Bright morning with altocumulus clouds

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

The early morning light was bright, even though the sky over our garden was partly covered by these altocumulus clouds.  The flowering tree in the foreground is a Rainbow Plumeria.

Royal Poinciana: Mature seed pod

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Last year I posted a photo of an immature green seed pod on one of our Royal Poinciana trees.  The immature seed pods are green and soft, but as they ripen, they become brown and hard.  Today's photo shows a mature Royal Poinciana seed pod.

Eventually the pods will drop from the trees onto the ground, unless they are removed ahead of time.  If you pick up and shake one of these mature seed pods, you will hear the seeds inside rattle against the hard shell of the pod.  The seed pods are are between 12 and 18 inches long (about 30 to 45 cm).  Seed pods like this are characteristic of trees in this family (Fabaceae).

Flowers on a Golden Shower Tree

Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

I was outdoors trying to photograph some birds.  They were not cooperating.  They kept hiding in the trees!  Not to be defeated, I decided to take some pictures of the flowering trees instead.  Here is one of those shots.

These are the flowers on a Golden Shower Tree (Cassia fistula).  The blossoms grow in pendulous clusters called a 'racemes' -- sort of like an upside-down bouquet.  When fully in bloom, the tree looks like a golden cloud from a distance.  Later, long bean-shaped seed pods will replace the flowers.

Shower trees are native to south Asia, but are very popular here in Hawaii where they are seen along streets, and in parks, as well as in people's gardens.  They come in several color varieties.

Flowers on a Mango Tree

Name: Mango (Mangifera indica L.)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

When our mango trees are in flower, two things are certain: a) delicious fruit is on its way; b) I will be sneezing until the fruit replaces the blossoms.   I am allergic to mango pollen, but fortunately I am not allergic to the wonderful fruit!

Tip for the allergy-prone from someone who has learned the hard way:  Never hang your freshly laundered bedsheets out to dry on a clothesline strung under a mango tree that is in bloom! ;-)

Singapore Plumeria (Plumeria obtusa)

Singapore Plumeria (Plumeria obtusa)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here is another variety of Plumeria from our garden.  This variety is known locally as Singapore Plumeria (Plumeria obtusa).  Unlike other Plumeria varieties, the Singapore Plumeria is an evergreen. I ts dark green leaves are shiny and have rounded tips, whereas the leaves on other varieties are paler, more drab, and have pointy tips.  In my opinion, the fragrance of the Singapore Plumeria blossoms is superior to the other varieties -- although they all smell wonderful!

In case you may have missed them, here are some photos of other Plumeria varieties: Pink / Rainbow / Lueang Sakhon.  Note: In some parts of the world the Plumeria is known as Frangipani.

Banana Flower

Banana (Musa sp.)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Our banana trees are flowering, and some are beginning to fruit.  Right now, the newly formed green bananas are only about three inches (8 cm) long.  Once they have grown to their full size, they will begin to turn yellow.   We like to eat them before they over-ripen, so when the fruit is about half-yellow, a 'hand' at a time will be cut from the tree.

We love having bananas fresh from the garden.  The only problem is that so many seem to ripen at once, yielding more than we can eat before they spoil.  When faced with an oversupply, we share them with neighbors, sometimes trading the bananas for types of fruits we don't grow.

Pink Plumeria

Pink Plumeria (Plumeria sp.)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

We have several varieties of Plumeria in our garden.  This one bears blossoms with reddish centers and shaded pink petals.  This variety is deciduous; the tree branches are bare of leaves and flowers for about half the year.   The blossoms have a sweet aroma, and they are often used in leis.

Blossoms on a Meyer lemon tree, just beginning to fruit

Meyer Lemon (Citrus × meyeri)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

The blossoms on one of our lemon trees are beginning to fruit right before our eyes.  This photo shows several stages of the flower-to-fruit transition all in one blossom cluster.  These blossoms are on a Meyer lemon tree.   The blossoms are deliciously fragrant, and the fruit is exceptionally juicy.  The juice is excellent for fresh lemonade and for cooking.

Blossoms on a Royal Poinciana Tree

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

We have a number of Royal Poinciana trees in our garden.  They were bare all winter, but now they all are full of buds.  Soon we'll be seeing lots of blossoms like these, photographed last summer.

Six-petaled Plumeria Blossom

Lueang Sakhon Plumeria (Plumeria rubra cultivar)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Nearly a year ago I posted a photo of Lueang Sakhon Plumeria blossoms.  I mentioned then that this particular tree in our garden occasionally bears six-petaled blossoms along with the usual five-petaled variety.

I came across this photo of a six-petaled blossom on that tree.  It's an older photo, taken with a point-and-shoot camera, but it shows one of the anomalous six-petaled blossoms, mingled with the 'regular' five-petaled blossoms on the same tree.  I'd call it a freak of nature, but it's hard to label something so pretty a freak! 

Bottlebrush Tree Flower

Bottlebrush Tree (Callistemon sp.)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

The Bottlebrush Tree (Callistemon sp.) in our garden is blooming.  The common name comes from the flower's resemblance to a bottlebrush.   The genus name, Callistemon, means "beautiful stamens."   The clumps of  'bristles' on the bottlebrush flower actually are the stamens of individual blossoms -- so, each flower on this tree really is a cluster of small blossoms.  Each of the 'bottlebrushes' is about two inches (5 cm) long.  This is a macro image, so it appears somewhat magnified.

Royal Poinciana - Green Seed Pods

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Seed pods are sprouting on the Royal Poinciana trees in my garden.   The new seed pods, which resemble long green beans, are between 12 and 18 inches long (about 30 to 45 cm).  The pods are green and soft right now, but later they will harden and turn brown as the seeds inside mature.

This is the latest photo documenting the seasonal stages of the Royal Poinciana.   In May I posted a photo of buds on a branch of one of the trees. In July I posted a photo of a single Royal Poinciana blossom, and another of a mass of blossoms on the same tree.   Later, I'll post a photo of the mature brown seed pods -- but as of today, the pods are green.

UPDATE:  Here is a photo of a mature Royal Poinicana seed pod.

Red 'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)

'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha)

Location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island, Hawaii

If you have not been to Hawaii, you probably never have seen this native blossom.  The 'Ohi'a Lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is a Hawaiian endemic plant.   Here is a brief description from the University of Hawaii's Botany Department:

This extremely variable species may be mature and flower when only a few inches tall in bogs but may reach towering heights in other habitats. Leaves range from thick and very pubescent to thin and glabrous. Flowers may be either red, or less frequently, yellow. The species is the most pervasive native forest tree in Hawaii, found on all the major islands and in a variety of habitats. It is an important food plant for native birds.

I photographed this one along a hiking trail in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, on Hawaii's Big Island.

Royal Poinciana in Profusion

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Last week for Ruby Tuesday I posted a photo of a single Royal Poinciana blossom.  Here is another, surrounded by another and another and another!  When these trees flower, they are completely covered with a dense profusion of blossoms.  At this time of year, when seen from a distance, Royal Poinciana trees look like bright scarlet clouds perched on a trunk.

Royal Poinciana Blossom

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Back in May, I posted a photo of buds on a branch of a Royal Poinciana tree in my garden.  The trees now are in full bloom, bearing masses of brilliant red-orange blossoms.    In this wide-angle photo of my back garden, you can see the Royal Poincianas in the background.  Today's photo shows what an individual blossom looks like.

Summer Garden, Hawaii

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

I have been away from home for weeks, and although I saw some pretty sights during my travels, it's always nice to get back to Hawaii.  This is my back garden on the day I returned from my trip.  In my absence all the flowering trees and shrubs in the garden blossomed forth, quite literally, greeting me with a riot of color.

Monkey Pod Tree In Flower

Monkey Pod (Samanea saman)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

A favorite shade tree in Hawaii is the Monkey Pod (Samanea saman).  They can grow to an immense size, and their spreading branches form a beautifully shaped canopy.  At this time of year, they flower.   Eventually the flowers will become dark bean-shaped seed pods, but for now, we admire the delicate blossoms.

Update:  Here is a photo showing the whole Monkey Pod tree.

Coming Attractions: Royal Poinciana Buds

Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

A few days ago when I was roaming around my garden, I was happy to see that one of our Royal Poinciana trees had many flower buds.  These will turn into brilliant red blossoms very soon.  When the blossoms appear, I'll post some pictures of them.

The Royal Poinciana (Delonix regia) is native to Madagascar, but is very popular as an ornamental tree here in Hawaii.   In addition to the brilliant blossoms, it also has lush foliage all summer, providing shade as well as beauty.

Lueang Sakhon Plumeria

Lueang Sakhon Plumeria (Plumeria rubra cultivar)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here is a nice bouquet of Plumeria blossoms, just as they grow on a tree in our garden.  This hybrid variety, called Lueang Sakhon, is a cultivar of Plumeria rubra.  You can compare this variety to the Rainbow Plumeria that I posted last month.  The petals are similarly shaped, but the color of the blossoms is quite different.

The flowers usually have five overlapping petals, but this particular tree bears several six-petaled blossoms every season.   (We have no idea why!)  I will post a photo of one of the six-petaled blossoms at a later date.
 The tree is deciduous, dropping its pointy green leaves for about half the year.

Rainbow Plumeria

Rainbow Plumeria (Plumeria sp.)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

We have several varieties of Plumeria trees in our garden.  The blossoms they bear are very fragrant, and grow on the trees in clusters that look like little bouquets.  They are favorites for lei-making in Hawaii.  Most Plumeria varieties are deciduous, and at this time of year their branches are just beginning to show leaf buds.   In Asia the Plumeria is known as frangipani.