Category Archives: Plants

How to play pigball

Piglets wrestle for a mango

Leave one large unripe mango on the ground and wait for the arrival of seven small piglets. Watch them bat the mango around, trying to snare it in their small jaws. There are no rules in this game, so pushing and shoving is common, as is running around for no clear reason.

The winner is the one who snags and keeps the mango.

Piglets wrestle for a mango

It’s a strenuous activity so a post-game rest is advised.

Piglets resting

Another invasive species

A cell phone tower disguised as a tree in Hawaii

I went for a drive up Old Saddle Road yesterday and noticed this unusual tree. It is, of course, that now ubiquitous invasive species, the cell phone tower. At least this one had the good grace to try and blend into its surroundings, and does a decent job of it.

This ‘tree’ is located on the grounds of Camp Kilohana, the Girls Scouts Camp on the Big Island.

Posted for Bushboy’s Last on the Card photo challenge. See more responses here.

Kōlea lau nui

The colorful new growth on a Kolea lau nui plant in Hawaii
The colorful new growth on a Kolea lau nui plant in Hawaii

Kōlea lau nui (Myrsine lessertiana) is a tree that can grow up to 60 feet high. But it’s the new leaf growth that is its most striking feature. The color of the new growth can vary quite a bit, but it’s these deep pink leaves which really stand out in the otherwise mostly green woods where I’ve see them.

They’re baaaaack

Wild piglets in Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills challenge theme is ‘Earth Day.’ See more responses here.

What’s more earthy than pigs. Of course, these piglets aren’t really back. The last litter is now much larger and correspondingly less cute. The ones in this photo are the latest batch. There are seven of them and they’re still in the ‘Everything is new and exciting’ phase. They root around in the dirt with such vigor that their back ends sometimes fly into the air. However, they haven’t yet learned that, while they’re doing this, they need to retain awareness of their surroundings. When something or someone, such as myself, can approach within five feet without them noticing, that might not end well. If mom’s around, she’ll warn them. If not, they’re easy to surprise.

In these photos, the piglets found something in the base of the palm and were clambering over each other to get a piece of it. I could have tapped one on the shoulder and it would probably have ignored me!

Then dad came along.

Wild piglets in Hawaii

Time to head for the cane grass.

Wild piglets in Hawaii

Wait for me!

Wild piglets in Hawaii

Rosy-faced Lovebirds

Rosy-faced lovebirds in Hawaii
Rosy-faced lovebirds in Hawaii

This week’s Sunday Stills Monthly Color Challenge is ‘White and Pastels.’ See more responses here.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds are also known as Peach-faced Lovebirds and they have a lot of color variations. I have yet to see a rosy face in Hawaii outside of tourists who’ve seen too much sun. Instead, the local birds tend towards pastel shades whether they’re dining or simply hanging out.