Mophead Hydrangea

Hydrangea

There are two forms of Hydrangea flower clusters: round, flat flower heads called lacecaps; and round, mounded flower heads called mopheads.  This is an example of a mophead Hydrangea.

The blossom in the photo is from a Hydrangea that flourishes in front of my house in Colorado.  It blooms all summer, and requires very little care beyond making sure it has enough water.

Ecstasy Hibiscus Macro

Ecstasy Hibiscus - photographed in Hawaii

This is a macro photo of  'Ecstasy' --  one of my favorite Hibiscus varieties.  Here are some earlier photos of the Ecstasy Hibiscus:

• A Hibiscus called 'Ecstasy'
• More 'Ecstasy' from the garden
• A double portion of 'Ecstasy'

Cool Wind tropical hibiscus

'Cool Wind' tropical hibiscus variety

Location:  Kohala Coast, Hawaii

This hibiscus variety is called Cool Wind.  The blossoms are relatively large -- about five inches across. This is a tropical hibiscus variety that does not tolerate frost.  However, in cooler climates the Cool Wind hibiscus can be grown indoors.

Morning Glory Hibiscus

'Morning Glory' tropical hibiscus variety

Location:  Kohala Coast, Hawaii

This hibiscus variety is known as Morning Glory.  The shrub produces large, showy blossoms with ruffled edges.  A tropical variety, the Morning Glory hibiscus does well in Hawaii, bearing blossoms year-round.

Flaming Wind Tropical Hibiscus

'Flaming Wind' Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) 

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii 

This hibiscus cultivar is called Flaming Wind.  The hardy shrub has smooth green leaves and it bears velvety scarlet blossoms year-round.  Each blossoms lasts only for a day or so, but new ones pop out continually.  Flaming Wind's brilliant color makes it a real eye-catcher in the garden.

Sahara Wind Hibiscus

'Sahara Wind' Hibiscus

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This brilliantly colored tropical hibiscus variety is called Sahara Wind.  It grows in our garden in Hawaii.  It features golden-yellow petals and dark red in its throat, shading to a sort of magenta.  The blossoms usually last just a day, but as each one dies and falls to the ground a new one opens to replace it elsewhere on the shrub.

Powder Puff Hibiscus

Powder Puff Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis 'Monsa')

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This lovely hibiscus has been flourishing in our garden in Hawaii for several years.  The plant bears double, puff-ball shaped blossoms.  The flowers are ivory-white, but some of the petals have a pinkish tinge.

The Powder Puff hibiscus was developed and introduced by the Monrovia horticultural company.  

Hula Girl tropical hibiscus blossom

Hula Girl hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinesis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This is the 'Hula Girl' tropical hibiscus , a cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.  Among the many varieties of hibiscus in our garden in Hawaii, this one produces the largest blossoms -- about six inches (15 cm) across.  It is one of our favorites.

In case you are wondering about the name, this hibiscus variety is often worn by hula dancers in their hair, or tucked behind the ear.  This flower is chosen for practical reasons:  Unlike most hibiscus, these large yellow blossoms stay fresh-looking for quite awhile after they are picked, thus they are preferred by hula dancers.

Hula Girl tropical hibiscus

Hula Girl hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinesis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This tropical hibiscus blossom is called Hula Girl.  Unlike most hibiscus varieties, the blossoms of this cultivar do not immediately wilt when picked from the bush.  Because the blossoms usually stay fresh for awhile after picking, they can be worn in the hair or pinned to clothing.  They are thus favored by hula dancers who sometimes wear these blossoms as a part of their costume.   It is said that this is how the Hula Girl hibiscus acquired its common name.

A cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinesis, the Hula Girl is one of the hardier hibiscus varieties in our garden. The blossoms are large -- nearly six inches (15 cm) across.

More 'Ecstasy' from the garden

'Ecstasy' hibiscus

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This is 'Ecstasy', a tropical hibiscus in our garden.  I know I've posted photos of this variety before, but the blossoms have such vivid color that I can't stop taking pictures of them.

Spent Oleander Seed Pods

Oleander seed pods (Nerium oleander)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

These empty oleander seed pods were on the same bush as the Double Rose oleander blossoms in the previous post.  As you can see, the pods have long since ripened and burst to release their seeds to the wind.   The individual seeds are attached to bits of fluff not unlike dandelion seeds in appearance.  The fluff makes it easy for them to disperse with the breezes.

Double Rose Oleander Blossoms

Double Rose Oleander (Nerium oleander cultivar)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Oleanders make a great hedge.  The plants are bushy and grow tall, the slender leaves are always green, and several color varieties of blossoms are available.  This Double Rose variety is one of several oleander cultivars we have in our garden.

Wet Ecstasy

'Ecstasy' hibiscus variety

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Our garden has an automatic irrigation system, but once in awhile my husband uses a hose to rinse the dust from the leaves of the plants.   I grabbed my point-an-shoot camera and snapped this photo of an 'Ecstasy' hibiscus blossom right after such a dousing.   I think the hibiscus liked getting sprinkled.

Magenta Bougainvillea Hedge

Bougainvillea

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Recently I have posted several photos that had a little bit of magenta bougainvillea in the foreground.  Here is a photo of a larger section of that hedge, taken with a point-and-shoot camera.

We have other colors of bougainvillea in our garden, too, but this magenta color is the most common (in our garden, and in general).

Painted Lady Tropical Hibiscus

'Painted Lady' Hibiscus

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

'Painted Lady' is the name of this cultivar of tropical hibiscus.  We have several bushes of this variety in our garden.   Each blossom lasts only for a day, but the plant blooms year round in our climate.

A tropical hibiscus called 'Maui Wind'

'Maui Wind' Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

This hibiscus variety, called 'Maui Wind', is one of the newer additions to our flower garden.  Its petals are a lovely shade of pink, and it has a dark red center.  The leaves on the plant are quite glossy.  It is a hybrid cultivar of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

White Hibiscus in Full Sun

'Bridal Veil' hibiscus

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

'Bridal Veil' is the name of this white tropical hibiscus variety.   It is another of the innumerable cultivars of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.  The blossom is about four inches (10 cm) across.

I don't usually photograph flowers in full sunlight, but the bright light did seem to bring out the crepe-like texture of this blossom's petals.

The 'Morning Glory' Tropical Hibiscus

'Morning Glory' Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

We have many varieties of tropical hibiscus plants in our flower garden.  This showy blossom is called Morning Glory.  The color on the petals is shaded from deep rose in the throat, to pale rose, bordered by creamy white at the margins.  The petals have a slightly crinkled look, with ruffled edges.  The blossoms are large -- often 5 to 6 inches (12 to 15 cm) in diameter.

The Morning Glory, is one of the innumerable cultivars of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.  It is a hardy plant in our climate, and each plant yields a prodigious number of blossoms almost constantly.

Here are some more tropical hibiscus varieties from our garden: Candy Wind / Ecstasy / Hawaii Belle / Hula Girl / Hurricane Lily / Ivory / Painted Lady / Princess Michiko / Starry Wind / Sundance.

Best Wishes for 2009

Hawaii Belle hibiscus

Location: Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Now that I am back home from my holiday travels, I would like to offer this flower photo -- a Hawaii Belle hibiscus -- to wish all of my readers a bright, happy, and colorful 2009.

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Bird of Paradise (Strelitzia reginae)

Location:  Kohala Coast, Big Island, Hawaii

Here is another photo that was shot on film a number of years ago.  This is the Bird of Paradise flower (Strelitzia reginae).  This plant is native to South Africa, but the one here was photographed in our garden in Hawaii.