"Purple haze" - of flowers!

[Hopefully many of you recognize the Jimi Hendrix song title.  Using the title to that powerful, but mysterious song, has no other significance then it sounded good and purple is my favorite color!]

This blog is dedicated to my high school, and later further friendship in Hawaii, friend and her husband. They did such a wonderful job hosting us in New England and giving us great information about Acadia National Park. 

Sunset on drive to the lake / New Hampshire / June 2016 

Newfound Lake view / New Hampshire / June 2016

Newfound Lake clouds / New Hampshire / June 2016

Profile Falls / New Hampshire / June 2016

There will be much more to come on our extended trip to the East Coast and the wonderful nature viewings there but this blog will be short and sweet. 

Town from the wharf area / Camden, ME / June 2016

One of the best recommendations from my friend about Acadia National Park was - go for tea at the Jordan Pond House and have popovers! 

Jordan Pond House/ Acadia National Park, ME / June 2016

Since popovers were a childhood treat made by my grandmother, we had to go! On our first day in the park we took the Park Loop Road which took us by Jordan Pond House. Luckily we were able to just walk in and have a delicious meal (lobster stew and two and a half popovers each) in an idyllic setting with a sweet waitress. 

Jordan Pond/ Acadia National Park, ME / June 2016

Jordan Pond/ Acadia National Park, ME / June 2016

The weather was gorgeous and our scrumptious afternoon-tea meal overlooked the picturesque Jordan Pond. The "pond" (lake-sized water features are ponds in Maine!) is surrounded by green mountains, granite boulder, and pine tree shores. 

After walking by the Pond and headed out the front, I was taking many photos and realized so many of my photos were in purple. So one of my many blog topics from our trip came to me - purple flowers! 

Lupine flowers / Jordan Pond House, ME / June 2016

Questions:

Did the groundskeepers plant with a purple theme in mind?

Do many annuals which have purple flowers bloom in early June?

Knowing how it snows in Maine, how quickly did the groundskeepers plant all these flowers? Were they first grown to flower in a greenhouse?

Lupine flower / Jordan Pond House, ANP, ME / June 2016

With limited resources for this blog (“on the road”), I will identify only what I know. The first photos  I took were of the familiar Lupine. 


We had seen many alongside the freeways all along the way. 


Were these the same lupine as found in California? The floret “spikes” seemed taller. 


Incidentally, Lupine are in the Fabaceae or legume family of which I have written many times! (March 10, 2016: Winter flowering plants / trees in Hawai’i and April 28, 2016: Fluffy Flowers)

There were pretty Pansies - a flower of childhood memories. Possibly not even planted - a “volunteer” plant.

Pansies / Jordan Pond House, ANP, ME / June 2016

Pansies up close / Jordan Pond House, ANP, ME / June 2016

And something like a hollyhock…

Unknown dark purple flower / Jordan Pond House, ANP, ME / June 2016

There was Wisteria in a very light purple, almost pink, color but since I know it let us say it is light purple! We grew it in our first house in Davis. 

Wisteria blooms / Jordan Pond House, ANP, ME / June 2016 

Wisteria blooms / Jordan Pond House, ANP, ME / June 2016 

And a delicate and tiny pansy-shaped flower in florets.  

Unknown purple flower / Jordan Pond House, ANP, ME / June 2016

So watch out for June nature and see if you see a predominance of a "purple haze" of flowers!

A hike to remember

June 16, 2016 (Post)

This blog is dedicated to my sister who loves to hike and who has been my most frequent houseguest in Hawai’i! It is also dedicated to a dear teaching friend and partner with whom I worked for years. 

Nesting Laysan Albatross / Kaena Point / December 2014 

She was a great mentor and is still a great friend. She first taught me about this hike, and the environmentally important treasures found there. She also got me involved in sharing such natural experiences with our students. 

Although the photos are from December 26, 2014, I have been meaning to use these Kaena Point photos for a long time. They are too wonderful to not share. As Hallmark will soon promote, let us just say it is “Christmas in July;” although it is not quite July yet.

Monk seal, on the way out / Kaena Point / December 2014

Ohai, bush/ Kaena Point / December 2014

December was obviously a wonderful time to go, but the hike is always beautiful. If you go in summer, be especially careful as the hike is very hot. You must take a lot of water, lots of sunscreen, and a hat!

For me, the greatest attraction of this hike has always been to see the two species whose existence is threatened, the Laysan Albatross and the ohai plant. 

Laysan Albatross sign/ Kaena Point / December 2014

Laysan Albatross, flying / Kaena Point / December 2014

The modifications to the trail have helped the species there. Until hiking in 2014, I didn’t realize it would be a good place to also see the threatened Monk Seal too!

Monk seals, at the point / Kaena Point / December 2014

Monk seals, at the point / Kaena Point / December 2014

One of the threatened species is on the endangered species list, the ohai. The ohai is a lovely looking symmetrical plant with a pea-shaped flower. Information about the plant 

Ohai, bush/ Kaena Point / December 2014

Ohai, flower / Kaena Point / December 2014

[Note: As always I am continuously learning because as I did research I found there are many more endangered plants on the trail for which I should be looking!] 

For me, the best threatened species to see at Kaena Point is the beautiful, sedate, and powerful Laysan Albatross. 

Laysan Albatross, on nest / Kaena Point / December 2014

The birds remain in place when you walk by because, like the penguin, they normally have no upright predators. When we took the hike in December, the birds were nesting. 

Laysan Albatross, looking / Kaena Point / December 2014 

Laysan Albatrosses, on nests / Kaena Point / December 2014

Unfortunately recently, the Laysan Albatross’s trust led to the death of some of the birds. Why would anyone do that? I am so sad and sickened when I think about the deaths of those beautiful and endangered birds! 

Note: if you want to see the Laysan Albatross, you must go in the winter months. 

Laysan Albatross, on nest / Kaena Point / December 2014

So hopefully over the summer you can “watch out for nature” and see some of the threatened species or at least some Hawai’i native plants or animals!

Cautionary tales - regarding plants…

Many ornamental, introduced plants have beautiful flowers and leaves but be careful! There are many documented problems for Hawai’i’s natural habitat caused by introduced species. [Here is one scholarly article and another article. ] Some of the problems include competition for resources, plant diseases, and actual smothering or strangling of plants and trees! [See May 26, 2016 - Roots and Vines - travelers and stranglers] 

For my blog’s purposes, there are other simpler human problems as one incorporates ornamental plants into yards. These cautions come from my own observations and experiences.

Golden cup flower / Aiea Heights area / May 2016 

There are many ornamental plants chosen for bright colored flowers. This yellow flower is not Cup-of-Gold and can behave like a vine.

The Caution: Like any vine, if left unmonitored they can overtake other plants. [See May 26, 2016 - Roots and Vines - travelers and stranglers]

Red ginger / Aiea Heights area / May 2016 

Torch ginger / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

These red flowers are of course the wonderful ginger flowers. These reproduce through stolons.  These underground roots are what you buy in the store as fresh ginger. If you have ever dealt with fresh ginger, you know it is tough and branches quite a deal. 

The Caution: Picture trying to cut and remove those tough, branching roots underground as you attempt to control it. Also, when we had a Red Ginger plant, the flowers were filled with ants!

Agapanthus / my yard / May 2016

The purple is Lily-of-the-Nile or Agapanthus. They make beautiful beds when their upright blooms appear once a year.

The Caution: If the plants are not in a raised bed, it is very difficult to keep out invading plants like vines and grass. The Agapanthus thick bottom stems grow very close together making it hard to weed out invaders. Also when the leaves are broken, they produce a dripping sap which causes me a lot of itching. When the area is scrubbed, the nature of the sap causes the infected area to spread on your arm!

The Bougainvillea has gloriously colored flowers. They appear in vibrant and varied colors. 

Bougainvillea, magenta / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

Bougainvillea, white / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

Bougainvillea, orange / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

Bougainvillea, double / Aiea Heights area / May 2016 

Bougainvillea hedge / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

Bougainvillea make great hedges.

The Caution:  They have a very spiky thorn throughout; thus their usefulness as hedges! Also, due to our long growing season and rains, the plant can grow wild and I have seen them engulfing trees. 

Croton species / my yard / May 2016

Croton species / my yard / May 2016

A prevalent yard favorite is Croton plants. I remember the colors from hedges in our yard when I was young. They provided beautiful backdrops for photos. 

The plant comes in such a variety of amazing fall colors. Different species of the plant also have different leaf sizes.

Croton species / Aiea Heights yard / May 2016

Croton species / Aiea Heights yard / May 2016

The Caution:  Croton plants are a milk-producing plant. So when cutting / trimming the plant, each break of their non-woody branches releases a sticky sap. For some people the sap can cause an itchy and / or burning rash.

Red Spurge / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

Another colorful leaved plant is this maroon-leaved plant. It has pretty delicate leaves. I believe it is related to Poinsettia.

The Caution:  It produces an even more toxic sap.  After trimming this plant, my husband developed a terrible burning rash. Of course, everyone may not have this reaction but the irritation isn’t really worth taking the chance and planting it!

Monstera deliciosa / Aiea Heights area / May 2016 

The last is this monster, in name and literally - Monstera deliciosa that is! The reason for the name…

The leaves are so large and occur in a beautiful pattern. It is no wonder the leaves are often used to decorate for events.

Monstera deliciosa / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

The Caution:  As mentioned before, due to a long growing season and rains, the plant can grow out of control. Like the Golden Pothos, I have seen the Monstera vine climbing up and overcoming tall trees! [See May 26, 2016 - Roots and Vines - travelers and stranglers]

Array of plants / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

Of course, every plant can be “tamed,” as evidenced by this exemplarily kept yard! These well-kept plants come from dedication, perseverance, and for some of the plants, special knowledge.

Bougainvillea bush / Aiea Heights area / May 2016 

This yard has a perfectly controlled Bougainvillea bush. Alas, many of us do not have the patience, or dedication, to keep up this level of “control.”

Ironwood tree / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

Ironwood tree branch / Aiea Heights area / May 2016 

The yard even includes an unbelievably shaped Ironwood tree. The Ironwood tree can grow to be very tall and even cause erosion problems, as at Kailua Beach. [See March 31, 2016 - What is a winter beach?]

Continue “watching out for nature…” And make sure you if you have any of these plants “tame” them so they don’t overcome your yard or surrounding areas and protect yourself from the saps if you have sensitive skin!

Alien Aliens!

The featured species for the week are “alien” (non-native to Hawai’i) species with unusual features. To me, the features are so unique they could cause as much amazement and second looks in their country of origin as they do here in Hawai’i! 

African Land Snail / Aiea Heights yard / January 2016

African Land Snail, “on track” / Aiea Heights yard / January 2016

Before I moved back to Hawai’i this “lowly” amphibian always fascinated me and got my attention. The giant African Land Snail is so huge! 

Over the years of living here, I have learned this “giant” has led to the reduction of the beautiful and varied native Hawaiian land snails . 

Among other things, the giant African Land Snail competes for resources. Here is a scholarly article about Hawaiian land snails and the environmental pressures they are facing.

While on a run, just the other day, I spotted this unusual looking palm tree. This one was about six feet tall and must be found in nurseries as they are in neighborhood yards.

Unknown palm tree / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

I am particularly amazed at those growths on the side. I don’t think they are new, unfurled leaves as those usually arise from the top of the palm in the middle of the leaf crown. 

Unknown palm tree / Aiea Heights area / May 2016

What are they? I will have to watch the “spikes” over time. Maybe they are fruit. After looking on-line for quite awhile, I think it is a Bottle Palm and those “bracts” will turn into fruit.

Sausage tree, green fruit / Ala Moana Beach Park / October 2015

A continual favorite of mine, found easily in Ala Moana Beach Park, is the Sausage Tree! 

Sausage tree, flowers & fruit / Ala Moana Beach Park / October 2015

Sausage tree, flowers & fruit / Ala Moana Beach Park / October 2015

Seeing this tree with its flowers and its odd fruit brings up lots of questions. How did such a large fruit come into being? A larger fruit makes me think of how man intervenes to produce more fruit “for your money;” I doubt this occurred for this tree. How does the ornate multi-flower transition into the large fruit? Is the fruit edible?

Cannonball Tree with many fruit / University of Hawaii, Manoa / August 2015

I have seen this very strange tree before. It is a Cannonball Tree, but this time the very unique flower was also present so I took lots of photos. 

Cannonball Tree / University of Hawaii, Manoa / August 2015 

Cannonball Tree / University of Hawaii, Manoa / August 2015 

I was amazed at the intricacy of the complex flower. What is the purpose of the convoluted shape? 

At the University, the trees / plants have signs attached. The Cannonball Tree is originally from the Guianas of South America. I have also seen the tree at Foster Botanical Garden. 

Cannonball Tree / University of Hawaii, Manoa / August 2015

This flower is another unique one! As I searched and searched for the identification of this flower I began to think the ethereal looking flower wasn’t real! 

Baobab tree flower / Ala Moana Beach Park / June 2015

But I finally identified it with this great website. And it all made sense; it is from an unusual tree - the Baobab tree. I would have known if I had included the tree trunk in the photo. That is a lesson - take photos of flowers and the tree! 

While you “watch out for nature,” see if you can spot any of these “alien aliens” or find your own and let me know about them.