The weather has been lovely and lots of duPlooy’s guests have been taking advantage of all of the on-site activities and enjoying hiking, riding, tubing and swimming.

Thanks to Mel and Cecile Pearl from Dallas and Dick Thomas’ group from the Piedmont Environmental Center in North Carolina for vetting our updated bird checklist and to Philip and Fermin for their additions and Mario for putting it all together.

Belize Botanic Garden (BBG), a non-for-profit organization, is comprised of 45 acres of gardens, arboretum and natural areas in the Cayo District. As part of our mission, the main focus of our collections is native plants of Belize with emphasis on endemics (known only to live in their country of origin), though we include exotic, non-invasive plant species. We strive to educate our local communities and international students alike to protect and conserve their native plants and ecosystems. Belize Botanic Gardens maintains a variety of collections and demonstration plots as well as five ecosystems of Belize. It takes 8 full-time employees conducting a multitude of jobs, with the help of volunteers, to keep the garden running. Support and donations from visitors and loyal plant lovers helps us reach our project goals and annual budget. For more information, please contact the following: judy@belizebotanic.org., rudy@belizebotanic.org.  824-3101.

www.belizebotanic.org

Mr. Rudy Aguilar of San Ignacio, Cayo, is the Foreman of the Gardens. Mr. Aguilar, 26, has worked at BBG since 2006, first as a landscaper, then as a Guide in the Gardens.  He has been actively involved in all phases of the Gardens’ development, most recently supervising the plant Nursery and grounds maintenance. In 2007 he participated in an ecology course with Master’s Degree students from Edinburgh University, Scotland.  His earlier experience included two years working as a landscaper with Brendon O’Donoghue, a Cayo nurseryman and Landscaper. Rudy also studied plant ecology with Martin Meadows, former Head Forester of Belize for over 30 years.

Our bird feeder is very active in the mornings and, if you aren’t a birdwatcher, you will still like seeing these colorful feathered friends and you may even be interested in booking a guided bird walk yourself.

The Macal River is lovely right now and the 20-25 minute tubing, starting just  a few minutes walk from the lodge and ending on the beach is a great way to cool off in the afternoon.  Combine this with a day of walking through the gardens, around the trails, a short horseback ride and picnic on the beach and you have the perfect “stay at home” day.

Judy

January 12, 2012

Iguanas in Belize  occupy the riverine forests of the country.  The Green Iguana is the largest lizard of the country and  can grow to a length of 4-5  feet including its long tail. Their local name is “Bamboo Chicken” and, before they were declared endangered,  they were  a popular dish around Easter when the females are carrying eggs.

A unique behavioral characteristic of these green Iguanas is that they are often found on branches overhanging  the rivers or streams, and when they sense danger they jump into the river for safety, so when you are canoeing down the Macal River from duPlooy’s, look for them in the trees and if you hear a loud splash near your canoe, no worries, it’s probably a green iguana and probably not a giant person-eating fish.

They work hard, preparing everything from scratch, including all of our breads and desserts. If you are a vegetarian,  the pineapple tofu dish is a yummy treat…. but then the chayote fried in batter and baked with a delicious tomato sauce is really good…. Fish wrapped in obel leaves – ummm! .

At duPLooy’s we  offer 3 entre choices for dinner – a meat, seafood or vegetarian dish. Along with soup or salad and a dessert, you are bound to be full and happy when you leave the table.

The Kinkajou family who regularly visit the deck most evenings, took a vacation for a couple of months and we worried that they might not return, but last night, they were back, swinging from their tails over the deck, looking for a fruit treat.

Signing off for January 9,

Judy

My name is Judy duPlooy and I am the owner of duPlooy’s Jungle Lodge, a partner, along with Ron Cruz, in duPlooy Travel and a member of the Board of Directors of Belize Botanic Gardens.

Each morning from 6:30-7:30, there is complimentary coffee on duPlooy’s deck and usually one of our amazing bird guides is there to point out the avian visitors.  This is the time I like to talk to our guests and see how they liked their activities the day before, find out where they are from and get their comments on the place, our staff and food.

Today, one young couple was going off on a rapelling adventure at the Black Hole Drop.  This is a 300 ft. drop into a sinkhole – a great adventure,,, for sure.

One generous family wanted to pay the entire vacation for a young military couple and when they found out that their vacation had long ago been prepaid, invited them to visit them at their home in the US.  Often friendships are formed among guests and people who have met here have returned at a later date with their new friends.

When you think of it, this is not so strange, as people who visit duPlooy’s are bound to have something in common just by being here as it’s not a place for everyone.  We tend to think that it is for very special people who have an interest in local culture, peaceful serene surroundings and a love of nature.

I’m off to read my book and relax a bit before going to sleep.  Goodnight to everyone.

Judy

On Wednesday, one of the students, Joey, came to duPlooy’s for the day to see how a small eco-lodge in Belize works.  After a tour of duPlooy’s and a walk through Belize Botanic Gardens with one of our guides, Joe Canto, he peppered me with questions over lunch and then we sent him on a short horseback ride through the Cohune Loops and up to Valley View.

On Wednesday the group visited the San Antonio Women’s Coop to see a craft demonstration, Maya presentation and help make their lunch over a traditional Maya firehearth.

Thursday went by in a blur catching up on office work, meeting with staff members and enjoying the beautiful cool sunny day.

Today, I went to the deck for my coffee and a look at the birds.  Feed at the tray were  a motmot, 5 aracaris, a pair of red throated ant tanagers and tityras in the trees.

2012 will mark 23 years of duPlooy’s in Belize.  Sometimes I look at the massive trees on the property and can hardly believe that none of them is older than our time here.  Of course, it requires more effort to grow one tree in a temperate climate than it does to grow a forest in the Tropics.

Sometimes when I think of all that has happened over the past 23 years, it is hard to believe that so much could be crammed into such a relatively short time.

Belize continues to be a rewarding experience with daily adventures right around the corner.  This year we have added lots of new stuff to do right on the property. Added to the activities already available, you could spend all of your time just enjoying your surroundings and be as active as visitors who enjoy the many off-site activities available in this, the best part, of Belize.

What about a day where you just check out the birds from the deck in the early morning and afterward, try a short horseback ride around the property, ending up at our river tubing spot just upstream from our famous beach?  Tube for 25-30 minutes and land on the beach to relax and enjoy a picnic lunch delivered to you at the time you specify.

If you want a good all-day hike, head off for Xunantunich ruins, located just across the river from the small village of Succotz.  This takes a couple of hours or more, depending on your fitness level and walking speed.  Wander through the site, or hire one of the guides waiting by the hand-cranked ferry and after your tour walk across the street and up a little hill through the village to Benny’s, a well-known local restaurant where local food is served.  If you are too tired to walk back, there are taxis by the ferry who will be glad to give you a ride.  This costs about $25 for the car.

My good friend and partner in duPlooy Travel, as well as provider of ides, Ronald  Cruz, along with our staff,  has done a great job of jungling up the approach to the lodge, as well as get our new trails in shape with maps and signage.

We’ve added some bicycles for guests’ use as it’s fun to ride around the trails in the gardens.  There are lots of cards and board games at the bar to amuse you in non-electronic way and if you still have energy after your day treking about, there are horseshoes, badminton, volleyball and croquet.

There is now wireless internet in all of the rooms most of the time so you can keep in touch with everyone while you are away.

Yesterday, when Ron and I were wending our way through Upper and Lower Cohune loops and sat in the palapa overlooking Valley View, we were, as always, overhwhelmed with the beauty of our surroundings.  These trails make a great addition to the existing trails within the garden and along the river.

My New Year’s Resolution is to write more blogs.  Let me know what you think of this and feel free to make comments or ask questions.

Just before Christmas we received funding from the International Palm Society to expand the palm display they funded in 2004 and to bring children to the gardens to learn about palms.  The education part of this program will include teaching the children about bio-diversity.

Thanks to Sonny Merryman Bus Company for the school bus that we use to transport children to and from the gardens.

And to all of our staff and colleagues who keep the gardens running and give us much-needed advice.

We wish everyone a very Happy New Year and look forward to seeing many of you again in 2012