On my last walk around Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden I saw this Oncidium Orchid, which goes by the name of Sharry Baby. I’ve seen this before, but this was the first time I’ve noted the feature it’s most renowned for, which is its strong chocolate scent. It was really quite remarkable, but I restrained myself from ripping the flowers off and chewing them there and then.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
When I was walking along the coast toward Hapuna Beach recently (post here) I came around one corner of the trail and saw this top photo. Luckily, it was broad daylight, because if it was dark, I would have screamed and run.
This head had a little friend, and the two of them reminded me of a British sci-fi horror movie from the 60s called Village of the Damned.
It was a peculiar scene, not just because of the subjects, but because these sculptures, along with a couple of others, are only visible from the trail. And they can’t be approached because there are some old Hawaiian ruins in this area. It’s like they’ve been banished into this twilight zone and they’re not happy about it!
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
Another post from things seen walking around home or work. In this case a pair of Java Sparrows at work and nesting in the roof above the office. I rarely saw Java Sparrows before this year, but now we have half a dozen or more nesting in the roof. Not that I’m complaining. They’re fun birds to watch.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
Another post from a walk around the garden. Here, a green anole clings to a post wondering what it has to do to get rid of the photographer’s attention.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
I like hiking and longer walks, but I’m equally happy staying closer to home and wandering around the yard here and at work. Here the sun peeks through the branches of an albizia tree.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking.” See more offerings here.
Many people collect plants, but some plants are collectors, too. On my last visit to Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden it had recently rained. This bromeliad (above) and heliconia (below) had collected, not only water, but also an assortment of vegetation. There might even be a fish in there somewhere!
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
There’s an old saying that golf is a good walk spoiled. It’s often attributed to Mark Twain, though that’s probably not accurate. There’s an interesting investigation into the saying’s roots here.
The Mauna Kea Golf Course was designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. in 1964 and its signature hole is the third. From the championship tee, which is where the top photo was taken, this doesn’t look like a hole that has much to do with walking. Swimming looks a more likely activity.
There’s a little marker in this tee box that shows the hole is 272 yards long, but other tees offer shorter options. Next to the tee box is a plaque noting the illustrious golfers who played at the course’s opening. And the bottom photo shows the green that a golfer would use in the unlikely event that their ball reaches it.
I’ve spoken to a couple of people who’ve hit balls from the championship tee, mostly for the pleasure of being able to say they did so. Both hit their ball into the ocean. I’d probably do the same, though there’s also a good chance my shot from there wouldn’t even reach the water!
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
Yesterday, I posted about Aphis nerii aphids descending on a Hawaiian Crown Flower (Calotropis gigantea). After they were gone the plant continued to do well for a day or two. Then holes started to appear in the leaves and arcs along the edges.
Closer examination revealed a couple of tiny Monarch Butterfly caterpillars munching their way around the leaves. The Crown Flower is a favorite host for these caterpillars, so this wasn’t a surprise. We were also keen to provide an area for the Monarchs to thrive in. So we let the caterpillars be and monitored the situation.
What happened, not surprisingly, is that the caterpillars grew quickly. As they did so, the leaves of the plant diminished accordingly. I was gone for my weekend, and when I returned, the caterpillars had more than doubled in size. The plant though looked like someone had gone at it with a machete. We wondered if the caterpillars would devour the whole thing before they pupated.
When I returned to work after another weekend, the caterpillars were gone. As the Crown Flower was food for the caterpillars, so it appeared, the caterpillars were food for the numerous birds in the area.
The plant will likely recover from its ravishing and, once it’s bigger, it might be better able to accommodate the attentions of these caterpillars and in turn provide more cover for them from the birds. Or not! I will monitor the situation.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (see more responses here).
Graham's Island 