Posts Tagged ‘Scene in Hawaii’
In My Mother’s Garden: Red Ginger in Hawaii
Red Ginger After the Felicia Tropical Storm Showers in My Mother's Garden
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.
Top View of Red Ginger Plant in Bloom
DoT’s Thot: “Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountain is going home; that wildness is necessity; that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.” — John Muir
Muir Woods did inspire me in the same way — my mother’s garden along the mountain side in Palolo Valley has also always seemed like a small trek into the wilderness. Wherever she could squeeze a plant in, in it went. Now that I am waiting for her surgery date, I go outside to take photos in my mother’s garden and share them with you.
Red Ginger Plants Sprouting from Between the Bracts of the Red Ginger Flowers
Red Ginger
One of the long-time residents in my mother’s garden has been the red ginger. It is hardy, a steady bloomer, and provides blossoms that are useful for tropical bouquets and for memorial offerings in the house or at the “haka” or graveyard. The beautiful red hue and stately, simple shape make this a highly desirable flowering plant in any garden scene in Hawaii.
As the plants mature, some of the red ginger blossoms will sprout young ginger plants from between the red bracts of the red ginger flowers. Mother reports that these can be planted to start more red ginger plants. Alas, I do not live in Hawaii and so cannot take these home to plant in my yard in California.
Red Samoan Ginger -- Bunching Ginger
Samoan Ginger: a Red, Bunching Ginger
A newer variety of red ginger that grows in my mother’s garden is what she introduced to me as a Samoan Red Ginger. It is much fuller and resembles a kind of tight bunching of the red ginger described above. It has a very heavy and full head of red bracts in a conical or “Christmas tree” shape.
Samoan Red Ginger Detail Showing White Bud and White Blossom
Actual Red Ginger Flowers are Modest, White
The real flowers are actually some very small and modest white blossoms among the red bracts. I have included a closeup so you can see them. Standing among the stalks of red ginger, I remember my childhood and the many occasions that these blossoms found their way into our home or as gifts to family and friends.
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References:
- Flowers of American Samoa
- Wikipedia: prosopis pallida
- Growing Bougainvilleas
- Prosopis pallida: kiawe, keawe, algaroba, mesquite by Kim and Forest Starr
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- Vegetarian Recipes: Star Anise Flavored Boiled Peanuts
- In My Mother’s Garden: Neem Tree; Miracle Herb from India
- Scene in Hawaii: View from My Mother’s Hospital Room
- 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
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Kiawe Tree Revisited
- Scene in Hawaii: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Bougainvillea “Dragons”
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Snowflakes, Rainbow Shower Tree Haiku
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
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Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Kiawe Tree Revisited
Kiawe Beans on Hawaiian Kiawe Tree in Hawaii Kai, 3 August 2009
Under the Kiawe Tree Looking at the Ocean Horizon, Hawaii Kai, 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 Thot: I suddenly remembered the burlap bags of kiawe beans for the cows!
Hawaiian Kiawe Tree at the Park
Last week, I took my mother for a drive. At 92, she is not up to walking about, but a drive to the park for a little breeze and to see the ocean and rest our eyes on the horizon is a nice occasion. We took a drive to Hawaii Kai and stopped at a little park. I stopped under a large tree and was enjoying a look at the ocean when I suddenly realized that I was under a kiawe tree.
Kiawe Tree Seed Pods Fed the Cows
I looked up and saw some of the yellow bean pods hanging from the tree and flashed back decades to a time when as a little girl I remember picking these up under such large trees with gnarled branches on Oahu in what was then a kind of rural area — Waialae. Today, this is a fully developed neighborhood. Back then, there were little farms and these huge kiawe trees here and there. We called the seed pods “kiawe beans” and collected them to sell to the dairy man.
Gnarled Kiawe Tree Branches, Hawaii Kai, August 2009
Took Some Pictures of the Kiawe Trees to Share
My mother and I reminisced about the burlap bags we filled with the beans to sell to the local dairy for $1 a bag as feed for the cows that gave the milk for the little children on Oahu. I remember having to avoid any fallen branches, because there were long thorns on those. In addition, the gnarled branches have a very unique and rustic appeal. I took some pictures. Reluctant to leave my mother in the car alone, I did the best I could sitting there. It was a little excursion down memory lane for Mom and me.
Aloha, DoT
Related Articles and References:
- Wikipedia: prosopis pallida
- Growing Bougainvilleas
- Prosopis pallida: kiawe, keawe, algaroba, mesquite by Kim and Forest Starr
Related Posts:
- Vegetarian Recipes: Star Anise Flavored Boiled Peanuts
- In My Mother’s Garden: Neem Tree; Miracle Herb from India
- Scene in Hawaii: View from My Mother’s Hospital Room
- 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: Monarch Butterfly Caterpiller in a Supermarket Garden Shop
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Bougainvillea “Dragons”
- Scene in Hawaii: Hawaiian Snowflakes, Rainbow Shower Tree Haiku
- A Note on Monarch Butterflies in Hawaii
- Grow Tomatoes Review: Chinese Purple Tomato Fried Rice Recipe
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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
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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
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