Macadamia nuts are big business in Hawaii, but the orchards themselves present a more pastoral scene. This orchard is rendered slightly less scenic by some dying trees, but that’s offset, to some extent, by the sheep.
Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
The flowers of a plumeria tree front a well-laden coconut palm.
Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
Evidence that the time-honored tradition of carving names into tree trunks is still as popular as ever.
Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
A partial moon seen through a gap in tree branches.
Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Geometric–explore various angles.’ I’ve focused more on the ‘various angles’ than the geometric.
Ohia trees (Metrosideros polymorpha) are endemic to Hawaii and the flower of these trees is the official flower of the Big Island. Depending on growing conditions, ohias can vary from ground hugging shrubs to 50 foot trees. They grow at sea level and at elevations up to 8,000 feet. They’re probably most noted for two things. One is their brilliant display of flowers. The other is that they’re usually the first plants to recolonize lava flows.
They grow in lava is because their roots reach down into lava tubes and tap into the moisture available there. But ohia can also put out aerial roots to gather moisture. They’re very flexible in this way.
The puffball flowers are actually clusters of flowers. Each flower is made up of a bunch of stamens (the male part of the flower) and a single pistil (the female part) which is thicker and longer than the stamens. When the flowers have been pollinated, the stamens fall away until only the pistil remains. This too will disappear as the calyx, where the seeds are found, develops. Eventually, the calyx will dry out and release the tiny mature seeds, to be dispersed by the winds, and hopefully grow into new ohia trees.
Also posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
A pair of monarch butterflies mating on a kiawe tree.
Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
A tangle of branches can be found on this scenic tree on the North Kohala coast.
Posted in response to Becky’s July Squares challenge theme of ‘Trees.’ See more responses here.
