Category Archives: Tropical Plants and Food

How to Make a Floral Crown Head Wreath

For our gig at the Beach House, since it was the Saturday before Easter and it was at such a tropical locale with thatched roofing and tiki torches, I decided to make floral wreaths, crowns and leis as part of the costuming for the band. There are a variety of ways to do this and I made a few types.

Girls in flowers
Three of the floral head wreaths for the show

Materials needed:
Floral tape
Floral wire (or other wire)
Wire cutter
Various Flowers and Leaves/Vines
Needle/Thread
Bobby Pins

wire head wreath wire
Wire that I wrapped in floral tape found at a florist shop

All of the flowers and plant material I just collected from around the property.

Basket of flowers
Basket full of the goods

Some of the head wreaths like the one I wore were very light because they were mainly made out of bougainvillea and taberna flowers. Because of this I was able to actually just use a woody vine and attach the flowers, ferns and leaves to it with the floral tape.

Beach House
Strong enough for some heavy-duty dancing! (Notice Britton AKA Mr. Von Funk has his lei in his afro)

For the heavier head wreaths like the one little Isabella wore that featured shell ginger and Caitlin’s that featured a canna flower I used the thick floral tape covered wire as the base and then used a thinner wire and floral tape to attach and hold the large flowers and leaves.

The final, easiest method of floral crown is to simply make a smaller version of a lei and have it rest on top of the head. For a lei/soft wreath just find some flowers and/or greenery that you would like and string it with the needle and thread like you would popcorn garland.

Floral head wreath
So simple that this one was strung by this little darling four year old!

You can add ribbons and other touches as desired.

Another type of crown that I made was just to take some heavy stemmed fern leaves and wrap them around the heads of the guys. Some of them I made into a circle that was attached in the back with the floral tape, others I just attached to their hair with the bobby pins. It gave a great Roman Emperor look.

Fern crowns
Kevin and Dave with fern crowns!

These were such hits at our show that I had random people asking if they were for sale! I wouldn’t mind making and selling these occasionally for weddings and such. Ideas, ideas!

Singing starsIt was a fun, floral night and the Rincón Continentals rocked it


One of our original surf jams! She Hit Me

 

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Loving February Plus Heliconias!

Back in Colorado February was by far my least favorite month. The novelty of snow and cold had long since worn off, the holidays and the excitement they bring were over and cabin fever began to set in big time. It was cold and dark and everything was just waiting…waiting for spring and life again. I would often read the seed catalogs and long for spring and gardening, being outside, spending time with friends and just enjoying the beautiful warm days of summer.

Cassie and Turkeys
Playing outside in the winter. Two turkeys at a time! Just like pelicans! 🙂

But now, we basically live an endless summer. I don’t even really think about those cold Colorado days much anymore except what I hear from my friends and family. Nowadays it’s flipflops and shorts year round. It does get a bit “chilly” here now that we are acclimated. I snuggle with a small blanket at night now and I like the slightly warmed water in the shower. But all the doors and windows are open. There are no heaters or humidifiers and it just feels perfect. It’s the type of weather you don’t even really notice because you are just so comfortable in your own skin. I know some people really like the changing of the seasons and the cold, but for me, I couldn’t be happier in always warm weather. I guess it’s sort of like Mondays now. I used to dread Mondays because I loved the weekends so much, now Mondays are just another lovely day. Every day here is a Saturday in summer!

Megan and Me
Pool parties in February -with my wonderful friend Megan

Things are very much still alive here! There is less rain in February so the yard work diminishes and while some of the grasses turn brown waiting for water, for some plants like these heliconias, it is their time to shine! The whales are visiting Rincón and other animals like the turkeys and chickens are preparing for their spring babies.

Bright Heliconias
Explosion of color in these heliconias -thanks to starts from our friends Missy and Ben

What a contrast to the grey, dark and cold Februarys. I am still so much in love with living here that I feel more alive and vibrant myself every day.

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Season’s Greetings: 2015 Christmas in Puerto Rico

We hope everyone has been enjoying the holidays. Here in Puerto Rico we have been hanging out on the property and with friends.

Cassie in the plants
Enjoying outdoors in our tropical garden on Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we stopped by the grocery store and saw Santa sweating outside in his fur suit and hat. I think the tropical version of Santa should be able to wear shorts.

Cassie and Santa

Papo was working nearby so he stopped by for lunch and brought us a bunch of delicious Puerto Rican Christmas food and some just-picked oranges from his farm. What a great friend he has become. Then that evening we played music with the band at Shampoo’s place.

Noche Buena con papo
A beautiful Noche Buena

Christmas Day we went to the pig roast on the beach and spent time with awesome people, swam in the sea, and even played a little music barefoot in the sand. Another wonderful tropical Christmas here in Puerto Rico.

Christmas on the beach
A fun big group of people at the pig roast

Bonfire
Bonfire Xmas magic

Merry Christmas and Feliz Navidad! We are so thankful to live so richly in moments more than things.

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Scenes from the Yard: December 2015

We love this rural tropical life. Here are a few fun photos from this past week or so.

Rainbow
Rainstorms and rainbows falling into the sea

Kitty on the bridge
Kitty on the catwalk

Siding Cabin
Siding on the cabin is looking really good! (And who is that handsome turkey on the deck?)

Iguana in banana tree
Iguana in a red banana tree

Fern
Wild fern

Cassie and Cow
This loose cow has been just hanging out on the property

Laser Cat and Cow
Laser cow and cat stare-down

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