One of the most photogenic – and so, often-requested — rooms here at The Tropical Inn is the Poinciana Patio. It is also the one whose name is almost always mispronounced. When we ask a prospective guest about room preference and they start to sound it out, we gently interject the correct pronunciation (poyn-see-anna), with a knowing smile.
The room’s namesake is the Royal Poinciana tree, which happens to be coming into its annual glory here as we ease into summer. A flight into Key West at this time is a most amazing sight. The island seems to be ablaze – explaining why some other common names for Royal Poinciana include Flamboyant Tree, Flame Tree, and Red Flame.
A native of Madagascar, it is without question among the most beautiful flowering trees in the world. Long a personal favorite, I first became aware of it as Allen and I explored the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, many years ago. At the time, I didn’t know what it was called, just that it was the most exotic tree I had ever seen.
The immense canopy, its spread approximating its height, was aflame with blooms reminiscent of cattleya orchids, in orange-red clusters the size of beach balls. The bunches were so thick that the overall effect was of a solid mass, edging out even the arching fronds of lacy, fern-like leaves that are, in their own right, quite engaging.
We didn’t see another for many years. Then, lo and behold, when we assumed stewardship (no one ever truly owns historic structures … a subject for a blog entry of its own) The Tropical Inn, there was an enormous Poinciana completely covering the neighboring yard and providing a spectacular backdrop to the patio view from the glass wall of “Room Six” – later to be rechristened the “Poinciana Patio”, in its honor. The following spring, we tried our best to figure out a way to save the grand specimen and install a pool, as well. When it became obvious that a decision had to be made between the two, as is too often the case, the “bottom line” won.
Shortly thereafter, we moved into a compound we now call Coccoloba. There, peeking over the fence from the adjoining yard to check out its new neighbors, was another majestic Poinciana. A more perfect “garden ornament” could not have been planned or hoped for. And this time, the pool and tree are far enough apart to peacefully coexist.
After a couple of months of intense and voluminous bloom (we’ve noticed that the older the tree gets, the more prolific its output … is there a metaphor here), the flowers will drop and the tree will re-foliate its wide, spreading branches with delicate, mimosa-like compound leaves. The wind-born leaflets will, in the coming months, persist in blanketing the surface of the pool like miniature fairy wings. But that is a small aggravation, compared to the dense green dappled shade that will be so welcome as summer deepens.
This festive adornment of our little piece of Paradise is tolerant of salt air and occassional drought, not fussy as to soil conditions, has no pests and thrives on very little attention. How often does one encounter such extravagant beauty that asks only for enough space to happily preen for its admirers?
