I’ve heard of monkey trees, but is this a donkey tree? Donkey in a tree? Actually, it’s a donkey under a tree, staying out of the sun.
Category Archives: Plants
Mangoes
In February this mango tree was in full bloom (top). Those blooms have become the bevy of fruit below. When the wind blows the thud of falling mangoes is a constant sound. I tend to duck my head into my shoulders walking under the tree.
It’s a twice a day routine to pick up the fallen fruit, or the wild pigs will make short work of them.
Fiery skipper butterfly
A fiery skipper butterfly, Hylephila phyleus, dips its proboscis into a passion flower.
Green bottle fly
A green bottle fly, Lucilia sericata, checks out a flower on a tree heliotrope (Heliotropium foertherianum).
Ironwood
The Common Ironwood (Casuarina equisetifolia) is something of an invasive weed. It has, in my book, two distinguishing features. The first is the creaking noise it makes when the wind blows, which can be an eerie sound at times. The second is its foliage, which, under the right conditions, looks like a cascade of water.
For more information about Ironwoods, go to wildlifeofhawaii.com/flowers/774/casuarina-equisetifolia-common-ironwood/.
Honoli’i Beach Park
A view of Honoli’i Beach Park with Hilo Bay in the background. I do love the lush vegetation on the east side of the island.
‘Ilima papa
This plant, officially called Sida fallax, does well in tough coastal growing conditions, hugging the ground as it spreads. In other situations, it can grow as a shrub.
For more information about this plant, go to www2.hawaii.edu/~eherring/hawnprop/sid-fall.htm.
Shell ginger
Originally from Asia, the shell ginger and its sensuous flowers is quite common in wetter areas.
For more information about Hawaiian flowers, go to wildlifeofhawaii.com/flowers/.
Graham's Island 