Hilo Orchid Society Show 2012

 

 

One of the best orchid shows to experience in Hawaii is at the annual orchid show by the Hilo Orchid Society.  The combination of commercial orchid growers, enthusiasts and orchid lovers makes this one of the must see shows for all orchid lovers.

Every year a new theme is chosen and this year’s title ‘ Islands of Orchids’ creates the lure of these exotic orchids throughout the island chain.  This three day event is jammed packed with educational seminars, musical entertainment and pre-view parties, complete themed displays and of course the opportunity to purchase some of the most exotic, unusual and newer hybrids that are being introduced into the market, many not available in your regular garden centers.

Its definitely worth a visit to put this in your itinerary when visiting Hawaii Island since it's the biggest show in all of the state focused on just orchids.

Here are a few highlights from this year’s events.

 

Beautiful vignettes created like this one below with a victorian attired model in Hawaiian regalia along with live orchids details on her costume.

 

 

Another orchid vignette with an exploding volcano and lava flowing in the midst of this colorful orchid forest below.

 

I stopped immediately when I saw beautiful light illuminate the petals of these intensely colored cattleyas, making them appear to take flight.

 

 

Another grouping of beautifully backlit cymbidiums, making them more vivid and alive.

 

 

There were lots of exciting and unusual color combinations to be seen like this vivid hot pink

and maroon cattleya orchid.

 

More subtle and textural, these vandas give you a moment of calm and respite to the

shocking and bright colors all around the show.

 

I usually am not fond of pale colored orchids but this light pastel cattleya drew my attention right away…I think the quiet orchids also can demand a lot of attention if you spend the time to look at all their amazing details.

 

 

I’m guessing this is a variety of oncidium, unfortunately I did not have anything to write on and I wanted to really just enjoy the flowers and photography at this point.

 

 

Another dramatic paphiopedilum variety, I love the showy petals on this beauty.

 

 

These paphiopedilum or lady slippers have so much presence and color assaulting me with their strange forms and inviting a more detailed observation.

 

 

Following are more unusual or colorful varieties I spotted while walking around the show.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This years event was truly spectacular. I enjoyed it thoroughly and even sang with our men’s chorus on the weekend event when the general audience attends and the audience enjoyed our music while seeing some amazing flowers.

 

This is my contribution to garden bloom day, to see other gardens in bloom today go visit

http://www.maydreamsgardens.com

An Estate in Papaikou

On a visit to a gorgeous estate in Papaiko with the Hawaii Island Palm Society. We are walking through an old Hawaiian estate with an extensive palm collection along with other beautiful flora.


The main gate is impressive with large bronze bamboo like stems curving in many directions and sweeping around large lava rock pillars which secure an entry gate for walking through.







After passing through the gate, we are facing a beautiful moss covered lava rock wall graced by this Ganesh with interesting purple leaved elder.







The main driveway is quite grand and dotted with beautiful statuary, pots and mature palms along with these stands of variegated miniature ficus trees.






Tall palms line the driveway accented with red ti and mondo grass.









I love seeing this vignette with the moss covered lava rocks and mondo grass next
to this variegated ficus.






A bigger view of the expansive driveway.






Large chinese pots are used for a water garden filled with water lillies and bromeliads
surrounding the pot below.








Towards the end of the driveway from the house, two huge urns grace another rock wall with tree ferns adding tall lacy details from their fronds.










Facing the main home is this balinese inspired entry to the interior garden with orchids
attached to the intricate stonework.









A beautiful sitting area for meditation or conversation, it was a perfect spot for the group
to picnic with the food served in the large pavilion next door.






A cycad detail with its huge cone prominent and projecting a sharp, textured pineapple like top.
 





A beautiful and deadly detailed shot of an unusual palm.







There are orchids growing everywhere along the various palms on the property, they
are pretty effortless growing in these environments.
















The interior garden with covered pergolas leading to the main house.







I’m fond of these obake type anthuriums, there’s a whole collection growing along the interior garden facing the main home. Each flower is large, at over a foot and a half in length.






Walking through this densely planted area of palms, we happen onto this rare palm Johannesteijsmannia Altifrons from Borneo. You can see from the scale, the leaves are huge!






I spot a small stand of birds of paradise, I’m always fond of taking pictures of the colors
and shapes from these beautiful flowers.






A stairway leading down to the lower gardens with Licuala Grandis providing shade along the pathways.







We finally make it to the large grassy area in the lower garden, filled with fruit trees like abiu, mountain apples, mangosteen and lychee.







A detail shot of pods developing on this palm, I love all the texture on the pods.

 

This place is a truly magical botanical garden  filled with amazing plants. I’m glad I had a chance to visit with the palm society and take some wonderful photos.


Thanks for taking the tour with me, to visit other gardens for bloom day today go to http://www.maydreamsgardens.com

A Bloom Day Show

Its Bloom day again in May and my garden is happy with all the rains we have been getting this May.

The back yard is finally looking good again especially with the back border and new central island.  The back side garden is filled with blooming hibiscus, nasturtiums, impatiens and gardenias.



I just started a batch of nasturtiums and they shot up from the ground very quickly and blooming various yellows, reds and orange blooms.











Tropical Amaranthus Spinosus is really giving us a show this morning.


























Here's the central bed again, finally planted in the back yard. Even though there’s no flowers in this bed, its quite colorful with bright bromeliads, succulents and other tropical plants.




At the back side of the central bed are some interesting bromeliads and tillandsias, this one below is a dark maroon with a red inflorescence just starting to branch out.








The side area with the lion has a variety of mini neoregalias, tillandsias and aechmeas, beautiful lighting in the morning, makes them glow in surreal colors.






The front garden is giving a beautiful floral show this today. I love fuchsias and this red/white variety in the vegetable is profuse with blooms.






A tillandsia with a beautiful red/purple inflorescence and purple flower.






Combination plantings with impatiens, croton, geraniums and dracaena.





Facing the home is an island berm with just about to bloom Medinilla Magnifica and Aechmea Blanchetiana.





















I love this small bed with black taro, impatiens, crotons, begonias and a huge medinilla about to start blooming.





An orchid cattleya blooming on my lanai.






The side garden is also coming alive with blooms, my banana transplant is already sending out a beautiful blossom.






My red torch ginger is sending out its first bloom in the side garden.





Even the pitcher pants are happy in the side garden with all the rain they have been getting lately.






Lots of anthuriums to greet me this morning in the side shade garden, this one is magicially front lit.




Is this an amazing color on this thin leaved bromeliad?









Another bromeliad all aglow in the late afternoon light with double impatiens blooms.





I really am enjoying spending more time in my garden and starting some big projects. But its also nice to just enjoy time spent outdoors and taking some wonderful shots to document this month’s progress. Hope you enjoyed the tour of my gardens with me this morning.

To see other gardens in bloom around the world go visit http://www.maydreamsgardens.com/