Hor*tog*ra*phy - the art or process of photographing horticultural species

OK, it's not a real word, or at least not a word recognized by Merriam-Webster. But it's still a pasttime recognized by many professional and amateur photographers, like myself, who simply admire beautiful flora and enjoy capturing images of outstanding and unique species.

In May, I had the good fortune to travel to Punta Cana, Dominican Republic for some R&R with my husband, Mike. I had been to the Dominican Republic a few times before but never to this particular resort, nor to Punta Cana, located on the southeast side of the island (which is occupied by Haiti on the western side). What initially struck me about the resort, besides the charming, rustic island architecture, was the beautifully manicured landscaping. I've visited most of the Caribbean Islands over the years, and each is lovely in its own way -- some volcanic, some arid, some verdant and lush. But I've found that the landscaping at many resorts tends to be uninspired, predominantly featuring hibiscus and bougainvillea, obviously opting for low maintenance over horticultural diversity.

This resort was different. The head groundskeeper clearly had intentionally selected a vast array of indigenous plants, many of which I had never seen before. I spent one cloudy morning walking around the grounds "hortographing" the magnificent and fascinating native species in an effort to bring them back to you. Here's a selection of what I enjoyed and admired at Zoetry Agua, Punta Cana...