January, 2009: The bridge is finally complete across our creek and all of the trees continue to grow at a fast rate at TropicRiverWoods Arboretum! Enjoy Changuinola, Bocas del Toro province, Panama

Update, January 20, 2009!

For the past 6 years, we have had to cross our river/creek via a fallen tree. We have finally been able to have a bridge built which shall last at least 50 years.

Puente Amistad (Friendship Bridge), it crosses the Arroyo Verde (Green Creek) in the valley of TropicRiverWoods Arboretum.

Before	After

What follows, is a photographic record of Paul and Brad's January, 2009 TropicRiverWoods project findings. So welcome to the continuing progression of a world-class botanical garden

We are very pleased at the growth of the Seychelles Stilt Palm (Verschaffeltia splendida)

Here are pictures of the growth that has occurred since the inception of TropicRiverWoods. Remember, most of the plants were started from seed less than two years ago!

During our visit, Filiberto took us to the Panama-Costa Rica border town of Guabito about 20 miles from our property.

The bridge across the Sixaola River is for both pedestrian and vehicular traffic and was built in 1908! Costa Rica and Panama are having troubles agreeing on the construction of a new bridge, which is desperately needed.

Paul at the Panama-Costa Rica border in Guabito

Street view of Guabito

Guabito, Bocas del Toro, Panama

People crossing the bridge from Costa Rica into Panama

People crossing the bridge from Sixaola, Costa Rica into Guabito, Panama

The Sixaola River divides Panama and Costa Rica

The Sixaola River, Rio Sixaola, divides Panama and Costa Rica on the caribbean coast

Plaque on bridge showing the date of 1908 and being built in Ohio

This is customs and immigration at the Panama/Costa Rica Border

Costa Rican customs and immigration on the Panama border town of Guabito

A grove of coconut trees on the Costa Rica side

A grove of coconut palms and royal palms on the Costa Rican border

During our flight back to the United States, we had a two hour layover at Bocas Del Toro on Isla Colon. A true tourist destination, we enjoyed a walk, some shopping and lunch

Tourists walk along the streets of Bocas Del Toro

Tourists walk along the streets of Bocas Del Toro, Panama

A lovely restaurant on the water in Bocas Del Toro

A restaurant on the water in Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Shops along the main street in Bocas Del Toro

Shops along the main street in Bocas Del Toro, Panama

A tall ship sits in the Caribbean waters off Boca Del Toro

A tall ship sits in the Caribbean waters off Bocas Del Toro

Boats are lined up to take tourists to Red Frog Beach and Isla Popas, among other places

Day trips on boats to Bastimientos, Red Frog Beach,and Isla Popa are favorite tourist attractions in Bocas Del Toro

Starfish in the Caribbean waters. These we enjoyed while sitting at our table during lunch

Starfish in the caribbean in Bocas Del Toro, Panama

Our next regularly scheduled Loma Finca Cuatro TropicRiverWoods, S.A. update will be in early June, 2009 during which Paul and Brad will continue to preserve this special parcel of land.

Paul and Brad, Your Hosts!