Saturday, October 12, 2013

Plant and A Close-up (This week's Photo Hunt themes)


One of the things I love about hiking in Hong Kong is its having given me a greater appreciation and knowledge of nature.  Granted that I'm still unable to name many of the flora and fauna that I encounter on my excursions into the Big Lychee's countryside but there are a few things I can tell you about some of them, including the plants whose close-up shots adorn the top of this week's entry for Sandi's and Gattina's Photo Hunts.

Starting right at the top: what at first glance may appear to be a red flower actually is an array of open pods with some black seeds still sticking onto their surface.  For months, I had only see the closed-up version of these pods.  Then one summer day, I saw the open -- burst? -- version and it really was a cool moment for me to put 2 and 2 together and realize that that was what in fact I was seeing!

The middle photo is of a close-up shot of the plant known as "splash-of-white" because of its white leaves that tend to catch the eye way before its pretty but tiny yellow flowers. I've seen this plant with the Latin name of Mussaenda pubescens sometimes referred to as "Buddha's lamp" and also have read that its Chinese name translates into "jade leafe and golden flower" -- either way, they are interesting names for what actually is a pretty common plant, at least in Hong Kong!

Compared to the two other photos, the plant in the final photo in this blog post looks pretty ordinary -- but the thing though is that it doesn't smell so ordinary!  Indeed, it was its smell which first caught my attention while out hiking on Lantau one afternoon.  Cutting to the chase for those who aren't aware what it is -- it's wild mint! :b

17 comments:

Trekcapri said...

Hi YTSL, I was really confused on the first photo. I couldn't understand why those berry-like objects were stuck to this flower and then I read your comments and what a surprise. I would never have guessed. Pretty cool. Wonderful photo collection for the two themes. I think mine could have been a dual theme too.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Anonymous said...

OMG, that first image where the pods open to a flower like configuration is just precious.

MaR said...

The first picture is absolutely beautiful and stunning! gorgeous set for the themes.

eastcoastlife said...

The first picture is stunning. I would love to see it myself.

Happy weekend!

YTSL said...

Hi Terkcapri --

Yep, without trying to, your photos actually fit not just Gattina's but also Sandi's Photo Hunt themes this week! :)

Hi ewok1993 --

I'm glad I chose that first image to include in this entry after getting a reaction like yours! :)

Hi Marcy --

Another vote for that first photo... ;b

Hi EastCoastLife --

Waaah, you too! Happy weekend to you as well! :)

Susan Demeter said...

The red flower looks so exotic Wow!

magiceye said...

Beautiful takes!

YTSL said...

Hi Sue --

Er... that red thing is not a flower... ;b

Hi magiceye --

Thanks!

Carver said...

These are all great for the themes. I love the way the first one looks with the red and black after the pods open. I used to have a lot of mint and some of it spread to an area I used to mow. I loved the smell when I mowed the grass where the mint was growing through it. At this point I don't mow since I've managed to eliminate grass that has to be mowed but I lost most of the mint during a drought 6 years ago.

Gattina said...

and I thought the first picture is a flower invaded by black ladybugs !

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

Thanks once more for reading and appreciating as well as looking. Thanks too for sharing your mint story. Hope more of that mint grows back at some point!

Hi Gattina --

What an idea! And you make me really glad I did write an explanation re what that photo's of! ;b

peppylady (Dora) said...

What some great looking plants.

Coffee is on

YTSL said...

Hi peppylady --

Thanks -- and I've got a mug of coffee on my table right now! ;b

Annie said...

I love these plants and esp. the one with the pods. Great colors. And you photographed some great shrines and temples in Kyoto - I enjoyed looking at those too!

YTSL said...

Hi Annie --

Thanks for your comments -- glad you checked out and liked my Kyoto posts as well as this Photo Hunt entry! :)

Mike said...

Beautiful photos. Pick some of that mint! I love cooking with mint.

YTSL said...

Hi Mike --

Since the mint was in a country park, I left it where it was! ;b