ALWAYS IN BLOOM FLORIST

~Earl Nightingale (US motivational writer and author, 1921-1989) ~

I have always thought the vivid red blooms on the Heliconia plant are so distinctive and enjoyed finding this "Lobster-Claw" at the Queen Elizabeth II Botanic Park in the Grand Caymans.
Those are coleus at the bottom ~

Click "L" for black background ~

Heliconia

Wikipedia ~

Heliconia, derived from the Greek word helikonios, is a genus of about 100 to 200 species of flowering plants native to the tropical Americas and the Pacific Ocean islands west to Indonesia. Common names for the genus include lobster-claws, wild plantains or false bird-of-paradise. The last term refers to their close similarity to the bird-of-paradise flowers (Strelitzia). Collectively, these plants are also simply referred to as heliconias.

It is the sole genus of the family Heliconiaceae, but was formerly included in the family Musaceae. The APG system of 1998, and its successor, the APG II system of 2003, confirms the Heliconiaceae as distinct and places them in the order Zingiberales, in the commelinid clade of monocots.

The leaves of these plants are 15-300 cm (6 in-10 ft) long, oblong, growing opposite one another on non-woody petioles often longer than the leaf, often forming large clumps with age. Their flowers are produced on long, erect or drooping panicles, and consist of brightly colored waxy bracts, with small true flowers peeping out from the bracts. The growth habit of heliconias is similar to Canna, Strelitzia, and bananas, to which they are related.

Heliconias are grown for the florist's trade and as landscape plants. The flower of H. psittacorum (Parrot Heliconia) is especially distinctive, its greenish-yellow flowers with black spots and red bracts reminding of the bright plumage of parrots.

So yesterday I took a trip down to the health food store...haven't been for a long while and needed a few expensive items, hence the reason for not going for so long. Out in front of the store is always very well groomed and earthy..hey, it's a health food store..

Anyhow, this time around the owner hired a professional florist/landscaper to create these huge and gorgeous wooden barrels to act as the barricade from the shop entrance to the parking spots..They were in perfect formation spanning 5 across and just breathtaking. Of course I did NOT have my camera with me as it was just a quick trip...but in my experiences thus far I should know better..always have the camera at the ready!!

I did go back after heading home..getting the camera and all that..By this point it was almost dusk..and on the verge of the full moon explosions so the evening light was quite eerie and charged..and you all know me by now and how much I adore those types of natural lighting conditions..So this is the result of some of the flowers that were housed in the great big barrels..I have NO clue to any of their names so if someone does..please chime in here..