Lucky Friday the 13th

We had planned another outing with my aunt and uncle to go to Honolulu's Foster Botanical Gardens. My aunt asked if it was really a great idea to travel on Friday the 13th. Well... seeing as Art, his sister and our son are all born on the 13th, we figured we'd give it a try. However, all week there were flash flood warnings and last night the forecasters said it was going to rain. So we postponed the outing.


This morning, Friday the 13th skies begged us to reconsider. We called both my aunts (my mother's sisters) and everyone wanted to take a chance.


The first tree that greeted us was listed as the Bo tree. I always thought it was called the Bodhi tree. According to the tour guide flyer, "Buddha was enlightened while sitting under a Bo tree. This tree is actually a descendant of that very tree in India!"


It was quite impressive.


Doesn't this look like a sweet pea?
Kavita has just told me that this flower is called Aparajita and used in religious ceremonies in India. Thanks, Kavita.


Foster Gardens is right in busy Honolulu and is a smaller Botanical Garden but there weren't as many mosquitoes (besides the bugs seemed to find Art the most delicious of all of us) or ants as in Wahiawa's garden. It was also a bit windy but that just helped to keep the bugs from landing. All right... all right... correction. They did land... on Art.


I love seeing the three sisters together. Along with their youngest sister in Japan, they all love plants and found every tree, bush and flower mesmerizing.


I rather liked this orchid. No, I don't know what kind it is. I kept forgetting to check the identification tag.


Have you any idea why they call this a nipple fruit? LOL


The lipstick tree blossom was lovely.


Apparently the seeds were used to color foods.


My aunt loved this huge palm.


This red crested cardinal was feeding on fallen seeds.


We thought this large bloom was quite impressive.


This bird suddenly flew by us and landed on a branch. Art won the shot. I concede. His shot was better than mine... slightly, that is.


Sorry there are so many photos. We took so many that I just couldn't seem to delete as much as I should have. I can already see my son shaking his head and laughing at me.


This South American tree, the Cedro Espino had a trunk and branches covered with these nasty thorns.


I loved the pastel color of this Chinese hibiscus.


Another orchid


Here's mom with her sister and my uncle. We lost my other aunt who was so excited about all the trees that she disappeared half way through our walk. It reminded me of my first grade field trips where I was constantly counting noses.


I loved the trunk of this Central American Kapok tree.


This Talipot Palm from Sri Lanka and India was striking. It can live 75 years before it flowers and fruits just once and then dies.


Coming around the bend we saw this tree.


Do you see why it's called a Cannonball Tree? There were signs posted warning everyone of falling cannonballs.


The cannonball blossoms looked like orchids. The flowers and fruits sprout right from the trunk.


And still... not a drop of rain, much less a flood.


This Caribbean Royal palm tree took our breath away. It's among the world's tallest trees. I believe it!


It went up straight as a flag pole.


At first I thought these were all dried leaves and then they moved. If you click to enlarge this photo you'll see the tiny finches.


We found my aunt and she showed us this unusual tree. She was picking up the fruit strewn around the tree and I read the tree label to her. Fish poison tree!


The trees were so large that they dwarfed us.


What a glorious day! It was truly a gift to cherish. We took one aunt back to her house since she lives in Honolulu and preferred to relax and have her lunch at home.


We took my other aunt and uncle to Shiro's where we had bowls of hot saimin noodles. Despite the fact that my aunt and uncle live quite close by they had never been to that restaurant.


It really hit the spot. We then returned my uncle and aunt to their house, went home and I know we all took a nap.

And still no rain.