Here is a close-up of a shell ginger flower. The hummingbirds love them and they put on quite a display. The flowers also last a little longer than the white, yellow and kahili gingers do. However, they do grow rather large, perhaps 10 feet tall or more, if they're happy.
This little female long tailed duck appears to be napping on the job. You can still see the droplets of water, however, from her last dive.
This is a picture of a rare orange form of Myrmecophila exaltata, also known as Schomburkia exaltata. In nature, these grow up on big, rough barked trees and their very long flower stems (3-4 ft) wave and rustle in the breeze. Pretty amazing things.
Well, going to graduate school does put a crimp in my picture taking time. This is a picture of an Orange Clock Vine (wow!), Thunbergia gregorii, that was blooming at the Quail Botanical Gardens a few weeks ago. It's back to studying for me...
It's been a bright, sunny day here in So. Cal. This picture is from the picnic a week ago in Coronado.
This is a photo of cluster of Nageliella purpurea (an orchid) growing on a little twig in the greenhouse. This plant has thrived even living outside for three years and continues to bloom all year round. The flowers are about the size of an eraser head.
Here's a picture of one of the orchids blooming in the greenhouse. They've managed to survive a few years out on the deck and are looking much happier now that they are in the greenhouse. If my latin doesn't fail me too badly, I think Epi referred to "air" and dendrite or dendrum in this case to "roots." Many of the orchids are epiphytes (air lovers) which live with their roots exposed to the air up on trees and rocks.
There is something relaxing about plants that lets you forget about things for a little while. Besides, they don't gripe or whine, they give you pretty flowers, they smell nice...what more could you ask for? Grin.
A Dog's Love is without question;
Complete and without doubt;
No moods nor questions enter into;
The love they freely give;
If man can learn by free example;
But one thing and only this;
A finer place this world would be;
If a dogs love, we could give.
1995-2007; R.I.P.
This is a picture of seal floats in Alaska. Rather than purchase little floats, the very resourceful natives used cured seal skins, paws and all, as floats (for whale hunting). Nothing goes to waste... Wow.
We had a company picnic on Thursday at the Hotel Del Coronado. The sky was cloudless and it was a bit hot. A good time was generally had by all.