Art
Mangroves
rt Mangroves, 14" x 11" colored pencil drawing shows mangroves that exist along most of the coastlines of the British Virgin Islands and other tropical countries. Water disturbances are disrupted by the roots creating lovely rings of light and dark that intersect and radiate. The water's surface mirrored the unique roots and leaves creating a complex reflection of individuals greeting themselves and each other. It was a very peaceful place to sketch. This location was in Cane Garden Bay on Tortola. Mangroves are easy to identify because some of them have roots that gracefully curve above water. Other mangroves' roots go straight into the water. All of the roots appear to begin above the water line.
Cane Garden Bay Mangroves by Allison L. Williams Hill
Mangroves - BVI by Allison Williams Hill
Mangroves' root systems along saline coastlines provide habitats and nurseries for fishes and birds. The roots extend out from the trunks like fingers. Sea grass grows among the roots providing more cover for juvenile fish, stabilize the seabed, and filtering runoff. Usually located in the tropical and shallowest parts of the sea, near the coast, sea grass resembles a prairie of land grass.
Young mangroves growing along a boardwalk at Paraquita Bay, created by Clive Petrovic.
Mangroves, are critical for traditional food sources for British Virgin Islanders. Pot fish, or fish that is captured in cages, like yellowtail, trigger fish, red snapper, red hind, and blue runner; doctor; old wife;tang, butterfish, triggerfish, parrot (you can make great jewelry from thier scales), and shell fish (whose skin is quite hard for a fish) grow up among mangrove roots and are caught when they are older.
Types of Mangroves
Four types of mangroves have recognizable differences.
Red Mangroves (Rhizophora mangle)have tangled, reddish roots. Technically prop roots extend three feet or more above the surface of the soil, They increase stability of the tree supply oxygen to the underground roots. Red mangroves can grow as tall as thirty feet.
A dedicated marine biologist. Julie Overing, showed us at the Town and Country Planning Department what a red mangrove individual looked like. It reminded me of a locust seed pod but was thin. It was planted in a split plastic tube as part of the mangrove restoration program. As the seedling grows, it requirement for protection and support from its "cocoon" reduces. The split allows for expansion and it ultimately breaks away. Typically, seedlings germinate while still attached to the tree and remain there to ensure its survival. Others may be carried to other locations by the currents.
ALWH Soul Portrait by Allison L. Williams Hill
Black Mangroves, or Avicennia germinans,have long horizontal
roots and pneumatophores. Its roots are exposed to air. The root system
can be easily identified because of hollow tube that allow oxygen to get
to underground roots. These can grow to over sixty five feet, more than
twice as high as red mangroves. Black mangroves have dark, scaly bark
and produce white flowers. Seedlings also germinate while still attached
to the parent tree enabling higher survival rates.
White
Mangroves have a different root system. They grow in soil up to fifty
feet. It has broad, flat yellow-green leaves and produce green-white
flowers.
Buttonwood mangroves got their name from the
button-like appearance of the dense greenish flower heads that form
cone-like fruits. Buttonwoods produce seed cases.
Dr. Shannon Gore (Conservation and Fisheries Department), Cindy Rolli (Town and Country Planning Department), and Dr. Lianna Jarecki (H. Lavitty Stout Community College, Paraquita Bay, Tortola) during a break at a BVI government multi-department workshop, 2003.
Paraquita Bay Lagoon by Allison L. Williams Hill
Paraquita Bay Lagoon is under the authority of Disaster Preparedness and Conservation and Fisheries Department. The vessels are in this waterway surrounded by mangroves for protection during hurricane season. Vessels moor within this lagoon. The individuals reduce tropical storm activity and protect them. I received eyewitness accounts over white vessel owners turning away local or British Virgin Islander vessels to hold spaces for their friends and associates.
Mangroves in the British Virgin Islands
I worked at the Town and Country Planning Department as a physical planner. The department interfaced with other departments like Conservation and Fisheries, to construct a physical plan. The coastline was the first line of defense for a hurricane. Coral reefs and mangroves reduce wind velocity that diminishes the impact on physical structures on land. Dr. Lianna Jerecki did a study of the coral reefs along the coastlines of the 52 islands that comprise the territory. She documented their decline and the same thing was happening to mangrove stands. Conservation and Fisheries was concerned about sustaining mangrove stands, their ability to protect juveniles so that local fishermen have fish to extract over time.
Parrot fish, above, eat dead coral. In an online article, Why You Should Stop Eating Parrot Fish, Netizen Raises Public Awareness, reminds us that a school of them excrete "...sand amounting to 200 pounds each year!" They also consume algae keeping water surfaces clear. The janitors of the sea, the parrot fish should be appreciated for more than their colorful scales and tasty flesh.
Pot Fish From the Mangroves
I have made several of the local fish for meals. There was a fish store owned by government where fishermen sold their catches. In the last two years we were there, they sold gutted fish. That saved a lot of time. I learned to clean fish using lime to whiten the flesh. It was cool to descale parrot fish because their scales were so colorful. Local women made jewelry with them.
Merge with Krishna by Allison L. Williams Hill
I seasoned the fish with salt; pepper, garlic and maybe other condiments then I stuffed them with onions and peppers. I may wrap them up with aluminum foil. I make it a point to not use foil after reports of what it does to food. The fish was tasty and the flesh was firm, held flavor and it was easily adaptable to a variety of dishes. Stores sold local fish fried. I never prepared it that way.
Related Pages
Water, Energy, Nature and Humans
Herbs of the British Virgin Islands
Voices by Allison L. Williams Hill
What is Psychic Art?
Psychic art involves entering a meditative state and communicating with Spirit. Similar to channeled writing, A form of psychic art, Entura or "enter the aura" art is automatic and uses color. There is little "thinking" involved. Art itself uses the left brain for technique and psychic art requires none of this knowledge. In fact, the beauty of this is that no prior art experience is necessary.
Entura means "enter the aura." A person accesses the subtle energy plane and the feelings sensed from there take on form and color. Using meditation and writing, the drawing is interpreted for its use of color, shapes, and images that appear.
Entura art can:
Answer questions, and
Assist you in deepening to find answers within yourself.
Entura art is an interesting and exciting way to connect with the multiple levels of our being. The interpretation of the image could provide relevant messages and can be used for meditation. I would be happy to create an image for you based on a question or on your energy reading. Other images are displayed at In-Vesica. "Do All Things In-Vesica."
As with all intuitive orders, Soul Portraits will be meditated on and created in the order the request was received. I suggest you email me first at In-Vesica contact form below to see what orders are in place before you order.
I can inform you of approximately how long it will take to develop the portrait. Once payment is received, you will be told, via email, of the finish date and when it will be digitally available.
Meditation Question
A meditation question is given by the client. A written response is produced, the image is drawn and then interpreted.
You may request a healing mandala created in accordance with your question. It is understood that this may be a timely issue, therefore, a digital product is provided. If the physical art work is desired, see note above for shipping and handling.
Meditation Question for $65.00
Personal Healing Mandala Art
The healing mandala will be specific to your needs at this time. You may use it for meditation. You will be provided with instructions about how to use it. If you’d like to talk, we can arrange a time for you to call me. However, the call will not be for intuitive visionary healing unless it is specifically requested beforehand. You may request a healing mandala created in accordance with your question. It is understood that this may be a timely issue, therefore, a digital product is provided. If the physical art work is desired, add $7.00 (seven dollars) for shipping and handling.
Personal Healing Mandala for $75.00
SD Soul portrait By Allison L. Williams Hill
Soul Portrait
Soul Portrait is the most in-depth of all of the art images because of vastness of a soul. A soul portrait is information that draws from everything the soul did in all of its lifetimes. The information that comes is what is relevant to the person in this time, at this time.
Art work will show graphically and energetically what you need to know at this time. This art can be used for meditation as well. The image is presented with a written interpretation. The time it would take varies per client; an average amount of time is four weeks. A digital image can be forwarded, however, the physical art will be shipped.
As with all intuitive orders, Soul Portraits will be meditated on and created in the order the request was received. I can inform you of approximately how long it will take to develop the portrait. Once the deposit is received, you will be told, via email, of the finish date and when it will be digitally available. The original will be mailed. Shipping is included in the fee.
Soul Portrait for $125.00
Unique Birthday Cards
These Birthday Cards show an answer from Spirit for the birthday of the client. The image is drawn on 8" x 10" charcoal paper; the text is printed on card stock with colors to give the impression of an ancient text.
Please request a card at least two weeks before the birthday in order to ensure the opportunity to present it in a timely manner.
Unique Birthday Card for $45.00
I suggest you email me first at
to see what orders are in place before you order.
I can inform you of approximately how long it will take to develop the portrait.
Once the deposit is received, you will be told, via email, of the finish date and when it will be digitally available.
The original will be mailed. Shipping varies.
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