The Brown Pelican
A common sight while studying the waves from Playa Guiones, the Brown Pelican glides easily with its friends in a straight line or v-formation, elegantly skimming the surface of the ocean, mimicking the rise and fall of the water. Basically unchanged from ancient pelican fossils, this unique bird has had 30-40 million years to perfect […]
The Bastard Cedar
The bastard cedar, scientifically known as Guazuma ulmifolia, is a total sun worshiper. It finds itself happiest providing shade in open pastures and recolonizing disturbed forests where there are fewer tall neighbors to block the rays. This tree, normally growing to a height of 30 meters and proudly wearing oblong, finely saw-toothed leaves, small whitish […]
The Tamandua
The most common of Costa Rica’s three species of anteater, the tamandua tears open the nests of ants and termites using its strong forearms and remarkable claws. These talons are so large and sharp that it has to walk on the sides of its feet to avoid injuring its own palms. Once the targeted nest has been […]
Hoja Santa
With a name like Holy Leaf, one would naturally expect this plant to bring a few special qualities to the table. In Costa Rica, it is more often known as anisillo, and its large velvety leaves are commonly applied directly to the forehead to treat headaches. Further north in Mexico, these leaves are instead applied […]
The Philodendron
The heart-shaped leaves of Philodendron scandens have earned it the rather cutesy name of ‘the sweetheart plant’, and thanks to its tolerance of low light and general neglect, it is well-loved by those with a not-so-green thumb. A natural climber, the name of this hearty tropical plant is Greek for ‘tree loving’, and it will […]
The Raccoon
With its ringed tail and bandit mask, the Raccoon is one of the most interesting and easily identifiable characters in the animal kingdom. This could explain its popularity as a cartoon mascot for everything from car rental companies to real estate developments. Scientifically, that famous mask is thought to reduce glare that may interfere with […]
Blue Porterweed
Like many plants that grow around Nosara and the Harmony Hotel, Blue Porterweed is a multi-tasker. Known as Stachytarpheta jamaicensis to the more scientifically minded, it is resistant to pests and never very thirsty, and offers excellent low maintenance ground cover in gardens and along walkways. It also makes a welcome addition to butterfly gardens, […]
The Black-headed Trogon
The striking Black-headed Trogon doesn’t take its yellow belly too seriously, thrusting it forward courageously as its dark eyes, ringed by pale blue, peer about for its next meal. Its iridescent black feathers shimmer in the sunlight as it takes wing and grabs a piece of hanging fruit, or deftly snatches a dragonfly right out of […]
The Kinkajou
Rarely setting its little feet on the ground, the Kinkajou is well suited to its nocturnal life in the treetops. Also known as the honey bear because of its thick golden fur and insatiable sweet tooth, the Kinkajou uses its sharp claws and long tail to maneuver quickly and easily among the branches it calls […]
Monstera
The plants of the genus Monstera boast a wide variety of common names, including the Swiss Cheese Plant, Mexican Breadfruit, Monster Fruit, Windowleaf, Fruit Salad Tree, and the (technically incorrect) Split Leaf Philodendron. Native to Central and South America, Monstera are expert climbers, and can scale tree trunks to heights of nearly 70 feet. The […]
The White-Throated Magpie Jay
Large, loud and gregarious, the White-Throated Magpie Jay is a hard bird to miss. Commonly spotted and often comfortable around people, it is perfectly content perching close to outdoor tables, waiting for an opportunity to steal a few stray crumbs or leftovers. With its dapper blue and white outfit, remarkably long tail, and regal crest […]
The Hummingbird
Indifferent to the latest low-carb diet craze, hummingbirds can devour half their weight in pure sugar each day. Costa Rica boasts more than 50 different species of hummingbird, many showcasing shimmering colors and sporting uniquely shaped beaks designed to draw nectar from the types of flowers they have evolved to favor. These flashy little aerial […]
The Nine-Banded Armadillo
The Nine-Banded Armadillo looks like it could have just strolled off the set of Land of the Lost. This prehistoric looking little mammal, the more common of two species of armadillo found in Costa Rica, has awful eyesight, and has even been known to bump into stationary objects at times. But this occasionally embarrassing sensory limitation is […]
The Plain Chachalaca
The Plain Chachalaca isn’t exactly the flashiest of birds, but what pizazz it may lack in its plumage is more than made up for by the raucous call from which it gets its name. Most often heard singing from treetops at dawn and dusk, its distinctive cha-cha-lac song has been scientifically categorized as “ear-splitting.” When […]
The Santa Lucía Flower
Depending on where you live, and perhaps your natural disposition, the Santa Lucía can be a considered a beautiful wildflower, or an obnoxious weed that pops up everywhere and is practically impossible to get rid of. Originating in Central America, this hearty species has managed to travel around the globe to Africa, Asia, Brazil, and even Australia. (Where it is commonly known […]
The Pizote
The clever and awfully cute White Nosed Coati, locally known as the Pizote, is more than happy to use his good looks to distract you while his siblings steal your lunch. Commonly spotted in Costa Rica, Pizotes are easy to recognize by their long ringed tails, which they hold completely and unabashedly upright while walking […]
The Bullhorn Acacia
The Bullhorn Acacia is probably the last tree you’d want to meet in a dark alley. Growing up to 15 meters tall, it wields long, sharp, bullhorn-shaped thorns that serve up a nasty scratch if you venture too close. And if you think this plant sounds mean, you should meet its friends. The leaves of […]
The Grey Necked Wood Rail
Often spotted strolling through the restaurant and gardens of the Harmony Hotel, the Grey Necked Wood Rail is actually quite furtive and shy by nature. More often heard than seen, these birds usually sing at dusk during wet and cloudy weather, and their distinct calls have been charmingly described in the book, Birds of Costa […]
A Thriving Green Wall in Madrid
When the autumn winds finally stripped the New York City trees of their more stubborn remaining leaves, I found myself thinking about my favorite green spot in Madrid, the last city I called home. Completed in 2008 by French botanist Patrick Blanc, together with Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron, this 78 foot high vertical garden […]
