September 25 - October 1, 2010
Lifestyle... How does your garden grow With our green-fingered guru Denis Belanger
TURKS AND CAICOS WEEKLY NEWS
GARDENING
Shaving Brush Tree ONE day I saw the most incredible tree, practically leafless, but covered in bright pink blossoms unlike anything I had ever before seen. These flowers are called ‘Shaving Brushes’. The Shaving Brush Tree or bombax tree (pseudobombax ellipticum) is native to Mexico. It is a small tree at around 30 feet in height. It is suitable for bonsai and has very interesting bark with stripes of green, yellow, brown and white. More interesting are the pink, brush-like flowers. You can sit in the evening and watch them pop open, revealing the great flower at first light. The honey bees love them so much, the tree buzzes with their activity. Woodpeckers and flycatchers also love these flowers. The curled ‘ribbons’ at the base of the flower are formed when the pod opens. These ribbons are very hard and leathery. The fast-growing tree is a hardwood, deciduous in early spring, followed by the wonderful flowers. The new leaves are bright red, turning green as they mature. This tree gives us a different view of the horizon as it changes during our island seasons. Plant it in full sun to light shade on well drained soil (no salt tolerant).
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With minimal water requirements it is suitable for xeriscaping. Propagate by air layers or large cuttings. The ellipticum ‘album’ or White Shaving Brush Tree is highly similar
except sporting white stamens and yellow pollen tips. There also is a similar blooming tree; the Latin is pseudobombax ellipticum. This plant comes in both pink and white.
Tips for cultivating contentment continued
careful and gracious with critique. Let people know that you appreciate what they do for you or even just that you’re glad they’re part of your life. Express gratitude Gratitude is more than saying thank you. It’s a sense of wonder, appreciation and, yes, thankfulness for life. It’s easy to go through life without recognising your good fortune. Often, it takes a serious illness or other tragic event to jolt people into appreciating the good things in their lives. Don’t wait for something like that to happen to you. Make a commitment to practice gratitude. Each day identify at least one thing that enriches your life. When you find yourself thinking an ungrateful thought, try substituting a grateful one. For example, replace ‘my sister forgot my birthday’ with ‘my sister has always been there for me in tough times’. Let gratitude be the last thought before you go off to sleep. Let gratitude also be your first thought when you wake up in the morning.
Cultivate optimism Develop the habit of seeing the positive side of things. You needn’t become a Pollyanna — after all, bad things do happen and it would be silly to pretend otherwise. But you don’t have to let the negatives colour your whole outlook on life. Remember that what is right about you almost always trumps what is wrong about you. If you’re not an optimistic person by nature, it may take time for you to change your pessimistic thinking. Start by recognising negative thoughts as you have them. Then take a step back and ask yourself these key questions: Is the situation really as bad as I think? Is there another way to look at the situation? What can I learn from this experience that I can use in the future? Find your purpose People who strive to meet a goal or fulfill a mission — whether it’s growing a garden, caring for children or finding one’s spirituality — are happier than those who don’t have such aspirations. Having a goal provides a sense
of purpose, bolsters self-esteem and brings people together. What your goal is doesn’t matter as much as whether the process of working toward it is meaningful to you. Try to align your daily activities with the long-term meaning and purpose of your life. Research studies suggest that relationships provide the strongest meaning and purpose to your life. So cultivate meaningful relationships. Are you engaged in something you love? If not, ask yourself these questions to discover how you can find your purpose: What excites and energises me? What are my proudest achievements? How do I want others to remember me? Live in the moment Don’t postpone joy waiting for a day when your life is less busy or less stressful. That day may never come. Instead, look for opportunities to savour the small pleasures of everyday life. Focus on the positives in the present moment. Don’t spend your time rehashing the past or worrying about the future. Take time to stop and smell the flowers.
21
Money Tip
With Mary Hamilton of Meridian Trust
The hidden cost of money IF YOU have ever failed to pay the full balance of a credit card bill on time, or have run up an overdraft at your bank, you will be familiar with the penalties levied by your account provider. Other finance costs are not so easy to spot, but can add up over time. A few minutes spent analysing these costs and adjusting your habits could save you hundreds of dollars a year. Monthly service charges Many financial service providers levy a monthly or annual service charge. Check how much yours do and compare that with competing institutions. Does your service provider offer a better service? In this case you may wish to reward them with your loyalty. Otherwise it may be time to end the relationship. Consider closing accounts you rarely use to save monthly fees. Cash withdrawals Many banks charge a fee each time you withdraw cash at the ATM. Some banks also charge a fee for over-the-counter cash withdrawals. To save money, split the estimated amount of cash you require each month into a few large withdrawals rather than multiple smaller ones. However, be sure to consider the risk of theft or accidental loss when deciding how much cash to keep in your wallet or around the house. For larger payments it may be more secure to pay by cheque or credit card. Cheques and wire transfers Your account provider normally charges you for processing wire transfers and printing cheque books. In addition, the TCI Government levies stamp duty on personal cheques at the rate of $0.20 per cheque and on wire transfer fees at 10 per cent of the fee. Reduce the cost of cheque writing and wire fees by using a credit card if you have one. Ask your retailer beforehand whether there is a fee to pay by credit card; if there is, paying by cheque or wire may still be cheaper. Consider opening an account with
your favourite retailers if it is free to do so. This will allow you to pay the balance each month with one payment. Credit cards If you cannot always pay off the balance in full at the end of each month, compare the monthly interest rate charge with that of competing cards, and shop around for the best deal. Better still, restrict your credit card spending to a level you can afford to pay off each month (or at least try to). The interest rate charged on unpaid balances is high. Do you sometimes simply forget to make your payment on time? Doh! Set up a reminder on your cell phone or PC and give yourself enough time for cheques or deposits to clear if appropriate. Investments Do you have more than three months’ worth of wages languishing in a low-interest bank deposit account? A few hours spent shopping around for a better return could reap rewards. There are several licensed mutual funds available within the Islands e.g. the Meridian Mortgage Fund, and a variety of trust and asset management companies which deal with investments every day. Contact one to find out what returns are currently available and the risks involved.