
Neoregelia carolinae is known as the blushing bromeliad because, when it’s going to flower, the center turns red, as this one has done.

Neoregelia carolinae is known as the blushing bromeliad because, when it’s going to flower, the center turns red, as this one has done.

I saw these Jackfruits at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. I took the photo because they were the biggest ones I’ve seen. When I got home and read up about them I discovered these are dainty by Jackfruit standards. Apparently, Jackfruits can weigh up to 120 pounds and can be three feet long and almost two feet around.
What this means is that is that the Jackfruit tree is not a tree to picnic beneath!
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.


On my last walk around Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden I saw this Oncidium Orchid, which goes by the name of Sharry Baby. I’ve seen this before, but this was the first time I’ve noted the feature it’s most renowned for, which is its strong chocolate scent. It was really quite remarkable, but I restrained myself from ripping the flowers off and chewing them there and then.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.

Many people collect plants, but some plants are collectors, too. On my last visit to Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden it had recently rained. This bromeliad (above) and heliconia (below) had collected, not only water, but also an assortment of vegetation. There might even be a fish in there somewhere!
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Posted for Becky’s Squares theme of “Walking” (See more responses here).


Becky’s Squares is back this month with a theme of “Walking.” See more responses here.
A walk I try to do two or three times each year is at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. It’s not a long walk, but it winds through the garden where on each visit I find something new and interesting.
Osmoxylon Lineare comes from the Philippines and is also known as Miagos Bush or Green Aralia. At the garden, the sign calls it Eyelash Bush and the bottom photo gives a clue as to why that might be. To my mind though, the top photo suggest Eyeball Bush might be a better name.
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.


An A’ama Crab at the aptly named Crab Cove at Hawaii Tropical Bioreserve & Garden.

A white water lily among the lily pads in the lake at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.


I saw this Cacao Tree or Cocoa Tree (Theobroma Cacao) at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. I think it’s been there a long time, but this is the first time I’ve noticed it with pods. The pods are the fruit of the tree and if you cut one open, inside you’ll find a cluster of fun-sized candy bars.
Well, maybe not, but you will find an important contributor to those candy bars, cacao seeds or beans, the prime ingredient in chocolate. Each of those seeds, up to 60 per pod, contains a large amount of fat, otherwise known as cocoa butter.
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.