White Oleander

Naturalist Notes: Blooming Immortelles

Immortelles blooming   © Denise Etienne

Presently  in the northern range there are countless amounts of Immortelle trees in full bloom. Their bright orange flowers attract numerous species of birds including: hummingbirds, honeycreepers, orioles, one can even observe Parrots and Oropendolas feeding. This tree was especially grown to shade Cocoa and Coffee.

© Denise Etienne

“Sexy Pink”

Heliconia Chartacea or Sexy Pink

This one of my favorite species of Heliconias, it is locally know as Sexy Pink, I think you can see why ;) The bright pink parts are modified leaves known as bracts, on the underside are found the flowers which are green in color and well hidden. Their pollinators are a group of Hummingbirds called Hermits, they have long and curved beaks which are well adapted for probing into the curved flowers.  Heliconias are related to Bananas.