North Shore Shrimp Truck

North Shore Shrimp Truck

Wordless Wednesday

Lipstick Palm

Lipstick Palm

Cyrtostachys renda

(sir-toh-STAY-kiss) (REN-duh)

Synonyms: Cyrtostachys lakka, Sealing wax palm

This is one of my favorite palm trees. The color of the stems has always enchanted me. I can’t even comment on how the rest of the tree really looks. The thinking of getting one for the greenhouse at the Estate kind of went out the window after I read that is one of the tenderest palms available. It can’t even reliably last at 60 degrees F., and sometimes times the greenhouse gets that low at night. 55 is my target for overnight temperatures but I am having a little trouble zeroing in the state of the art climate control system. Oh how I long for a simple dial thermostat.  

Red Ginger

Red Ginger

Alpinia purpurata

(al-PIN-ee-uh) (pur-pur-AH-tuh)

Synonyms: Opuhi Uteute, Gengibre Rojo, Tahitian Ginger, Ostrich Plume

While wistfully rummaging around in my archive of Hawaii photos this picture from the Hawaii TropicalBotanical Garden on the Big Island. The garden was one of my favorite botanical places I have visited on earth, so far. The Island of Hawaiʻi was amazing to in general. It is the largest island in the United States and almost the size of Connecticut and Rhode Island combined. Eight days was not nearly enough time to fully investigate its beauty but what we did see was impressive. We especially enjoyed the city of Hilo. It is quite funky in places (in a good way) and gave bit of a feeling of a tropical Greenwich Village without the vague hint of sophistication that neighborhood in Manhattan seems to retain amongst even the worst chaos.

This flower is identified correctly I think and was quite beautiful. Blooming under a shady and humid canopy of Palms and other large trees it did stand out. I don’t know much about Gingers but they seem to come in a variety of shapes and sizes. I am also sure I would find them of use if gardening in a tropical area. They have struggled in the greenhouse.

Since it is Sunday again here is a bonus snapshot also from the Hawaii “roll”. The HTBG had an amazing display of Orchids growing outside and most were in full bloom.

Phalaenopsis Orchid

Phalaenopsis

(fay-lay-NOP-sis)

Reed Stem Orchid

Reed Stem Orchid
Epidendrum cv.
(ep-ih-DEN-drum)
Synonyms: Star Orchid, Crucifix Orchid

This orchid picture was taken at the Foster Botanical Garden in Honolulu last year. It is one of my favorite places on the island of Oahu. Located right in the city it was laid out a long time ago and has a lot of mature plantings. The garden is always one of my first stops when visiting. They had an interesting collection of Orchids in bloom on our last visit. I used to kind of look down on Reed Stem Orchids because the flowers are small and not as showy as some of their relatives. The flowers have kind of won me over with their colors, detailed clusters of blooms and ease of cultivation. This cultivar seemed particularly bright and happy. It reminded me of the candy corn that you see on Halloween.

Pride of America

Pride of America
At Kahului Harbor
Maui, Hawaii

Pride of America

Hanging Lobster Claw

Hanging Lobster Claw
Heliconia rostrata
(hel-ih-KOH-nee-uh) (ro-STRAY-tuh)
Synonyms: Crab Claws, false bird-of-paradise

This flower was blooming on the Big Island of Hawaii. I think the identification is correct, as this is the species of Heliconia that the flowers hang downward. The plant was about ten feet tall, which also matches Heliconia rostrata.


Heliconias have about 200 species and are mostly native to tropical America. They are important plants in the florist industry and to wildlife. The name Heliconia comes from Mount Helicon, the seat of the Muses, the nine goddesses of the arts and sciences in Greek mythology.

The color photo shows the brilliant red of the bracts (modified leaves). The true flowers are the little yellow bits sticking out of the ends.

"November's sky is chill and drear,
November's leaf is red and sear."
Sir Walter Scott 1771-1832

Yellow Jacobinia

Yellow Jacobinia
Justicia aurea
(jus-TEE-see-ah) (AW-re-uh)

As seen on the big Island of Hawaii last February.

Geranium

Geranium on the Big Island
Pelargonium x hortorum
(pe-lar-GO-nee-um)

Big Island Orchid

Big Island Orchid
Unknown Species

Bromeliad

Bromeliad
Wordless Wednesday
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Basket Fern

Basket Fern
Drynaria rigidula
(dry-NAR-ee-uh) (rig-ID-yoo-la)
Synonyms: Oak Leaf Fern, Bird’s Nest Fern
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Here goes a limited description of this rare fern. It has up to 14 other botanical synonyms, which can give you a little idea about how technical the discussion could get. Basically the fern is considered native to Australia, New Caledonia, and maybe the island of Papua New Guinea. Some people also think it is native to SE Asia and parts of China.

This was growing as an epiphyte attached to a Palm tree, which is defined as “A plant, such as a tropical orchid or a Staghorn fern, that grows on another plant upon which it depends for mechanical support but not for nutrients. Also called aerophyte, air plant.” It however can also grow as an epilithic, “plant that grows on rocks or stony soil and derives nourishment from the atmosphere.” I guess that makes it pretty flexible except that it loves moisture and that narrows down where it can grow a bit. It is a big fern with some of the green fronds extending up to six feet in length. I have included the color version to see the dry papery fronds. They were weird to touch.

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I really feel like our trip to Hawaii was a botanical treasure trove of both rare and common tropical plants. It was a great learning experience for me. I have to put all the pictures that came out together and do some printing. Not looking forward to that.

Hawaiian Flower Stew

Hawaiian Flower Stew
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Pink Fruiting Banana

Pink Fruiting Banana
Musa velutina
(MEW-suh) (vel-oo-TEE-nuh)
Synonyms: Elvet pink Banana, Hairy Banana, Baby pink Banana, Guineo rosado
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This Banana was a new one on me but appears to be very popular with gardeners in USDA Zone 8 (winter lows of +10 °F) and higher due to their ease of cultivation. They are easy to grow from seed which probably also helps their popularity. Another thing this type of Banana ha going for it is its relatively small statue (4-5 feet tall) at maturity. The fact that they can flower and fruit indoors is another nice trait.

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Oddly, the Bananas peel themselves when ripe. That can take some of the mystery out of when to pick them. Once open the fruit is usually only good for a day or two. I am definitely going to have to look into getting a couple of these for work. Since container culture is stated to be rather easy they should fit in with the other Bananas in the Conservatory.

Flowers from Today - Magic Bells Kalanchoe

Magic Bells Kalanchoe
Kalanchoe 'Magic Bells'
(kal-un-KOH-ee)
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Still working on the flower pictures I took in Hawaii here are a couple more. The Magic Bells Kalanchoe has been featured on his site before on Sunday, April 26, 2009, for Today’s Flowers ironically. It was a lot more fun trying to get the image when the Kalanchoe was growing outside in a rather large colony. The little bit of red on the buds really looks nice in a natural setting as opposed to the greenhouse where it was spotted before.

Bird of Paradise
Strelitzia reginae
(stre-LITZ-ee-uh) (ree-JIN-ay-ee)
Synonym: Crane Flower
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This second flower is known by almost everyone. It appeared a little different to me with the way he two blue petals were extended. I am not sure if that is the way all BoP are or it was a little different. It is always exciting for me to see this flower and this one was beautiful with the morning sunshine on it. I am not sure what it is about he Hawaiian sun but it’s light seems to make everything look a little more flattering and easier to take a picture of.

Orchid
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This final photo is of one of the more unusual Orchids we saw in our trip to the Islands. It was probably the most green colored one I have ever seen. Last week was the first Sunday I had missed posting to this meme in a long time. I truly missed everyone’s flowers but was a little incapacitated. I am continuing to make progress towards full health with a new regime of medications and a good set of doctors who seem genuinely concerned with getting me back to normal. Please excuse my typing as for some reason I am difficulty typing exactly what is on my mind. It isn’t that weird that my finer motor skills are not up to par. I have been assured that everything should be good to go when the gardening season starts. There hasn’t been a season that I have been more ready for in my 30-year career as a professional gardener. Each flower that I am going to grow this year is going to be special.

For more flower pictures from around the world check out:
Today’s Flowers .

Laupahoehoe Point Park

Laupahoehoe Point Park
Near Hilo, Hawaii
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This photograph is from the nice little park on Route 19 on the drive from Hilo to Honokaa. Since the big earthquake in Chile last night the entire Hawaiian Islands (all islands, all coasts) is under a Tsunami watch with people urged to move to higher ground immediately. It took all of my willpower not to call my sister and little nephew to warn them about it. Although I did break down later and call even though it was the middle of the night. They should be okay since they live ‘upcountry’ on Maui at, I’m guessing around 1200 feet above sea level.

Laupahoehoe (Translated means: Leaf of Lava) Point Park was the scene of devastation by the April 1, 1946 tsunami, which started with an earthquake in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska. It is considered one of the most devastating waves to ever hit the Hawaiian Islands. Here is a quick link to some pictures of the damage and some more information. Link to: Dr. George’s Tsunami Page . The remembrance at the park was low-key and after a little research I realized how bad it had been. Nothing but nice, friendly waves and bright sunshine on our visit and if you driving up that way I would recommend a stop at the park, it is beautiful and historic. The trees pictured here are Ironwood ( Casuarina equisetifolia ). They are a handsome tree that looks a lot like our Pine Trees and they were growing all over the Islands.

Since this blog is supposed to be about flower pictures here is an Impatiens flower I found at the park. It was just growing wild. It had a nice color for a wild flower.

Pua Keni Keni

Pua Keni Keni
Fagraea berteroana
(fa-GRAY-a) (ber-ter-oh-AY-na)
Synonym: Fagraea berteriana, Perfume Flower Tree
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This was an intensely fragrant (reminiscent of Gardenias) little tree growing on the Big Island of Hawaii. Its flowers, which loosely translate in Hawaiian to ‘ten cent flower’, are often used in lei making. The ten-cent part is the price the flowers used to be sold for. They are a little unique in the fact that the flowers change color during the day. In the late morning (as shown here) they are off-white, in the afternoon they have changed to yellow and by the evening they change to an orange color. This change can occur over three days also. There are several scientific reasons for the change. The plant that I saw was all off-white colored flowers and it was about 10:30 am. It can flower any time during the year and is considered a desirable ornamental plant that is non-invasive in areas that its has been introduced to (like Hawaii). It gets small orange berries after flowering that contains the black seeds.

Ground Orchids

Ground Orchid, Boat Orchid, Philippine Orchid (Spathoglottis plicata)
Spathoglottis plicata
(spath-oh-GLOT-tiss) (ply-KAY-tuh)

I am posting this from he local hospital after I checked in on Thursday after having a mild stroke at home. I fell off the bed and Karen heard me struggling to get up and called 911, which probably saved my life (I knew I married her for some reason). So I have been prodded poked tested had a flashlight shined in my pupils 100 times. The left side almost total paralysis has gone away after I got a dose of TPA super clot buster, full motion was restored in about 15 minutes after the injection. The three CT Scans I have gotten since arriving her have been positive revealling only a small area of Brian swelling and bleeding but the doctors have been encouraging and I will need a little PT for a bit of facial droop an a bit of slurred speech. General prognosis is I am going to be okay.

These Orchids were growing in Foster’s botanical Garden in Honolulu. They had formed quite a large colony and were beautiful. I think I got the identification right but I m not 100% sure.

Vireya Rhododendrons

Vireya Rhododendron
Rhododendron
(roh-do-DEN-dron)
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These plants are often referred to as tropical rhododendrons or the Malesian Rhododendron neither of which is the best term to use. I simply call them Vireya. There was quite a few specimens at the Pana`ewa Rainforest Zoo and Gardens near Hilo. Having the plants grouped together and in bloom was a special treat. The Zoo and Gardens are small but had some interesting things and I was glad I stopped in. Since it was free the price was certainly right.

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There are about 330 different species of Vireya Rhododendrons and hundreds of cultivars. They never have blue pigment in the flowers and nor are the flowers spotted. These plants cannot tolerate frost and often grow in the cooler upper elevation ( 3,000-7,500 feet) mountain areas of the Philippines, Borneo, New Guinea and Indonesia and the surrounding island groups. A few species are considered native to India, Australia, Taiwan and the Solomon Islands. They grow as epiphytes (a plant that grows on another plant but is not parasitic) in the wild but can also be terrestrial in habit. The flowers of the white one were particularly fragrant.

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Moth Orchid

Moth Orchid
Phalaenopsis
(Green King x Haur Jin Diamond x Dol-Dil Goddess)
(fal-en-OP-sis)
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Taro Leaf and Patch

Taro Leaf and Patch
Colocasia esculenta
(a-loh-KAY-see-uh)
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From the Waipio Valley on the Big Island

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