Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora)

Blue Ginger
Dichorisandra thyrsiflora

Blue Ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) really starts to glow with some afternoon sunlight. As observed in Kula, Maui, Hawaii in October.

One of my favorite tropicals!
Did you go to Hawaii? Awesome!
Hope you are faring well and have a good Holiday season, Hazel! I think of you often,
Susan

Hi, Susan,

The blue gingers grow all over Maui. My stepdaughter and her husband took us with them fior 8 days all expenses paid practically. We could not attend their lavish wedding in Seattle last September because Bob had to have his foot operated on due to an infection that had spread throughtout his body. The past 2 years have been so disheartening that they wanted us to have some fun and we did. Have a fantastic holiday season and a great 2008.

I'm so glad you got to visit a gardener's paradise.

Sorry to hear that life has continued to be difficult for you.
I lost my Mom this summer, after a lot more hospital time for her.
My sister and I got interested in making jewelry and so I haven't been on DG as much as usual.

Thanks for sharing all the wonderful pictures from Maui!

Because ny husband can't walk very far, we could not go to a lot of places so that he could have a good time and not feel left out. We did a lot of driving and covered the whole island. Because they are not obsessed with palnts as I am, I did not have as many opportunities to just explore as I would have liked. The rainforest area is especially wonderful. They dropped me off at one botanical garden for a couple of hours on 2 days and they went else where. I practically ran through it. It was raining when we went to another one, so we didn't see anything there except for the parking lot area. Boy, was I disappointed. .

Amazingly, there are many plants growing in Maui that grow in San Antonio and most of the plants I saw were introduced plants. Someday, maybe, we will be able to visit Maui again. Many, many native plants have been and are being destroyed. The loss of the plants has caused the loss of animals as well. Forest and Kim Starr have given me permission to use their photos in order that I may provide information about the plants of Hawaii. They are involved in conserving biological diversity in Hawaii. I want to do what I can to make people aware of the struggle in the Hawaiian Islands to preserve and restore the vegetation.

I am saddened to hear that you lost your mother too. I know how difficult it is. May you dwell on the wonderful memories you have of her and know that she will always be with you.

Thanks for the condolences, Hazel.
I hope you have a Happy Holiday season this year.

Concerning the exotic species...I have mixed feelings. There is some danger that the exotics take over and cause the extermination of native plants, but on the other hand, there are many positive aspects when one considers food crops and some ornamentals. I would really like to see more urgent action on preserving the vestiges of virgin rainforest right now, since some of those plants have not even been named. Such a wealth of uses may lie in those plants!

Keep up the good work here on DG. We appreciate your contributions,
Susan

you are absolutely right. Thank you Susan, for your kind words.