an-run,and other games or climb the trees and swing on one of those strong old branches.Boy those were the days. I remember one girl taking an avocado to eat with bun and she took a piece of the tree bark and slice her pear.

My friend and I would sometimes wander down to the pond and pull our little green tunic up to our knees and wade out into the water to a small little island (don't know if it's still there)in the pond and search for bird eggs.We did not take them since we were only interested in seeing if there were any eggs there.(Boy wi neva easy. If wi madda dem did eva know ,we would get a good wopping).

At the end of the school day we would also take the goat track that leads us through the common,back to the Well Lane that would take us back to our homes in Great Bay.Anyone remember climbing over those climb-over to get to school?The lucky leaf tree by the corner of Coke and Gilpin's premises? What about the little cloth book bags that we use to carry before a few of the girls graduated to the small dulcimina grip?

Hot off the camera. Sunset at the buttonwood tree this evening.

Wish you were here!

Oh my. That is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

Good Lord That is BEAUTIFUL! I ache to see that sunset in person Thank You - Only a week to go before I can!!!

Thanks for the pictures Rebecca, especially the one of Great Pond. I remember the good times we had Pedro Peeps; those are powerful memories indeed. Don't forget the cow sh.. wars we used to have back then. Simple times, and the happiest of all.

Thanks for those lovely pix, they are really refreshing for the Body, Mind and Soul from all the hectic things that's going on around us.
Big up my cousin Silvan for me.

One Man, do you remember the 'forty legs' that would be found underneath the cow dung? The 'swell hand' tree and the tamerind tree right next to it?

Pedro P, I would like to see the 'swell hand' tree when I come to TB. You know it One Man?

Regards, turey.

Turey,

I am sure someone in the Sandy Bank area will be more than willing to show you where the tree is. Maybe Miss Zane could show you since it's located just below her home. It is right next to the Tamerind tree. Hope it's still there.

Did you know there use to be a tree in Great Bay called the Physic nut tree that would bleed if it was cut at mid-day on Good Friday? I have seen it with my own eyes.Does anyone know if it still exists? A whole bunch of these trees could be found over Aunty Nahna's sandhole and up by Crabcather's Hole.

Pedro Peeps\ Turey
These are some interesting information maybe you guys should start a new topic so as to not cause a distraction from the current topic .

My bad !!! Don't blame Turey. I am so sorry about that.Seeing those old familiar spots ... I really got carried away.

Thanks Pedro P.

I'll check them when I come.

And, thanks Rebbecca for all the great shots.

Forgive me Ring and ta-a (and you too Rebecca), but please allow me to respond to Peeps and turey: Yes I do remember the swell hand tree, and I too wonder if it's still alive. And those forty legs, boy what a challenge they were! I heard the lucky tree died though. Turey, Peeps is right about the Physic Nut tree. Anyone can point it out to you when you go back. Respec'.

Thanks One Man. I was wandering if the 'swell hand' tree was manchineel. I've never seen it but heard it bears deadly little apples, touching the bark causes swelling and the Taino used the gum as an arrow poison.

Any more rare trees in TB? Lignum Durum?

Another school project there. Botanical classification, properties, old myths etc.

Lignum Vitae study alone could provide several PHd's. No joke!

What is the bird in Rebecca's second picture?

I will make it my personal quest to try and find the "swell hand" tree and take a photo of it. I will ask Miss Zane for more info.

I love this "ole time" information, please, please continue!

I just spoke with Miss Zane and after much laughter and rememberances from her on the 'swell hand' tree she has promised to check and see if it is still there. If so, I will take a photo and share it with you.

Hi Rebecca, this is very interested. if Miss Zane is unable to help you on this one, then, I know where one is that you could see. My Cousin Silvan would know too.

Thanks Ninja and Rebecca, look forward to tree pics.

Many years ago I spent some time at the Ministry of Agriculture Library at Hope. Lots of old publications mostly by the then British admin surveying economic plants.

The index listed a study of the economic trees of Jamaica. It was missing unfortunately.

I think I told the forum that a 12" X 3" blank of West Indian Ebony (Brya Ebenus) was selling on ebay for about US $100. It is an ideal wood for flutes and bagpipes. They grow wild in Kingston (Rain Tree) and the trunks used to be sold on the Clarendon main road for fence posts. The most valuable fence posts in the world.

What about the local Sandalwood trees, any stories? Candlewood/Torchwood? Red Bullet bark? How about the duppy dem in Cotton trees?

What about the Comfrie plant? This plant is used for medical purpose and also the Leaf Of Life?
Which was used for cold and fever for years?

Did you all know that most of the medicine plants we used back in the day, for colds and other ailments, are now in tea bags form in the US? We mustn't share everything for everybody to see, because there is a price (but I still love the stories).

Does anyone know if the Loblolly tree is still alive? This tree was right by the entrance of the Big Wood Road and the main road to Little Park, St Elizabeth.

Turey, (I think) the swell hand tree is really the Manchioneel tree. If you go to look at it please make sure that you do not stand under it if it's raining.

I know where one of this tree is located but, unfortunately it is sacred ground now so,I'm sorry you all will have to wait until I come to Ja to get a picture and have it posted.
"Won't be long"

Thanks everyone, the treasures are emerging just

in time!

Thanks to Miss Zane for meeting me on the road and pointing out the "Swell Hand" tree to me.

It is right behind the Tamarind tree which blew down in one of the recent hurricanes but is still alive.

Enjoy!

Thanks Miss Zane and Rebecca.

Andreas Oberli, who Ms McCauley mentioned may be able to help in giving us an ID of the swell hand tree.

Interesting about standing under it during rain Pedro P. I heard the same before. It really sounds like Manchineel/Manchioneel.

Does the fruit and leaf look like this?

http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/1444992/6494/Manchineel

What about the Loblolly?

Ooooh! The swell hand tree is still there, laying on her side ,just like in old time days.Only thing is that she does not look so florishing.I guess that has to do with age and weathering.Just looking at her,has made me so emotional.Thanks for taking the time out to find her and posting her picture Rebecca.

Yes Turey,I took a look at the link and it is definately the manchineel tree. I wonder if we could ask the owner of the property to plant another one of these trees right next to that one ? Do you know how they grow?

I have not heard anything about the Loblolly tree. Does anyone know if there is one of these trees in Treasure Beach?

It might just be the lack of rain we've had. I had a tree in the back yard loose all its leaves lately and looked horrible. Now it is full of sprouting new ones!

Interesting. I always thought Manchineel was a big tree. I guess growing in hot and dry keeps it small. I've seen Mahogany trees over 300 years old (we counted rings on one that was cut) that was as small as said Manchineel but tough as Lignum Vitae. I guess the seeds will germinate Pedro P. Carefull handling the fruit! and keep a couple for me please.

Mahogany can grow to legendary spans 40'? around? Most of these trees are now transformed into furniture.

We may be surprised that there are some that will ask to be shown our special trees and bushes.

Sorry Turey but I do not live in Ja. anymore but I do know the owner of the property. My opinion is that the swell hand tree was probably a big tree in days gone by and it probably got uprooted (by some storm) before I was even born (since I have always seen it laying on its side).Much like the tamerind tree that use to be standing and now it is down but still living and for how long we do not know. Hopefully it will stick around for years to come.