Yesterday we headed out to beautiful place where a botanist grows all kinds of beautiful tropical plants to sell in the US and Europe. We had been told that there were some we could have free of charge. Although the pick up truck we were hoping would accompany us didn't come through, we headed out in our Durango and the Burge family's Trooper - led by Mandy Speegle in her car. Where there is a will there is a way! The owner of the business is a friend of Mandy and her husband so that's how this all came about. After an entertaining ride of about 2 1/4 hours or so we arrived and were lead out to the cultivation area. We saw acres and acres of beautifully tended gorgeous plants;Those weren't ours. There was another field that had some of the crotons growing, but they were covered in weeds. The team's jobs were to cut back the weeds, properly dig out the plants, put them in the pots, and then transfer them to our waiting vehicles.
This they did with great gusto. With only one little machete mishap the afternoon went smoothly. (They say you should never trust a 'gringo' with a machete!)
Fortunately on the team were two fire fighters, both trained in emergency work. The whole emergency treatment thing was fairly mundane until Troy took out his pocket knife to shave Jim's leg so the bandage would stick!
THAT was worth taking an extra picture or two.
