My first posting to this group.

This is a great way to share special photos with others! Thanks for creating the group. This is a flower in Costa Rica I took on vacation 2 years ago. There is a cool Vanilla Farm near Quepos - the owner is an American expatriot who grows vanilla (duh, of course, since it is a vanilla farm), hot chilis, and has an amazing botanical garden. Even a b & b in the rain forest that is big enough for a large family. Very private and quiet - you can hear the monkeys in the forest and enjoy the cool mountain air. Quepos is on the West coast and not a tourist trap like it's northern neighbors. Clean, and nice houses in gated communities. Coffee plantations galore, and be sure to try it made in their traditional coffee strainer. Waterfalls everywhere, and the Jesus Christ Lizard is hilarious to watch skimming across the small streams. The only animals I didn't enjoy seeing were the huge crocs and the pit viper, but as long as you stay on the trail and out of the rivers, it is good.