A Giant Among Orchids: Grammatophyllum speciosum

Grammatophyllum speciosum blooming outdoors at the Kawamoto Orchid Nursery on Oahu, Hawaii.  This species can grow up to ten feet tall and grows quite bushy if grown warm.  The species is found in a variety of tropical countries including Myanamar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Borneo, Java, Moluccas, Philippines, Sulawesi, Sumatra, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands!

Least Sandpipers

Least Sandpipers, Calidris minutilla, skimming over the waves, at The Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve.

Hang Glider over Black's Beach

Hang Glider high up above the cliffs of Black's Beach, La Jolla, California.  I really enjoyed the perspective on this one!

Paphiopedilum bellatulum

Paphiopedilum bellatulum, a lovely orchid  native to Assam, India, Myanamar, Thailand, and theYunnan Province of China where it is typically found in dense shade growing on limestone crevices in leaf litter and moss.   The weight of the typically single, heavy, waxy flower causes the stem to droop down towards the ground, ostensibly allowing ants to pollinate the flower.

Phal bellina variety alba

Phal bellina variety alba.  The albino forms of orchids are typically a bit smaller flowered and a little more difficult to grow.  However, with a little line breeding and/or out-crossing, some really nice forms eventually crop up.

Phalaenopsis bellina var. coerulea

A beautifully round, fragrant Phalaenopsis bellina var. coerulea from Norman's Orchids.   This Phalaenopsis species likes to grow hot and humid and is somewhat susceptible to damping off in cooler conditions.  The original species comes from Borneo where it grows in in shady, humid, swampy forests near sea level.  They have a light fragrance of fruit loops (or perhaps it's the other way around and fruit loops smell like Phal. bellina!).

Bifrenaria harrisoniae var alba

Bifrenaria harrisoniae var alba.  This is an albino form of this normally white flower with hot pink lip.  This species hails from coastal Brazil where it grows at around 500 to 2000 ft.  It is a delightful sturdy and robust grower, easily forming specimen plants, even outdoors here in Southern California.  The alba clone tends to be slightly less robust in size and growing habit but is still a good grower.

Echinocereus rigidissimus var rubrispinus in Bloom

Echinocereus rigidissimus var. rubrispinus.  This is one of those cacti that is attractive year round due to its beautiful ruby-colored spines.  Still, the bloom is huge compared to this little cactus and well worth the wait.

San Diego American Orchid Society Judging Awards for June 3, 2014

Encyclia (Sietetrescuartos X diota) 'Royal Basin Midnight' HCC/AOS 77pts.

Allen's Hummingbird on Aloe

Allens Hummingbird, Selasphorus sasin, feasting on Aloe nectar at the Huntington Botanical Gardens.

Juvenile Seagull

Juvenile seagull begging for food.  Note the submissive stance.  They make a pitiful meowing sound when begging for food.  Not sure where his Mom is...

Black Orchids

Fred Clarke, of Sunset Valley Orchids, has had wonderful success in "black" orchids in the Catasetinae.  Shown here is one of his crosses, Fredclarkeara After Dark X Catasetum Mark Dimmett, a second generation of black orchids with wider, flatter, Catasetum lips!

Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach, showing that famous turquoise water and powder-white sand.

Hang Gliders on a Hot Day

Hang Gliders lining up along the cliffs of La Jolla.  These were both dual seaters with the back person steering and controlling the hang glider and the front person there to enjoy the ride.  Below them, the famous sands of Black's Beach.

San Diego Evening Skyline

San Diego evening skyline.  You could see the lights of the planes as they fly in low over downtown.

Bernardo Fire Raging in San Diego

We had a really dry Winter in Southern California this year.  Even some of my cacti are shriveling up...  The wild shrub/chapparal is tinder dry.  I shot this picture out of our office building looking North at the Bernardo fire (at around 2pm).  As of 6pm, over 800 acres burned, 20,000 homes evacuated, BUT we've not lost any homes.  I can smell the smoke all the way down in Mission Valley.  Let's hope they get it under control soon. Meanwhile, it's air conditioning for the dog and I.  The temperatures are in the high 90s and tomorrow in the low 100s with a moderate hot, dry breeze from the East.  If you want to read more about this fire, here's a link.
KTLA News

Green Sea Turtle

Green Sea Turtle, Chelonia mydas.  These used to be pretty rare when I was a kid.  However, the population has rebounded significantly, now that they are no longer hunted.  They are generally unafraid of people and can often be seen coming up to breathe, even at some of the most busy beaches.

San Diego American Orchid Society Awards for May, 2014

Here are the American Orchid Society awards from the San Diego Judging on Tuesday, May 6, 2014.

 Ansellia africana 'Arnilicious' AM/AOS

Cattleya intermedia coerulea '6760' AM/AOS

Ocean Beach, San Diego, California

I decided to try the new wide angle lens during a sunset at Ocean Beach California.  Here's what resulted...(note, the first one is with a zoom but #2 and #3 are with the wide angle).  Doesn't it just make you want to move to San Diego?

 The last bit of sun before the sun dipped below the waves.

The ever-present Seagulls looking for clams.

A good wide angle shot of the beach and fishing pier.

On the Breakwater

On the breakwater at Queen's Surf, Waikiki, Hawaii.

Mime with chair and stuffed dog

Mime with chair and stuffed dog, Little Italy, San Diego, California.  Do you suppose a real dog would work better?  I didn't realize he was a live person until he moved!

Cattleya amesthystoglossa

Cattleya amesthystoglossa is in season.  This particular clone has particularly large, brilliant spots.  This orchid species is a native of Brazil where it grows in hot, humid conditions along the coast in Bahia, Minas Gerais and Pernambuco.

Oriental Flower Beetle

An Oriental Flower Beetle, Protaetia orientalis, caught in a dish of water in Kaneohe, Hawaii.  This rather pretty, though invasive, beetle is native to East Asia but has gained a foothold in Hawaii.  The Oriental Flower Beetle feeds on flower pollen, nectar, fermenting sap, and damaged fruit.  It likely arrived in Hawaii along with imported fruit or flowers and has since spread to multiple islands.

Cattleya schofieldiana

Cattleya schofieldiana blooming at Kawamoto Orchid Nursery.  These are natives of coastal Brazil.

Artificial Propagation of Coral

Coral propagation tank at the Waikiki Aquarium.  The Waikiki Aquarium has an ongoing coral propagation initiative to save sensitive coral species in captivity.  It appears to be quite successful so far!

Octopus Tete a Tete!

Octopus staring at its own reflection. Does it know it's only a reflection, a mere ruse?  These are shy but intelligent creatures and it may just realize that it's looking at itself!

Renanthera Kalsom 'Red Dragon'

Renanthera Kalsom 'Red Dragon' at Kawamoto Orchid Nursery.  This photo was shot just after a heavy rain.  I never tire of seeing these moderate sized Renantheras!  This wonderful, easy growing hybrid is a cross of Renantherea philippinensis and Renanthera storiei.

The Tailed Jay Butterfly

The Tailed Jay, Graphium agamemnon, is a member of the swallowtail family, its native habitat extends from India, throughout Southeast Asia and parts of the Southern Pacific, down through Australia.  Its native food source is Polyantha logifolia, the false Ashoka or Asopalav Tree, which is sometimes used for a noise and wind break.

Paphiopedilum haynaldianum

Paphiopedilum haynaldianum, blooming in the sun room.  I really like this particular clone for its bright colors and wider segments (versus the one I posted previously).  Of course, I like haynaldianum in a general sense for its amazing combination of glossy hot pink, line green and polka dots combined with those deep sweeping petals.  What's not to like? This species is found in nature in the Philippines and, if treated well, grows into huge clumps.

Pleurothallis alvaroi

Pleurothallis alvaroi, a somewhat variable Columbian Pleurothallid species found near Medellin at around 6000 feet.  Reasonably sized for a Pleurothallid but diminutive, as orchid species go.

The Paper Kite Butterfly, Idea leuconoe

The Paper Kite Butterfly, Idea leuconoe, is native of Southeast Asia, where the caterpillars feed on plants in the genus Parsonia.

The Great Orange Tip Butterfly

The Great Orange Tip Butterfly, Hebomoia glaucippe, is in the Pieridae family, and is native to Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia and Malaysia.  It's life span is only a bit over three months during which time it lives on the juices of rotten fruit.  Interestingly enough, it also has a toxin in its wing tips called glacontryphan-M, a peptide toxin also found in the stinger of Conus marmoreus, the marbled cone (found in tropical waters throughout the Indo-Pacific), which uses the toxin to prey on other cone shells.  In the butterfly, it is likely defensive.

The latest in Fashion Acessories, Morpho Butterflies!

Common Blue Morpho, Morpho peleides, perching on a safari hat.  Blue Morphos range from Mexico to Northern South America and Trinidad.

Morpho species, not sure which species but clearly related.  It could just be the angle that causes the color change but it certainly appears to have a different pattern from the common blue morpho.

The Starry Cracker Butterfly

This female Starry Cracker Butterfly, Hamadryas laodamia saurites, is a native of Southern Mexico through Columbia.  Shown here posing on an arm, the mystery hand model remaining anonymous.  It really, really liked his arm, crawling all up and down.  No idea why it chose him in particular.

Northern Pintail Kung Fu Kick

Northern Pintail Duck Kung Fu?  Heeeyaaa!  (Anas acuta, Mission River Preserve)

Long-Billed Curlew

Long-Billed Curlew, Mission River Preserve, San Diego, CA.

Cactus Wren Nest in Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus

Cactus Wren Nest in the middle of a Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus.  They're pretty safe there, as long as nobody gets spined...

Verdin on Palo Verde Tree

Verdin, Auriparus flaviceps, on Palo Verde tree at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.  I swear he was wagging his tail at me!

Anna's Hummingbirds Fighting over Feeder Rights

Anna's Hummingbirds fighting over feeder rights, talons out front, in a flurry of wings and color.  They're really cute but pretty doggone feisty if you're another hummingbird.

Black-throated Gray Warbler

Black-throated Gray Warbler, Setophaga nigrescens, show here in a Palo Verde tree in Anza Borrego State Park, likely migrating through the Anza Borrego Desert to spend its Winter in Mexico.

Opuntia phaeacantha (Prickly Pear)

Opuntia phaeacantha (The Tulip Prickly Pear) with bees doing the backstroke through the pollinia, at Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

Orange-Crowned Warbler

Orange-Crowned Warbler, Vermivora celata, lunching on a Palo Verde tree.  The Palo Verde were blooming in clouds of crepe-paper-like, bright yellow flowers accented by their very ephemeral leaves. There are a few warblers that look pretty close to this one; however, the lighter stripe over the eye is a characteristic of the orange-crowned warbler.

Anna's Humminbird and Ocotillo

Female Anna's Hummingbird on Ocotillo.  One the drive to Anza Borrego, the desert was awash in blooming Ocotillo and red barrell cactus!  You could see the tall spiky branches covered with orange flowers, spread across the desert for miles.  It's been a really dry year so most of the wildflowers didn't come up this year but the Ocotillo, having deep roots to tap into subterranean water supplies, are blooming like clockwork.

Anna's Hummingbird with Attitude

An Anna's Hummingbird, with serious attitude, rushing off to challenge another hummingbird which was poaching his food!

Phalaenopsis gibbosa

Phalaenopsis gibbosa, a native of lowland, broadleaf forests in Vietnam and Laos.  This one is a miniature with flowers about the size of your fingernail on your pinkie finger.