Welcome
All kaleidoscopes by inkspired and KaleidoCam
Hawaii became the 50th state of
the United States of America in August, 1959.
It is the only island state.
Kauai
In fact, Hawaii is made up of over 135 islands!
Originally found on all of the main islands,
the yellow hibiscus flower is the State Flower and is found only in Hawaii.
When Hawaii was still a territory in 1923
the hibiscus was chosen as Hawaii’s flower.
No color was specified, and people got confused.
Artists started using the red hibiscus in travel posters and advertisements. But some used other colors.
It wasn’t until 1988 that Hawaii designated
the Yellow Hibiscus as their state flower.
Fun Fact:
Each of the islands that make up Hawaii have
an official designated flower!
There are over 200 different colors of hibiscus now!
Hibiscus can be grown in common gardens and is a favorite with its’ showy 4 - 6 inch blooms.
Even though it is called a bush,
it can grow up to 30 feet high!
Unfortunately
the Yellow variety is almost extinct.
It is extremely rare to see one growing wild.
Of the 3 subspecies of yellow hibiscus,
all 3 are listed as critically endangered.
Artist Wendy Hollkuder
In 2007 there was a large fire on the island of
Oahu, which destroyed 85% of the yellow hibiscus growing there.
Other contributing factors are cattle, pigs and goats; alien plants* and urban development that destroy the flowers and their habitat.
*not ‘alien’ like green with 3 eyes and 7 arms alien,
but plants that have NOT come to the islands
by a natural way -
think seeds in bird droppings, the wind, etc.
Usually alien plants, animals, bugs, etc. become established because of something humankind did.
Sometimes we think we can improve the balance of Nature, and make things ‘better’.
Sometimes we are just careless,
such as when a Captain would let his ship get dirty, and sick rats would jump onboard.
When the ship stops at a different port
the rats jump off, thinking this may be better
than riding around in storms!
Now the new port has sick rats with a
new disease to the people.
Those rats are ‘alien’ disease carriers.
Thinking back to the 1860’s the yellow hibiscus
was an exotic flower from an exotic land far away!
I have no idea how available they were to be included
in a small posy of flowers that was full of hidden messages and secret meanings.
However the Victorians did have a sentiment attached to it-
Delicate Beauty
What a huge compliment that would have been to a young lady of the times.
Women were to be treasured, and placed on pedestals of purity and virtue and...
Being Delicate and Helpless and Beautiful
were ideal traits!
Have you ever heard of “fainting couches”?
This is what they were originally for!
Using a ‘fainting’ type couch for a Hollywoodland glamour shot.
And THAT is the
Language of the Flower Hibiscus.
If you were a Victorian Young Lady
you could swoon about now,
but check to make sure there is a soft place
to land before you swoon!
As always when I write a blog
I have learned several things
new-to-me.
Thanks for riding along and
sharing the adventure with me!
Here are some of the places I visited for information: Kapinalansdale.com
Wikipedia
Pinterest with multiple authors/artists
USA-facts-for-kids.com
Language of Flowers/ illustrated by Kate Greenaway
Originally 1884, London
Then by Dover Publications, unabridged edition, 1990, USA
‘Til next time,
inkspired
the United States of America in August, 1959.
It is the only island state.
In fact, Hawaii is made up of over 135 islands!
Originally found on all of the main islands,
the yellow hibiscus flower is the State Flower and is found only in Hawaii.
When Hawaii was still a territory in 1923
the hibiscus was chosen as Hawaii’s flower.
No color was specified, and people got confused.
Artists started using the red hibiscus in travel posters and advertisements. But some used other colors.
the Yellow Hibiscus as their state flower.
Fun Fact:
Each of the islands that make up Hawaii have
an official designated flower!
There are over 200 different colors of hibiscus now!
Hibiscus can be grown in common gardens and is a favorite with its’ showy 4 - 6 inch blooms.
Even though it is called a bush,
it can grow up to 30 feet high!
the Yellow variety is almost extinct.
It is extremely rare to see one growing wild.
all 3 are listed as critically endangered.
In 2007 there was a large fire on the island of
Oahu, which destroyed 85% of the yellow hibiscus growing there.
Other contributing factors are cattle, pigs and goats; alien plants* and urban development that destroy the flowers and their habitat.
*not ‘alien’ like green with 3 eyes and 7 arms alien,
but plants that have NOT come to the islands
by a natural way -
think seeds in bird droppings, the wind, etc.
Usually alien plants, animals, bugs, etc. become established because of something humankind did.
Sometimes we think we can improve the balance of Nature, and make things ‘better’.
Sometimes we are just careless,
such as when a Captain would let his ship get dirty, and sick rats would jump onboard.
When the ship stops at a different port
the rats jump off, thinking this may be better
than riding around in storms!
Now the new port has sick rats with a
new disease to the people.
Those rats are ‘alien’ disease carriers.
Thinking back to the 1860’s the yellow hibiscus
was an exotic flower from an exotic land far away!
I have no idea how available they were to be included
in a small posy of flowers that was full of hidden messages and secret meanings.
However the Victorians did have a sentiment attached to it-
Delicate Beauty
What a huge compliment that would have been to a young lady of the times.
Women were to be treasured, and placed on pedestals of purity and virtue and...
Being Delicate and Helpless and Beautiful
were ideal traits!
Antique illustration of a fainted woman with smelling salts being applied
Have you ever heard of “fainting couches”?
This is what they were originally for!
And THAT is the
Language of the Flower Hibiscus.
you could swoon about now,
but check to make sure there is a soft place
to land before you swoon!
As always when I write a blog
I have learned several things
new-to-me.
Thanks for riding along and
sharing the adventure with me!
Here are some of the places I visited for information: Kapinalansdale.com
Wikipedia
Pinterest with multiple authors/artists
USA-facts-for-kids.com
Language of Flowers/ illustrated by Kate Greenaway
Originally 1884, London
Then by Dover Publications, unabridged edition, 1990, USA
‘Til next time,
inkspired
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