Kokee State Park

Waimea canyon is the most conspicuous feature of Kokee State Park. Here are some other features, big and small:



Crocosmia. I never did identify this wildflower--anyone know it? It was common in the higher elevations of the park, along paths and roadsides.( Read more... )

Thanks plant people!

This flower, included in my post of Hawaii pictures a few hours ago, was identified by several lj friends as a Crocosmia. A little sniffing around revealed that it was in fact Crocosmia x crocosmiiflora, a hybrid of two South African species developed in France in the 1880s, and it goes by the common name "Montbretia." Many cultivated varieties have been developed, and may be referred to by their cultivated name. One popular red-flowered variety goes by the name "Lucifer." Crocosmia has since been introduced to Europe, North America, Australia, and of course, Hawaii.

cottonmanifesto took this picture a couple weeks ago, of a Lucifer growing in our neighbor's garden:

Hawaii Pics Wrapup

There are no black sand beaches on Kauai, but there is one dark sand beach, caused by dark sediment brought by a river.( Read more... )

3:00 snapshot, #178.

Maggie spent most of the day in her crate, by choice.

On this day in 365 Urban Species: Barn swallow, one of the most widely-ranging native birds, one that prefers to nest in man-made structures.