Travel Thursday - Costa Rica

Since it has turned cold and snowy again my mind started traveling to warmer climes. I went back to this past March when my husband, aka DB, and I went to Costa Rica.  Since we were meeting a birding tour group we arrived a day early to make sure we got there without a hitch. Our flight there was smooth and we had most of one day just to stroll the gardens where we were staying,  the Hotel Bougainvillea. 

This post is picture heavy but I won't have a lot of commentary on them because I don't know what most of these plants are. I promise I won't load up on the bird pictures. The above will be the only bird picture I will post...this time. 

The above is the view from our hotel room balcony. There was bougainvilleas dotted all over the grounds. 

The Hotel Bougainvillea is situated on 11 acres. All that isn't hotel is garden. I can tell you I was a bit overwhelmed with all the tropical plants. I felt like I stepped into a different world.

It was a breeze getting around the grounds. They had paved walkways through out. 

I don't know what this huge plant is but they used it extensively through out the garden. I am 5'6" tall so you can about guess this main plant is 10' tall.

This colorful planting was all the way around the parking lot.

Orchids and Bromelaids in trees.

Bromeliads were used as ground covers and there were so many varieties it was mind boggling.

Air plants were all over too. 

This ground cover was pretty with its pretty little yellow blooms. 

There was also a yellow and green bamboo that I thought was very pretty. I think it is Bambusa vulgaris. 

This Fox Tail Agave A. attenuata was taller than I. 

If you look closely at this picture you can see that  is used Amaryllis as a ground cover. I think I have seen this variety on someones post before. 

No it wasn't all birds and blooms. This sweet little baby Variegated  Squirrel ran up DBs pant leg and wouldn't get down.

He tried to ignore the little thing, taking pictures and walking along but it didn't want to be left behind. I felt so sorry for the little fellow. It was obviously distressed and didn't want to be alone. Once DB got him off it still followed us around and around. 

I could go on and on but I will leave you with this sight. Plants growing on top of this building. I don't know if they are in pots or just started growing there. They were quite a surprise. 

If you know what any of these plants are or if I miss identified some let me know. I took the names of the plants off of id plates but I didn't know if it was for the plant it was beside or if it was current. I think if you click on the pictures they will enlarge and be more clear.