Jellyfish-eating Jellyfish: The Awesome Stinging Cauliflower

If you want to start a jellyfish fishery, Bocas del Toro is the place to do it. During the fall the inshore lagoons were literally infested with moon jellies – no stinging, but loads of biomass – and small jellyfish that did sting. A couple of weeks after the invasion we noticed a new jellyfish – huge (basket-sized) and golden and fuzzy. The stinging cauliflower jellyfish actually eats moon jellies. Over in Tierra Oscura, we actually saw a stinging cauliflower trailed by dozens of moon jellies caught on long tentacles. Unfortunately, it had floated by before I could get my camera. Here's a picture of the mass of jellies beside Mr Mac, and this was just the start of the influx!

Add caption

Finca Los Monos Jardin Botanico, Bocas del Toro, Panama

I adore botanic gardens, and the one at Bocas del Toro is great. Take a $2 cab right out of town, walk up the hill from the main road, and you’re there. What started as an expat’s private garden now provides two-hour tours that delight the senses. Here are some highlights of the plants and wildlife (frogs, two species of monkeys, and sloths!).

Look at the bi-directional recurved spines on these fronds!

This flower looks like it's reaching out to pinch you

Adorable frog by the pond

An open beehive flower

View from the little gazebo where events can be held - lovely!

Fellow garden viewers looking at the monkeys sitting up in the bamboo