Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Moa

The Moa or Psilotum nudum, is a leafless fern which grows wild in Hawaiian landscape.  The thin twigs form yellow spores, which are used medicinally by the Hawaiians as a purging agent, and placing a bunch of these twigs in the water with your floral arrangements will help to keep the water clean and clear.




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Purple Agapanthus #2


This miniature Agapanthus, Ellamae, has drooping blooms, not so much a spherical bouquet, but its dark purple hue and lightly striped design make for a striking show.




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Purple Agapanthus #1

Ellamae rises beautifully above an explosion of slender leaves, creating dramatic height to an otherwise low-lying flower bed.





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White Hibiscus

The White Hibiscus, or Koki'o, its Hawaiian name, is endemic to most of the islands of Hawaii.  This hibiscus has been used as the parent to hybridize many more varieties of hibiscus.  Its simple lines with beautiful red stamen have been referred to in many Hawaiian songs and legends of old.




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Monday, September 27, 2010

Torch Ginger #1

The Torch Ginger is a sturdy bloom, perched atop a hardy stalk, yet still appears graceful and delicate.  It reminds me of the dancing hippopotamus in Disney's Fantasia!




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Sunday, September 26, 2010

Gloriosa Lily #2

Though not a large lily, its dainty-sized flames flicker brightly in the dappled forest light.




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Gloriosa Lily #1

This beautiful little fire or flame lily creeps along the lower forest canopy on a light green vine.  It's a comical lily, appearing to bloom upside down with its stamen pointing downward and the petals curling upward like flickering flames.





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Saturday, September 25, 2010

Ti Varieagated

Ti hybrids come in many variations of leaf structure and colors.  The parent form was undoubtedly the emerald green, flat-leafed variety.  You can find now frilly leaves, wide leaves, thin and narrow leaves, short and round leaves…and the colors are endless.






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Ti Spiral

The Ti Leaf has many uses in everyday Hawaiian life.  It is used as a cooking tool to wrap foods for steaming or baking, it is used to make clothing and adornments, it is used in religious ceremonies, and even used for its healing properties.  The Ti plant has been hybridized to produce many new colors and leaf appearances and is a beautiful garden addition.





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Moss #3

Moss is said to grow on the north-facing side of rocks and trees, a directional marker used by hikers everywhere.  But in a rain forest, this may not always be an accurate indicator of northern exposure, as moss will envelop its host in all directions!





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Moss #2

A healthy sign, if the moss grows lush and green.





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Moss #1

I always think of fairies and woodland nymphs flitting around the forest, making their tiny homes in the cool mossy crevasses of rocks and fallen tree trunks.





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Purple Lily #3

A Water Lily rises from the muddy depths yet blooms pure and clean.




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Purple Lily #1

The first in a series of purple Water Lilies.




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Purple Lily #4

The beauty of the Water Lily speaks for itself.





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Purple Lily #5

So peaceful to gaze at a pond filled with Water Lilies and Koi…a respite for the senses.





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Purple Lily #6

I know what Monet must have felt creating his Water Lily work.  It must have been a peaceful time.




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Purple Lily #7

One can never get enough of Water Lilies!  I'd like to go back to Thailand…can you imagine a Water Lily like this that is as large as a wide-brimmed hat?





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Rainforest

Blue Ginger, hybrid Ti leaves, multi-colored Heliconias, and flowering yellow and white ginger…it doesn't take much to create a rainbow in the forest.





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Yellow Ginger

Fragrant yellow ginger, my favorite being the white ginger, covers the forest floor, the lower canopy of green luscious foliage.  Its sweet scent hangs in the air, mingling with the earthy forest debris, rose apples, and strawberry guava.  I love when it rains in the forest.  The raindrops patter on the tender leafy fans and create a rather soothing snare drum sound.




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White Ginger #3

I can never get enough of White Ginger.  Whenever I'm in the rain forest, if I can find them, these are the only flowers I will place in my hair.




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White Ginger #2

These white blossoms sit atop tall slender stalks, fanned by slender dark green leaves.  They stand out amongst the many other colors in the rain forest and, when encountering a grove of White Ginger, a peacefulness washes over me.  Time to meditate!





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White Ginger #1

Of all the many blossoms, White Ginger is my favorite, with its subtle fragrance that delicately lingers in the air.  Its tender petals easily bruised by the slightest gesture.  If I could just lie in a sea of cool, fragrant, soothing White Ginger petals.




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See Through Leaf #1

The rain forest has just the right amount of moisture to transform a fallen leaf into a "see through" fan of lace.




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See Through Leaf

With enough rain and time, these lacy lovelies will become part of the nutrient-rich forest floor, but until then, each one a work of art.




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