INTRODUCTION TO FLORA GALLERY

For much of my life I never stopped to really look at flowers as I passed by, never mind smelling them. Then I moved to Hawai’i for school and was struck by island fever. Since I am always in search for what is unique about a place, I was particularly drawn to the beauty of the flowers there. Brilliant colors and unique shapes is what drew me to them. After returning to the mainland, I was more aware of nature in general. Note the brilliant colors of the Torch Ginger or the Bird of Paradise, and the strange shapes of the banksia, proteas, and passion flowers; or the combination of both in orchids, bromeliads and heliconias. Sometimes flowers reveal their sexuality and remind us of our own as the Butterfly Pea and the Anthurium.