Category: Plants

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Physalis “Chinese Lantern”

What I can find online (Wikipedia link) about this plant is that it is in the genus of Physalis, with “approximately 75 to 90 flowering plant species in the nightshade family (Solanaceae), which are native to the Americas and Australasia.” ~says Wikipedia

Variously call Chinese Lantern, Japanese Lantern, Bladder Cherry, Ground Cherry, Tomatillo (a red or gold fruit grows inside the lantern or bladder). I have seen them in other parts of Costa Rica and finally tried to research online. I won’t venture to guess which of the up to 90 species this particular plant is. 🙂

I made these 2 photos across the driveway from my garden, on my landlord’s property where they appear to be a wild vine climbing up another plant. I hope to eventually learn more about them. These two shots seem to show them at different stages of development.

Physalis Fruit, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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Another New Species!

To be so windy and the lesser time of year for butterflies, I keep being amazed at the number of new butterflies I find in my garden, mostly the tiny ones. Depending on my source of information, this one has two common names, Halcyon Hairstreak or the one I have to use: Halciones Hairstreak with all sources using the same scientific name of Ostrinotes halciones. All Hairstreaks have that wiry tail to make predators think it is the head.

This species is found in both Central and South America from Mexico to Brazil, but my photo will be the first on butterflies and moths dot org, if they add the species that I’ve requested. I have about 5 requests waiting to be approved like that. The huge number of species of everything in Costa Rica continues to amaze me! It is one of the most diverse locations on the planet! The exact middle location between North & South America. I’m posting 4 photos of this new-to-me species . . .

Halciones Hairstreak, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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2 Contrasting Flowers

There are not many flowers more different from each other than this Heliconia and the Desert Rose in my garden that I snapped the other day while looking for butterflies. The Heliconia is so typical of Costa Rica, found from coast to coast, mainly in tropical lowlands but also other places. While the Desert Rose is a specialty pot plant rather atypical of Costa Rica that I got from my old friend and neighbor Anthony, years ago when he returned to the states. Since he has now died, it is sort of a living memorial to him. It’s rather delicate, requiring morning sun only and not too much water to keep blooming. It’s a faithful favorite for me!

Heliconia, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica

And 2 shots of the Desert Rose . . .

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Eastern Tailed-Blue

This Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) is a cousin of the Ceraunus Blue (linked to blog post) I shared a few days ago, another sub-family in the Gossamer Wings or Lycaenidae Family (linked to that group of galleries) of butterflies and another one of those very tiny ones, as noted by him being on a blade of grass in these photos. :-) Most in the Lycaenidae Family are tiny. Also he’s called a “blue” because the top of his wings are a powdery blue, though barely seen in just one of these photos. Because of the wind this time of year he keeps wings folded when landed, but you can see my photo of another one with open wings in my Eastern Tailed-Blue GALLERY where all the photos have come from my garden. 🙂 And also note that with my eyes he looks white, but the light and/or camera give him a brownish hue this time that I cannot explain.

Eastern Tailed-Blue, Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
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That Strange Christmas Flower

This past Christmas I got a potted poinsettia for my terrace as usual, but the only one they had at the time I purchased it was the strange red with white flecks or variegations in the petals.  :-)

A Strange New Poinsettia for Christmas.

More of my flowers in My Home Gardens GALLERY.

¡Pura Vida!

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Flies or Fly-like Insects

That seem to be mating on a leaf in my garden. Just one more intriguing photo from nature! :-)

Flies or Fly-like Insects mating on a garden leaf.

85+ funny insect photos in my More Insects CR GALLERY. Or for more similar to this, go to the sub-gallery Unidentified Other Insects.

¡Pura Vida!

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Shadows

Sometimes people don’t see shadows . . . but I noticed these shadows and I knew it meant it was sunny.

~David Hockney
Kahili Ginger Lily shadows as backdrop for Desert Rose in morning sun, 8:27 am.

¡Pura Vida!

More pix in My Home Gardens GALLERY.