It’s summertime on St. John and the flamboyant trees all over the island are in bloom. Although not native to the Virgin Islands, the flamboyant can be seen all over St. John including undeveloped hillsides within the Virgin Islands National Park. It’s easy to see why this beautiful colorful tree has been a popular landscaping addition, but how did it get far up on the mountainsides where probably even the early sugar planters didn’t venture? Not that they were concerned with planting flowering trees without any commercial value, just because they liked to see spectacular colors colors in the summer.

Old time Virgin Islanders tell me that once upon a time there was a visitor to St. John who was in love with flamboyant trees. This man hired an airplane and flew all over the island dropping flamboyant seeds from the cockpit of the plane and that’s why the tree can be found in so many inaccessible locations brightening up St. John’s verdant hillsides with sprays of red….read more

Land Crab Cardisoma guanhumi

(I found this character in my pump room, not its usual habitat. Surprised me!)

Land Crabs
Hunting land crabs for food is a part of St. John culture and probably has been so since the first human beings came here about 3,000 years ago. The primary use of the land crab is to provide the essential ingredient for the tasty West Indian dish known simply as crab and rice.

The large crabs called land crabs by Virgin Islanders, Cardisoma guanhumi by biologists, pond crabs by British Virgin Islanders and jueyes by Puerto Ricans and Dominicans, are the grayish-colored crabs that live in the network of holes found in low-lying areas near mangrove swamps, salt ponds, wetlands and marshes. They are rather large, growing to about four or five inches in diameter not including their formidable claws. During the day you may see them standing just outside a hole into which they will quickly descend as soon as they notice your approach.

Land crabs live inside these holes or burrows, which go down on an angle and lead to a larger living area, where the crab stores food for winter dry spell. Parts of the burrow go down to the water table and there will ultimately be one or more alternate openings to the surface. The crabs only venture away from their holes at night or when it’s raining in order to search for food. They eat just about anything they can find including their own young, dead things, garbage and worse. They are not effective predators, however, and as such their diet is usually limited to plants they find near their burrows…. read more

St. John Events

Tonight
St. John Film Society Presents:
Spotlight on Cuba
St. John School of the Arts

From the Traveling Caribbean Showcase of Films: 7:30 PM
“Old House”
by Lester Hamlet

Esteban’s return to Cuba to visit his dying father reveals truths and valuable life lessons for his entire family.

Preceded by the short animated film:

Cuban Missile Crisis
by Luciano

St. John and Virgin Island News

Kean Students Star at Art Show
By Lynda Lohr — May 6, 2013

When Bajo El Sol art gallery at Mongoose Junction on St. John holds its next art reception on Friday, works by close to 20 Ivanna Eudora Kean High School art students will join those of St. John artists Karen Samuel and Bill Stelzer in the gallery.

“It’s where the students can experience what it’s like to have their art work exhibited with and among professional artists,” Kean art teacher and professional artist Lisa Etre said.

She said she expects most of the students, who hail from St. Thomas and St. John, to show up for the reception from 5 to 8 p.m. This will give those who attend the traditional art reception – with light beverages, appetizers and classical guitar music by David Laabs – a chance to chat with the artists…. read more

Prosser Wines Fetch Just Pennies On the Dollar
By Bill Kossler — May 6, 2013

Bankrupt former Vitelco owner Jeffrey Prosser’s St. Croix wine collection netted $15,739 at auction last month, roughly three percent of its estimated $491,000 value when first inventoried for Prosser’s bankruptcy.

The U.S. Bankruptcy Court attributed the near-total loss to Prosser’s contempt for court orders.

Prosser purchased millions of dollars of wine with company money while owner of Innovative and Vitelco. He purchased $6 million in wine with one credit card, from one wholesaler, from 1999 to 2006, putting it on a company credit card in his name that was then paid off by New ICC – and ultimately by Vitelco and Innovative Cable TV ratepayers.

The wines sold last month were from Prosser’s Estate Shoys residence. A court ordered inventory in 2008 found 980 bottles with an estimated worth of about $491,000. In 2011, a second inventory found 453 bottles worth $139,000 missing. A wine expert tested six bottles of the must durable wines among the remaining 527 bottles and “testified that none of the wines located at the Shoys Estate were marketable or had any sale value,” according to the bankruptcy court’s opinion sanctioning Prosser for misconduct.

The wine was sold at auction April 6, fetching gross proceeds of $22,709. About $2,065 of that wen to pay the auctioneer’s feee and another $4,905 in expenses were subtracted from that total, leaving net proceeds to the bankruptcy estate of $15,739. The single largest expense was $1,607 for advertising the auction in the V.I. Daily News, followed by $1,597 for hotels and meals for the auctioneers, and $1,166 for airfare…. read more

St. John Weather

Partly cloudy with rain showers, then thunderstorms and rain showers in the afternoon
High of 86 degrees F with a heat index of 91 degrees F
Winds from the SE at 10 to 15 mph
Chance of rain 30%
Sunset: 6:42 PM AST

St. John Live Music Schedule

Barefoot Cowboy Lounge
Steven Sloan
7:00 – 9:00
201-1236

Beach Bar
Whistler and Wallace and Lockette
9:00
777-4220

Castaways
Karaoke Night
9:00
777-3316

Driftwood David’s
Benn Marr
5:30 – 8:30
777-4015

High Tide
Chris Carsel
6:00 – 9:00
714-6169

Island Blues
Karaoke & Open Mic
7:00
776-6800

La Tapa
Greg Kinslow
6:00 – 9:30
693-8141

Miss Lucy’s
David Reed
6:00 – 9:00
693-5254

Morgan’s Mango
Sambacombo
6:30 – 9:30
693-8141

Ocean Grill
Rascio on Steel Pan
6:00 – 9:30
693-3304

Shipwreck Landing
Dave Gerard
7:00 – 10:00

Spyglass
T-Bird
5:00 – 8:00
776-1100

See Weekly Schedule

Great Egret

For the last few days, I’ve been seeing this tall white bird standing motionless on the side of Great Cruz Bay Road in more or less the same spot. Being that he or she was being so cooperative as a photographer’s model, I went home, got my camera.

I’ve seen these birds many times on St. John, usually in shallow waters near shore or in salt ponds, but I wasn’t too sure of its exact name. I thought it was a Snowy Egret (wrong) or a Great Heron (close but no cigar) It is in fact a Great Egret, identified by its black legs and yellow beak. The snowy egret has a black beak, black legs, but yellow feet. The Great Heron needs to be qualified. It’s either a Great Blue Heron or a Great White Heron.

Wikipedia to the rescue: “The Great Egret (Ardea alba), also known as Great White Egret, Common Egret, Large Egret or Great White Heron”

I also found out some other cool stuff. It stands still like that waiting for prey to come by. This could be fish if it were standing, but in this case I surmise that the egret was looking for lizards. When one comes near enough, the egret makes a lightning quick strike, spearing the poor lizard with its sharp beak.

The Great Egret is doing well as a species, but was almost wiped out in the late 1800s when their feathers became popular as a hat decoration, but was probably saved from extinction when the National Audubon Society chose the Great Egret in flight as its symbol.

Call of the Great Egret

Hibiscus

I saw this beautiful hibiscus growing right alongside the road on Route 20 just west of Cinnamon Bay. It was so red and so perfect, I had to stop, get out and get a photo. The red hibiscus is native to St. John and just about every other tropical location. Not only does it produce an attractive flower, but the flower is edible and the tea made from the flower has been shown to reduce blood pressure.

St. John Live Music Schedule Thursday May 17

Banana Deck – Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5055
Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – Just Mike – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Island Blues – Ike – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800
Miss Lucy’s – Jazz with Rich and Greg – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5354
Morgan’s Mango – Mark Wallace – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
Shipwreck Landing – Slammin – 7:00 – 10:00
Skinny Legs – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:00 – 779-4982

Weekly Schedule

Fallen flowers of the Poui tree at St. John's Caneel Bay Resort

The wood of the Poui tree (Tabebuia chrysantha) is strong and durable and is resistant to dampness, decay, fire and termites. Consequently it has been used for docks, piers, outdoor furniture, park benches and boardwalks including the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

St. John Weather

Same thing but a different nuance:

From NOAA (glass half full)
Scattered showers, mainly before noon. Mostly sunny, with a high near 87.

From Weather Underground (glass half empty)
Overcast with rain showers in the morning, then partly cloudy with rain showers.

St. John Live Music Schedule Saturday May 12

Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – Guitarist James Milne – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
Morgan’s Mango – Luba – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304
Rhumblines – Lauren – 7:00 – 10:00
Shipwreck Landing – Mike Miknut – 6:00 – 9:30
Skinny Legs – Chis & Mo – 6:30 – 9:30 – 779-4982
Spyglass – James Cobb – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100

Weekly Schedule

Pinguin

Happy May Day!

Among other signs of springtime  on St. John are the spectacular flowers produced by the pinguin plant. Officially called Bromelia pinguin, they are also known as false pineapples as they really do resemble the pineapple plant.

The pinguins is native to central America, but through both the forces of nature and human cultivation have spread to the Caribbean, Florida and Hawaii.

The long, narrow and and stiff leaves are somewhat cactus-like having numerous barbed spines that stick out in two directions, making it very unfriendly to passersby. This characteristic to a large degree been responsible for the pinguin’s cultivation as they make an effective natural fence. In plantation days they were often planted on either or both sides of stone walls to prevent both escapes by enslaved workers and attacks or intrusions from without.

The pinguin flower morphs into a cluster of edible yellow fruits, which are tart and acidic, tasting somewhat like a strong lime. They can be eaten raw or cooked or made into a drink.

When it rains the penguin’s leaves direct the rainwater and accumulated organic matter down to the center of the plant where they are stored and eventually absorbed along with mosquitoes unfortunate enough to be attracted to the moisture only to find an acidic bath that kills and dissolves them adding nutrition for the plant.

St. John Live Music Schedule Tuesday May 1

Castaways – Karaoke Night – 9:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – Michael Beason – 8:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Erin Hart – 6:00 – 9:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues – Karaoke & Open Mic – 8:00 – 11:00 – 776-6800
Morgan’s Mango – Greg Kinslow – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Rascio on Steel Pan – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-3304
Shipwreck Landing – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:30
Spyglass – T-Bird – 5:00 – 8:00 – 776-1100

Weekly Schedule

Beach Maho

The Beach Maho, Hibiscus tilaceus, is commonly found along the St. John shoreline and around mangrove swamps as it can tolerate brackish water and salt spray.The leaves are heart-shaped and the bright yellow flowers turn purple as the day passes. The small green fruit of the maho is not edible, but a bush tea can be made from the leaf.

St. John Live Music Schedule Thursday March 15

Banana Deck -Steel Pan by Lemuel Samuels – 6:00 – 9:00 – 693-5055
Beach Bar – Groove Thang  – 9:00 – 777-4220
Castaways – Dance Party – 11:00 – 777-3316
Driftwood Dave’s – Just Mike – 7:00 – 10:00 – 777-4015
High Tide – Inner Vision – 8:00-11:00 – 714-6169
Island Blues – Ike – 7:00 – 10:00 – 776-6800
Morgan’s Mango – Mark Wallace – 6:00 – 9:30 – 693-8141
Ocean Grill – Chris Carsel – 6:30 – 9:00 – 693-3304
Shipwreck Landing – Slammin  – 7:00 – 10:00
Skinny Legs – Lauren – 6:00 – 9:00 – 779-4982

See Weekly Schedule

Francis Bay Trail, St. John USVI

The Francis Bay Trail accesses two excellent viewing stations where you can relax and comfortably observe the life on and around a typical St. John salt pond.

The handicap accessible boardwalk, which leads around the western side of the pond, takes you to a short pier extending out onto the pond. The pier ends in a fenced deck from which these photos were taken.

The best time to observe the activity on the salt pond is during the early morning or late afternoon. As these are the times that often brings out the resident bug population, arriving armed with some insect repellent might make good sense, just in case.

Another excellent view of the salt pond can be found from the benches located on the upper part of the trail.

Black-Necked Stilt	Black-Necked Stilt & Duck	Fishing
Ready to Fly	White Ibis	Deer

Iguana Eggs

Green Iguana

Although iguanas are supposed to lay their eggs in burrows, covered by dirt with an air hole, this particular iguana laid her eggs right in the middle of a concrete driveway.

I took the liberty of moving her eggs and photographing them. Next I’ll try to recreate the burrow and see what happens.

Spider Lily

Lady of the Night

It’s springtime on St. John and we’ve had some rain after a prolonged dry spell, the result of which, it seems, is lots of flowers. Yesterday, the spider lily bloomed and last night multiple flowers of the lady of the night (night blooming ceruis) that I keep in a flower pot also opened up.