Banyan Bunker

This banyan tree (Ficus microcarpa) has decided that the Cold War is over and is now taking back his turf. The bunker is located about three klicks from the ocean near Danshui, but judging from the dense vegetation surrounding it it's been a few decades since it was last used as an observation outpost against Communist invaders.

Purple People Eater

I haven't been able to ID this one so far, but it sure is purdy...

Fig Bonanza

This majestic White Fig (Ficus virens) grows on a little farmstead here in my neighborhood. Armies of birds and insects visit the tree when it's in fruit.

Skeeter Hell

These Asian Tiger Mosquitoes (Aedes albopictus) are being slowly devoured by pygmy sundews (Drosera pulchella x nitidula). I grow a whole battery of different sundews in a tank in my office, and their pots are standing in an inch and a half of water to emulate their natural swamp habitat. Naturally, this indoors pond is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. I know, I know - who in his right mind would breed the little bloodsuckers on purpose, and in the &^%$#! house at that? Well, people who love their carnivorous plants, that's who. You have to admit that this sort of habitat offers quite amazing photo ops:

Pentax K10 D, Sigma 105 mm macro lens, 72 mm worth of extension tubes.

Wild Ginger

Various species of wild ginger grow everywhere in lowland Taiwan.

Shell ginger, Alpinia zerumbet (seed pods)



Butterfly ginger, Hedychium coronarium

Tree Moods