Nature

Nature plays a trick on us

/ Roadtirementvintage / 25 Comments

Monday, 6/12

A couple of days ago we posted a picture of a white Asiatic lily bloom that was on an individual plant that has always produced colorful blooms. This was a puzzle, and we asked if anybody knew, botanically at least, what was the story here. (Thanks to those who responded to our questioning!) Imagine our surprise when we noticed a change in color of that white bloom this morning.

The color on Wednesday, 6/14

This transformation from white to faint coloring was not really expected, but has brought a great deal of interest. We had a long soaking rain yesterday, perhaps that had something to do with the change? It is going to be fun watching if further darkening of the color will take place. Nature is amazing, be it the complex cyclical changes of the seasons to the simple change in color of an intricate bloom.

So where did the white lily come from?

/ Roadtirementvintage / 18 Comments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We’ve been blessed with lovely Asiatic lilies blooming recently. Today a white bloom showed up. We’ve never seen one before on our plants, and can’t figure where it came from. A quick search found a reference to heat affecting coloration, however all of the blooms have been exposed to the same environment.

Any botanists or horticulturists  out there have an idea why we have this pure white bloom? This is the third year of blooms for these Asiatic lilies.

Hawaii’s Kīlauea Volcano is erupting

/ Roadtirementvintage / 11 Comments

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is on Hawaii Island (the Big Island). Kilauea and Mauna Loa active volcanoes are the main features of the park which receives thousands of visitors each year.

Screen shot of the USGS live cam

Right now the Kilauea Volcano is erupting. The molten lava so far has been contained in the Halema’uma’u crater. The United States Geological Survey has provided live cams of the eruption. The live cam  (seen above) is stunning to watch. This is the link to the live cam on YouTube. I’d highly suggest you take a look. You can see the lava bubbling up in the lava field, and see the progress of lava cones developing. The history of the National Park and the sacred significance of the eruption is also worthy of study.

May morning in the garden

/ Roadtirementvintage / 3 Comments

It’s only 40 degrees F on a sunny mid-May morning. Still there is Nature’s beauty on display.

Red young growth on the rose is due to the presence of anthocyanins. This coloration protects the bush from UV rays .

Chives flower

Asiatic lily thinking about blooming

The first rose bloom of the season