When I think about what Bahama Flora is, I often think of the Shepherd’s Needle (or Spanish Needle, as they are sometimes called). Shepherd’s needles can be referred to as wildflowers, but essentially they’re considered a weed. They’re in the Asteraceae family and the scruffy cousins of the more commonly known sunflowers, daisies, asters, and chamomile. You’ll find them in abundance in human-impacted areas around The Bahamas, boasting bright and delightfully imperfect flowers and often peeking through an impossible crack in the pavement. These resilient plants always find a way to bloom, and if you look closely, you’re likely to see bees on them collecting pollen.

This little project can be likened to a shepherd’s needle — a creative seed finding a way to bloom, no matter how long it takes or how unlikely the conditions.

My name is Ashley, and after many decades away, I moved back home. Along the way I became a real estate agent because helping peope find their place here (and eventutally finding my own) turned out to matter to me more than I expected. In April of 2026, I got the keys to a new home in The Bahamas.

Bahama Flora is the journal of making this home my own.