Secret Trail to La Plaza de Toros (The Bull Ring)

We stopped and hiked this trail on the way back from visiting The Hummingbird Garden. Dang! I hope that doesn't give away the location of the secret unmarked trail! It is just beautiful there! The place is called The Bull Ring because bulls used to be corralled there. And there must be one plant they didn't like eating because it grows profusely throughout the whole area and if you are lucky enough to stop by at the right time of year, the whole meadow is full of blooming violet flowers. We will have to return and get a picture of that for you!

 This flower was growing on a branch of a tree. Now the branch has broken off so it is easy to take the flower home. Doesn't need a pot, just needs watered.

 These fabulous trees are Strangler Figs. And I quote - 

"Strangler figs are tall canopy trees which can grow to 148 feet in height. The manner in which they reach the canopy is a strange story. The forest floor of a rainforest is a difficult place for seedlings to grow. There is little light and a lot of competition for water and nutrients. Strangler figs have made an adaptation to avoid these difficulties. Unlike most plants, strangler figs start out their lives as epiphytes in the crook of a tree or on its branches. Tiny, sticky seeds are deposited high in a tree by animal droppings. The seeds are not affected by the animal's digestive tract and soon germinate. 

The strangler fig has an aggressive growth habit that insures its survival in the rainforest. The seedlings grows slowly at first, getting their nutrients from the sun, rain and leaf litter that has collected on the host. The stranglers send out many thin roots that snake down the trunk of the host tree or dangle as aerial roots from its branches. When the roots reach the ground they dig in and put on a growth spurt, competing with the host tree for water and nutrients. They also send out a network of roots that encircle the host tree and fuse together. As the roots grow thicker they squeeze the trunk of its host and cut off its flow of nutrients.


In the canopy the strangler fig puts out lots of leaves that soon grow thicker than the host tree and rob it of sun light. Eventually the host dies from strangulation, insufficient sunlight and root competition, and the strangler fig stands on its own. A hollow center is all that remains of the host." 

Did you get that? It kills the host tree! Which is kind of cool because then you often get these hollow trees that you can get inside of and climb up the inside of a tree!

 Now keep an eye out for these little mini avocados known as aguacatillo, because if you find them you might find the famous Quetzal bird! This is their favorite fruit!

And here's a picture of a Quetzal so you know what you're looking for. Isn't that estupendo? (terrific)

 HEY! I thought this place was secret! Where did that tree house come from?!? Hannah said there have also been a couple of weddings held in this meadow so it must not be all that secret.

 I know I heard a birdsong. Now where did it go?

 Where are the unicorns?

 One bad thing about leaving the trail when you have short legs and long fur - little seed burs get stuck all over you.

 Hector is leaping over these logs all by himself! He's growing up so fast!

Can't help it. Just thought those trees were beautiful so kept in WAY too many pictures. Plus I was on the lookout for some long vines for putting together the bamboo Christmas tree so paying more attention than usual to the plants.