Category Archives: Plants

Sprinklers

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Sprinklers spread water over a garden in Hawaii

I see these sprinklers going on my way home from work, but only if it’s been a long day, as they’re on a timer. Usually I think, I must take a photos of those, but don’t because it’s late, I’m tired, and I just want to get home.

Last week, the same scenario arose and I was driving by, when I thought, ‘I’ll feel better taking the photos than I will rushing home.’ So I stopped, took photos, and did feel better. At least, until I drove past a police car and, looking in my rear view mirror, saw blue light flashing and heard the siren going. Luckily, he was after the car in front of me!

Sprinklers spread water over a garden in Hawaii

The Numbers Game #16

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A Stump-toed gecko on a truck windshield.
This stump-toed gecko rode on my windshield for about 40 miles!

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 137. Captions are on the photos.

You can see more responses here.

A bee forages on a Rose Jatropha flower on the Big Island of Hawaii
A bee on a Rose Jatropha flower.
A mini-helicopter parked at Upolu Airport.
Mini-helicopter at Upolu.
A bluff formed by heavy rain.
Not the desert southwest, but a drying mud puddle.
A curly horned ram keeps watch.
A ram at Pu’u Wa’awa’a.
A passion vine butterfly foraging on lantana flowers.
A Passion Vine Butterfly on Lantana flowerrs.

April flowers from March showers

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Water lilies at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Water lilies.
Painter's Pallette Anthurium at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Painter’s Pallette Anthurium.

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘April Flowers.’ See more responses here.

Looking through my files, I found a dearth of flower photos taken in April, except for one visit to Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden a couple of years ago. These photos are from that visit.

A Phalaenopsis Orchid at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Phalaenopsis or Moth Orchid.

Some ‘flowers’ aren’t flowers at all. These are the bracts of the plants, which are far more showy than the small flowers that emerge from them later.

Heliconia Pogonantha at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Heliconia Pogonantha
A red Heliconia at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Red heliconia
Hanging Lobster Claw Heliconia at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Hanging Lobster Claw Heliconia
Beehive ginger plants at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden
Beehive ginger

For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.

The Numbers Game #15

Dark pink plumeria flowers in Hawaii
A dark pink plumeria.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 136. Captions are on the photos.

You can see more responses here.

In Kailua Kona, this electronic sign flashes “Emergency Water Restriction” and “Stop Sprinkler Use.”
I saw this sign in Kailua Kona during a downpour. Original post here.
The plumage of birds at rest often has a wonderful layered look to it. This zebra dove is no exception.
The lovely plumage of a zebra dove.
A pueo looks watchful in Hawaii
A watchful pueo.
A stick insect blending in.
Vampire horse on the loose!

Tropical Milkweed

An Asclepias curassavica flower in Hawaii
An Asclepias curassavica flower in Hawaii

Tropical Milkweed (Asclepias curassavica) is an introduced species here. It’s become popular in part because milkweeds are food for butterflies, including Monarch Butterflies, whose numbers have been falling for some time. However, there are questions about whether planting Tropical Milkweed is a good or bad thing.

One concern is that Tropical Milkweed’s perennial habit might be disrupting the Monarch’s epic migrations. Another concern is that the plant hosts Oe (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha), a parasite that adversely infects butterflies, and that is passed down to subsequent generations. This parasite is more prevalent in non-migratory butterflies such as those in Hawaii, but it’s not clear whether Hawaii’s population is suffering in the same way as some of those on the mainland. Hawaii’s Monarchs primarily use Crown Flowers to lay their eggs.

The Numbers Game #13

An A'ama Crab skitters through a field of Helmet Urchins in Hawaii
An A’ama crab skitters through a field of Helmet Urchins.
The blooms of a yucca plant.
A Yucca plant in full flower.

The idea of The Numbers Game is to enter a number into the search bar of your computer and then post a selection of the photos that turn up. This week’s number is 134. Captions are on the photos.

You can see more responses here.

A mural painted on the side of Hawi Post Office.
A Ruddy Turnstone watches from a rock in Hawaii
A Ruddy Turnstone watching.
A Pallid Ghost Crab waits by the entrance ot its burrow.
A Pallid Ghost Crab getting ready to disappear into its burrow.
The bench overlooking Honokane Nui Valley.