I like this bench on the steep entry path at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, for its simplicity and practicality.
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
A bench on a hill
Tag Archives: Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden
Plant shapes
The current Friendly Friday challenge theme is ‘Shapes.’ See more responses here. Since I just paid another visit to Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, I thought some flower and foliage shapes would be appropriate. In the top photo, round lily pads float in the garden’s pond.
The squares show the coils within coils of a Hapu’u fern, a distinctly-shaped anthurium, the familiar curves of an orchid against a large, angular leaf, and the geometric precision of a Guzmania ‘Limones’ bromeliad.
The rectangles start with the distinctive shape of beehive gingers, then large, tropical, heart-shaped leaves, and the sinuous shape of a colorful heliconia.
The bottom photo shows feather-shaped leaves that even look like feathers!
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Abstracts: Tahitian Prawn
I was taking photos of Tahitian Prawns in the stream at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, but when I looked at them later, I mostly liked the abstract effect of the light and water. But, yes, there is a Tahitian Prawn in this photo.
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Giant Laulau
Giant Laulau (Syzygium megacarpa) is widespread across the Pacific. These red fruits apparently taste similar to apples though I haven’t yet tried one. This one was at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden.
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Walking Iris
The lovely blue color of this Walking Iris caught my eye when I was last at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. Not only was it striking in its own right, but it was also a distinctive splash of color against a predominantly green background.
For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Hibiscus Clayi
Hibiscus Clayi is endemic to Hawaii, but is listed as endangered. In the wild, it’s found only in a part of eastern Kauaʻi, but this one was growing at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Brownea Coccinea
Brownea Coccinea is a native of Colombia, Ecuador and Venezuela, which is why it’s also known as the Rose of Venezuela amongst other names. The tree is a small evergreen, but the flowers are large, showy, and really quite rose-like.
This one was at Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden. For more information about Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, go to htbg.com.
Tahitian prawns
Tahitian prawns were introduced to Hawaii back in the 1950s and are now found on all the islands thanks, in part, to the fact that their life cycle includes a stage in the open ocean. The prawns have become a popular food here though, as with most introduced species, there’s a downside. They prey on native species in the streams they inhabit.
One such stream runs through Hawai’i Tropical Bioreserve & Garden, which is where I saw these Tahitian prawns. This stream is also one of several on the island where the prawns have been virtually wiped out on occasion. That’s because, while it’s legal to catch these prawns, it’s not legal to do so by dumping insecticide in the stream. Not only does this kill all the prawns, but it wipes out pretty much everything else that’s alive in there. And then there’s the small matter that these prawns are harvested for human consumption. Would you like insecticide with that?
Catching people in the act has proved difficult, but last year authorities did apprehend one man who had killed 6,200 prawns using this method. Earlier this year, he was fined $633,840 for his actions and the hope is that the big fine will discourage others. Mind you, the perpetrator looked like someone who would have trouble raising $840, let alone the other $633,000.
Graham's Island 