Captiva Drive

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Captiva Drive

Photo by Ben Prepelka

A showy, tropical bougainvillea brightens Captiva Drive. The actual flower of the thorny bougainvillea is hidden inside of these brightly colored bracts.
The name, Captiva Island, is a shortened version of Isle de los Captivas. Jose Gaspar, an early 19th century buccaneer, used the island to house his prisoners. The United States Navy finally cleared Captiva in 1821. Gaspar chose suicide rather than capture, wrapping himself in chains and jumping overboard.