I learned something new......sometimes it's the simple things that make life interesting

While in the Bahamas I wandered into an art gallery and spoke with a young gentleman about some of the the photographs displayed on the walls and handmade Christmas ornaments on the tree.

The ornaments and a few of the photographs were of the same thing. Sea grape trees. I had never heard of or knew anything about sea grapes. Apparently the sea grape tree is a native to the Bahamas and helps prevent soil erosion and is a natural wind shield. Due to over development of the area and some palm greasing (according to the art gallery guy) the protected sea grape tree is a rarity on Paradise Island. ( This is the Island that the Atlantis Resort in on ) For some reason, probably because I had nothing better to do, I made finding a sea grape tree a mission.

It took a few hours but I did find a grove of the trees on the resort property. I assume 3 trees together is a grove. The excellent part of my mission is that one of the tree actually had bunches of the sea grapes. The birds, critters and Bahamians did not eat the grapes from this tree. Most likely because the grapes were not ripe. I was fascinated.

When G man and I arrived in Florida I asked my sister in law if she had ever seen the grapes on the sea grape tree. Her answer was no, she did not know that the tree produced the grapes. We found many trees at the beach and one had a few bunches of the grapes.

Sister in law was as fascinated I was. She has lived in Florida for 35 years and never knew about the grapes. The trees are protected in Florida and are being planted along the coast in great numbers.

Of course I had my camera with me and snapped pictures of the grapes. I hope you enjoy them. Please do not eat them as the grapes are not ripe.