St. Martin’s national tree blooming over its July high month

GREAT BAY, St. Martin (August 6, 2003) — St. Martin’s national tree, the Flamboyant, was probably called the “July tree” way before it was connected to Emancipation in 1848, and more likely because its powerful surge of color peaks in July.

But not unlike the “August Monday” memory in neighboring islands connected to Emancipation in the 1830s, there is the memory of St. Martiners on both sides of the island waving the Flamboyant’s flowered branches to celebrate freedom from slavery in July of 1848, and that is at the core of the popular identification of the Flamboyant as the national tree.

The work of conservationists and the information in books like National Symbols of St. Martin may have a lot to do with the increasing environmental and cultural attention the Flamboyant has been getting since the early 1990s and the growth of Flamboyant-lush residential vistas such as Belair. “July is the high month of the grand tree’s blooming season,” said author Lasana M. Sekou. The tree’s rainforest green leaves and sprouting of a mostly reddish range of flowers generally starts to get noticed in June and it is no surprise that the Flamboyant would still be in bloom in August.

For the last few years during its season, Sekou has been trying to release a anecdotal record about the July tree in various newspapers. “The Flamboyant is a powerful annual event. It is a reminder to renew and increase our investment in our own freedom and of the beautiful natural environment of St. Martin—both of which has to be known, loved, protected, developed and celebrated by the St. Martin people.”

So for the record, or for conversation sake, what difference could be pointed out about the national tree this year compared to last year?

According to Sekou, while the Flamboyant is still adorning the land from Belair to Belle Plain and beyond, the 2003 lustrous crop does not compare to the red, orange and yellow palette that remained fat and fiery as a Roland Richardson painting from earliest May well into September in 2002. But is there a splash of truth to this unscientific observation?

A few days ago, Sekou contacted Ashford James, head of the meteorological office, on the matter. “Mr. James confirms that ‘generally more rain’ did fall during the first half of 2002 than from January to July in 2003.”

As with nurturing the health and beauty of the Flamboyant—more rain, soil conservation, and the national pride that includes landscaping house, business and government property with traditional flowering and fruit-bearing trees and plants are “all good” in adding to and sustaining the health and beauty of Sweet St. Martin Land.