This pair of Java sparrows was easy to see flitting about in the bare branches of a plumeria tree. Plumerias start out this way before flowers bud and bloom. Leaves are the last to show.
Java sparrows are a favorite of mine, for their perky nature, bold marking, and those pink legs and beak.
Posted in response to Becky’s October Squares challenge theme of ‘Past Squares – In the Pink.’ See more responses here.
Calathea ice blue (Calathea burle-marxii) is native to Brazil. The blue and white elements of these plants are floral bracts. The white and purple flowers emerge between the bracts and only last for a day.
Posted in response to Becky’s October Squares challenge theme of ‘Past Squares – Blue/Flowers.’ See more responses here.
This is a caterpillar with a message and the message is ‘Back off.’ This is illustrated by the orange and black coloring and black spikes, which in this case conveys that these caterpillars are poisonous. Fortunately, I wasn’t hungry at the time so no harm done. Passion vine butterfly caterpillars, on the other hand, seem to be permanently hungry. Whenever I see them they’re munching leaves like old time video game characters.
Posted in response to Becky’s October Squares challenge theme of ‘Past Squares – Spiky.’ See more responses here.
I’d always thought that the large reddish purple mass hanging below these bananas was the flower. But I learned that these are bracts surrounding the flower, which is a male flower. Female flowers are the first to appear on the plant and these are the ones that turn into the fruit seen in this photo.
The current Friendly Friday challenge theme is ‘Close ups and Macros.’ See more responses here. Here’s a selection of some little creatures up close and personal.
I often see fiery skipper butterflies on what I know as ice plants. I thought the different color flowers were just variations within the plant but, while they’re members of the same family (Aizoaceae), they’re different plants. At the top is an Aptenia haeckeliana with its yellow flower. To the left is an Aptenia cordifolia with a magenta flower.
It’s a different butterfly on the two flowers, but both are fiery skippers.
Alexandrian laurel (Calophyllum inophyllum) is known as Kamani in Hawaii. It’s a canoe plant, which means it was brought to Hawaii by the early Polynesian voyagers. They would have carried this evergreen tree because of its importance for building their ocean-going outriggers.
The small white and yellow flowers usually bloom twice a year and are followed by round fruits with a single large seed.
A mango beetle checks out a bright orange Kou (Cordia subcordata) flower.
Graham's Island 