Category Archives: Plants

Yellow-billed cardinal

Yellow-billed Cardinal
030916-951-Yellow-billed-Cardinal-HWA South American bird, the yellow-billed cardinal was introduced to Hawaii and is quite common on the Big Island. I saw these two birds flitting through a stand of kiawes. The bird in the top photo was working hard on the bit of foliage in its beak. I assumed this was something for a nest, but didn’t see where the bird went. The second bird just hung out in the trees, possibly keeping watch.

Tree heliotrope and potter wasps

Potter Wasp Eumenes BolliiTree Heliotrope

 

On one of my coast walks I was surprised to find a tree that I visit regularly, abuzz with wasps and other insects. The tree is a Tree heliotrope (Heliotropium foertherianum) which, as the photos suggest, is hardy and salt tolerant. This was the first time I’d seen it with striking tentacles of flowers and berries, hence it’s other common name of Octopus bush.

The majority of the wasps attracted to the tree were potter wasps, specifically Eumenes bollii I think. They were focused on their task for which I was grateful, since I was shoving my camera quite close to them on occasion.

Potter Wasp on Tree Heliotrope

Indonesian Wax Ginger

Indonesian Wax Ginger
The flower of this ginger is actually yellow. The conspicuous red parts here are the bracts, which are modified or specialized leaves. This one was at the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden on the Hilo side of the island. Well worth a visit.

For more information about Hawaiian flowers, go to wildlifeofhawaii.com/flowers/. For more information about Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden, go to htbg.com.