Category Archives: Trees

Cannonball tree flowers

Cannonball tree flowers on a tree in Hawaii
Cannonball tree flowers on a tree in Hawaii
Cannonball tree flowers on a tree in Hawaii

The last time I visited Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, the Cannonball Trees (Couroupita guianensis) were flowering more abundantly than I’d ever seen them before. The flowers appear on the tree trunk, but these went all the way to the top and seemed to be blooming on some of the high branches. It was an impressive sight, especially in one instance where a heavily blooming tree was backed by a second tree loaded with cannonball fruits.

After the bloom is over, the petals litter the ground, a final splash of color in the dappled light.

For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.

Cannonball tree flower petals on the ground in Hawaii

Rosy-faced Lovebirds

Two Rosy-faced Lovebirds snack on a Royal Poinciana seed pod

I was on an early morning walk at Kawaihae when my camera started flashing red indicating that my battery was about done. On the way back to my car, I noticed these two Rosy-faced Lovebirds in a Royal Poinciana tree, trying to get the better of one of the long seed pods. These birds are also known as Peach-faced Lovebirds and have considerable color variations.

I liked how they took it in turns to try and get to grips with the pod and have a nibble, and I was glad my battery lasted long enough to capture the encounter.