Archive for the ‘Extra Info’ Category
Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
Crown Flower in the Supermarket Nursery -- Honolulu, August 9, 2009
NOTE: DoT has been posting from Honolulu since late July when she left California to help her mother through some medical procedures. She will be doing so until she can return to Orange County.
DoT’s Thot: “Love and kindness are the very basis of society. If we lose these feelings, society will face tremendous difficulties; the survival of humanity will be endangered.” — Dalai Lama
Supermarket Nursery– My Old Reliable Source of Gifts for Mother
Seeking ways to entertain a 92 year old mother, I visited a supermarket garden shop in (Moiliili) Honolulu that I have frequented for years. On every visit home, I have looked for plants and flowers to give Mom. One year I found an orchid plant with green blossoms. On this visit, as I wandered around, picking up vegetable seeds and potting soil, I walked out into the garden open area. It was bright and sunny and the full sun plants were getting all the rays they needed.
Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller 9 Aug. 09
Crown Flower — Excellent Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller Food
Over at one end of the rows of plants, I suddenly realized that I was staring at a pot with a white crown flower plant in it. For a commercial plant, it looked strangely moth-eaten with large holes in the leaves. All the other plants looked whole and commercially, cosmetically highly presentable. I looked closer and sure enough, there it was, a Monarch Butterfly caterpiller, large and succulent, munching away. I thought it a bit odd.
Goodbye to My Supermarket Garden Shop
Upon checking out, I overheard a conversation between a customer and clerk and discovered that the supermarket garden shop would be closing in a month or so. I was stunned and joined the conversation — my reliable nursery would be no more. None of the garden shop staff knows about their futures as yet; the nursery is another victim of the economic downturn.
Compassion in Survival: Hope for the Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller
As I packed the potting materials and plants into the car, I realized that the staff has conscientiously cared for all the plants. If I had not heard the conversation, I, as a visitor, would never have known about the employment issues — the Monarch Butterfly caterpiller was being spared by the staff. I took my camera, went back and took a few pictures to share with you the aloha (love) and ohana (family) in the supermarket garden shop that will soon be dispersed and go elsewhere.
Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller -- oopsy daisy, up and over
With the timetable they have, there is time for a butterfly to emerge from the Monarch Butterfly caterpiller. I truly hope all the staff find positions — I will miss them all, people and butterfly..
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References:
Related Posts:
- Asclepsis and Lantana: Food for Monarch Butterflies
- Monarch Butterfly Haiku: Camera Madness
- Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
- Missed the Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis — Found It Empty
- Monarch Butterflies — Caterpillar Faith
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Site Review — go visit
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt — First Report
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt is On
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Vegetarian Recipes: Star Anise Flavored Boiled Peanuts
- In My Mother’s Garden: Neem Tree; Miracle Herb from India
- Scene In Hawaii: Rooster at the Shopping Center
- In My Mother’s Garden: Pakalana, One of My Favorite Fragrant Vining Flowers
- Cooking in Hawaii: Manoa Lettuce, My Favorite Salad Greens
- In My Mother’s Garden: the White Hibiscus Dad Gave Mom
- Cooking in Hawaii: Ginger Oil Chicken
- Cooking in Hawaii: Ahi Sashimi with Shiso, Chili Pepper, and Shoyu
- In My Mother’s Garden: Shell Ginger Hidden Among the Red Ginger
- In My Mother’s Garden: Red Ginger in Hawaii
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Kiawe Tree Revisited
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Bougainvillea “Dragons”
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Snowflakes, Rainbow Shower Tree Haiku
- Grow Tomatoes Review: Chinese Purple Tomato Fried Rice Recipe
Find Useful Cultivator Tools Here
Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Bougainvillea “Dragons”
Bougainvillea "Dragons" Honolulu, Hawaii 5 August 2009
NOTE: DoT has been posting from Honolulu since late July when she left California to help her mother through some medical procedures. She will be doing so until she can return to Orange County.
DoT’s Thots: “A dragon can be unseen or visible, minute or huge, long or short. However,
always it is great.“ — Shuo Wen (ca. 100)
Recently, while taking my mother for a drive in Honolulu, I noticed a variety of bougainvillea that I had not seen before. The branches were long and sinewy and bobbed about in the wind. They seemed magically animated — what a great visual treat.
Long green leaf-scaled “necks” ended in bright rosy pink bracts with tiny tubular embedded flowers. The effect was quite like a number of dragon heads undulating in the wind. I was so entranced with the look that I vowed to go back and get a few pictures.
I have them here for you to see. In the closeup you can see that these are indeed some variety of bougainvillea. When I have a chance, I will track this down at a plant nursery. At the moment, I am deeply engaged in helping mother with her health issues and put further search on the back burner, but could not wait to share the photos. Please enjoy the Hawaiian Bougainvillea Dragons.
Closeup of "Dragon Bougainvillea" 5 August 2009, Honolulu, HI
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References:
Related Posts:
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Snowflakes, Rainbow Shower Tree Haiku
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Obama and Hawaii: Color-Rich, Not Color-Blind
My Memories Suite - the #1 rated digital scrapbooking software now!
Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Snowflakes, Rainbow Shower Tree Haiku
NOTE: DoT has been posting from Honolulu since late July when she left California to help her mother through some medical procedures. She will be doing so until she can return to Orange County.
Rainbow Shower Tree Flowers, 4 August 2009, Honolulu, Hawaii
Rainbow Shower Haiku, Honolulu, Hawaii 4 August 2009
Closeup of Rainbow Shower Tree Looking Up 4 August 2009, Honolulu, Hawaii
DoT’s Thot: It is August here in Hawaii where I am visiting my mother. The rainbow shower trees are in full bloom. There are also white shower trees, yellow shower trees, and pink shower trees, all sharing their blossoms with us. It is beautiful and the graceful swaying of the leaves, the colorful, delicate petals drifting about. and gentle breezes make me feel at home once more.
Rainbow Shower Tree In the Neighborhood 4 August 2009, Honolulu, Hawaii
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References
* Plants of Hawaii
Related Posts
* A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
* Obama and Hawaii: Color-Rich, Not Color-Blind
Find Useful Cultivator Tools Here
Asclepsis and Lantana: Food for Monarch Butterflies
Asclepsis and Lantana Planted Together for Monarch Butterflies
DoT’s Thot: I was thinking of and feeding the Monarch babies, then I realized I should think of the Monarch Butterflies and what they need for food as well.
Asclepsis Provides Milkweed Leaves for Monarch Butterfly Caterpillers
Asclepsis Provides Milkweed for Monarch Butterfly Caterpillers
I first focused on the asclepsis mikl plant that I needed to feed the Monarch Butterfly caterpillers that would grow up to be the lovely orange, black and white butterflies. In another post, I explained that I was familiar with the crown flower in Hawaii, but not with the equivalents in California. In browsing around I happened upon a description of this asclepsis pictured here and got some seeds about 3 years ago. It worked and I have had a number of generations of Monarch Butterflies.
Lantana Provides Nectar for Monarch Butterflies
Lantana Provides Nectar for the Monarch Butterflies
This year, I realized that the Monarch Butterflies themselves would appreciate some flowers that appeal to them for food as well. Luckily I read that they like Lantana blossoms and I have a bush right in front. This year I planted some asclepsis in front of the larger lantana bush to make a mini-habitat.
Plan to Expand Monarch Butterfly Way Station
Next year, I hope to be a regular way station for the Monarch Butterflies and feed the monarch butterfly caterpillers even more . Because the seeds of the asclepsis burst from their pods and fly all over the place, I think I’ll move the bulk of the asclepsis to the backyard. I do still wish I had the familiar crown flower, but have not succeeded in finding it here in California. Hence, this asclepsis has to do.
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles or References:
Related Posts:
- Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Monarch Butterfly Haiku: Camera Madness
- Monarch Butterfly Sightings Haiku — the Asclepsis Gardener’s Reward
- Missed the Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis — Found It Empty
- Monarch Butterflies — Caterpillar Faith
- Monarch Butterfly Life Cycle Site Review — go visit
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt — First Report
- Monarch Butterfly Egg Hunt is On
Find Useful Cultivator Tools Here
Grow Tomatoes Review: Packing Tomatoes for a 400 Mile Road Trip
A Large Christmas Gift Box Reused to Send Heirloom Tomato Gifts Packing
DoT’s Thot: Heirloom tomatoes are so wonderful to eat, but can be more delicate than the hybrid tomatoes. I have now sent tomatoes on a 400 mile road trip twice to Berkeley from Orange County, CA. The tomatoes arrived in great shape and I thought you might like to see how an amateur enthusiast shared her heirloom tomato gifts with others.
Save and Reuse Large Flat Christmas (or other) Gift Boxes for Packing Tomatoes
I had saved some Christmas Gift Boxes and took the largest one for packing tomatoes. First, I doubled the box by putting the bottom of the box into the box lid to make it stronger. Next, I put in some crumpled up newspaper pages to give some cushioning for the precious heirloom tomato gifts.
Write the Name of the Heirloom Tomato Gifts on Paper Towel Quarter-Sheets
Then, I selected pretty specimens of the various tomato types. I cut paper towels into quarters and wrote the tomato’s name on the paper towel piece. Then I gently nestled the tomatoes into the box, rearranging and adding crumpled newspaper as the filler. The effect was quite impressive.
Most times, I would have had a large insulated bag to slide the box into (the bag is one that looks like a large over-the-shoulder-bag). Not having that this time, I then took a kitchen tall plastic bag and slid the box into it and made sure that this sat on the top of the most level and cushioned position in the trunk of the car.
For good measure, I wrapped one of those frozen “blue ice” packs in a towel and nestled that next to the box to keep the ambient temperature cooler around the tomatoes. The tomatoes made the trip quite nicely.
Hope this helps– Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References
- Heirlooms versus Hyrids: A Common-sense Approach
- Care Package of Tomatoes Packed to Go to Berkeley
- Pruning Tomato Plants and String Trellis Video
Tomato Growers' Store (Even for Growing Tomatoes Upside Down)
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- Tomato Gardening Journal — Review of May 2009
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- Grow Tomatoes Review: Journal Entry – Pink Thai Egg Tomato
- First Tomato of 2009 — Pink Thai Egg
