Timing
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
I found a group of doodlebats filled with "cowboy"
philosophies. I think these philosophies work no matter
if your home is on the range or on an island in the
middle of the Caribbean Sea. This one caught my eye
today:
So true. Here in Bocas del Toro we vacillate between periods of really wanting rain to days where we have had enough. I find that I get a large number of questions about our rainfall.
We are in the middle of the tropical rainforest. Which means that we are in a forest characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 68 inches to 78 inches. We have an incredible amount of lush vegetation due to this rainfall. It is because of the rain that we have all of the diversity of plant and animal life. We have to respect the rainforest as so many things are still undiscovered here.
The rainy season varies by location in Panama as there are many different micro-climates throughout this tiny country. Historically the rainfall is more prevalent in December and January and July and August. This coincides with our surf seasons. However our weather patterns are changing - as they are everywhere else. We had rain in December, but not enough to put a damper on anyone's vacation. Our rain in January has been minimal in comparison to years past,
So the best answer I can give about our rainfall is that we are in the rainforest but we haven't found the rain keeps people from having a memorable vacation here in Bocas del Toro Panama.
So true. Here in Bocas del Toro we vacillate between periods of really wanting rain to days where we have had enough. I find that I get a large number of questions about our rainfall.
We are in the middle of the tropical rainforest. Which means that we are in a forest characterized by high rainfall, with definitions setting minimum normal annual rainfall between 68 inches to 78 inches. We have an incredible amount of lush vegetation due to this rainfall. It is because of the rain that we have all of the diversity of plant and animal life. We have to respect the rainforest as so many things are still undiscovered here.
The rainy season varies by location in Panama as there are many different micro-climates throughout this tiny country. Historically the rainfall is more prevalent in December and January and July and August. This coincides with our surf seasons. However our weather patterns are changing - as they are everywhere else. We had rain in December, but not enough to put a damper on anyone's vacation. Our rain in January has been minimal in comparison to years past,
So the best answer I can give about our rainfall is that we are in the rainforest but we haven't found the rain keeps people from having a memorable vacation here in Bocas del Toro Panama.
Rain in the rainforest
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
As a child I remember singing rain rain go away come
again another day. Here in the rain forest, we have an
appreciation for rain that only comes from
understanding how important it is to the lifecycle for
each plant and animal that exists in the jungle.
Obviously plants need water to grow. To grow as large and as fast as they grow here in the rainforest they need a lot of water. One of the wonderful things about living here is that you can just about stick any plant into the ground and it will grow as long as it gets protected from the various ants that want to eat it. When there is a lack of rainfall the plants feel it. Some of them get burned from the increased exposure to sunlight without water to hydrate them. Others seem to wilt on the vine.
The animals need the plants to be healthy and go through a complete lifecycle so that they produce the different fruits, etc. that the animals eat. They also need water to hydrate themselves.
Each plant and each animal has a different role to play in the healthy existence of the rainforest. As one plant grows taller, another one falls down and then makes room for the next one.
Obviously plants need water to grow. To grow as large and as fast as they grow here in the rainforest they need a lot of water. One of the wonderful things about living here is that you can just about stick any plant into the ground and it will grow as long as it gets protected from the various ants that want to eat it. When there is a lack of rainfall the plants feel it. Some of them get burned from the increased exposure to sunlight without water to hydrate them. Others seem to wilt on the vine.
The animals need the plants to be healthy and go through a complete lifecycle so that they produce the different fruits, etc. that the animals eat. They also need water to hydrate themselves.
Each plant and each animal has a different role to play in the healthy existence of the rainforest. As one plant grows taller, another one falls down and then makes room for the next one.
Rainy Season - what does it really mean?
Sunday, August 19, 2007
We are asked on a regular basis about the amount of
rain we receive here in the rain forest. Well obviously
based upon the name you would think that we get loads
and loads of rain. We do, but it is rare that the rain
keeps us from doing anything for an extended period of
time. What is my definition of an extended period of
time? Several days in a row, all day long – enough time
to make young children crazy and adults on vacation a
bit cranky.
Normally during the rainy season we may have rain at night. Or we might have rain during the morning. Or we might have rain all afternoon. The deal is that rarely during this season do we get all three in one day: rain morning, noon and night. And even if it is raining – the weather is warm here. The rain cools you down on a hike through the jungle or on a kayak trip in the ocean.
What are the benefits of traveling during the rainy season? Fewer people. Your children are on vacation from school so you can schedule your trip as it best fits with your schedule not during a specific period of time when so many other people want to travel. So your international flights are less crowded, you can pick and choose your hotel in Panama City, and you have fewer people to contend with through the country of Panama.
Don’t let the term rainy season worry you – the amount of rain we have had here this summer barely compares to that which has been coming down on the USA. Go ahead -come on and enjoy our Panama beaches and our Panama islands – the water is warm.
Normally during the rainy season we may have rain at night. Or we might have rain during the morning. Or we might have rain all afternoon. The deal is that rarely during this season do we get all three in one day: rain morning, noon and night. And even if it is raining – the weather is warm here. The rain cools you down on a hike through the jungle or on a kayak trip in the ocean.
What are the benefits of traveling during the rainy season? Fewer people. Your children are on vacation from school so you can schedule your trip as it best fits with your schedule not during a specific period of time when so many other people want to travel. So your international flights are less crowded, you can pick and choose your hotel in Panama City, and you have fewer people to contend with through the country of Panama.
Don’t let the term rainy season worry you – the amount of rain we have had here this summer barely compares to that which has been coming down on the USA. Go ahead -come on and enjoy our Panama beaches and our Panama islands – the water is warm.
