Thursday, May 24, 2012

Fantasia of Hawaii

Fantasia of Hawaii by Petter Johansen 2011

Japanese Fern Tree Leaf Waiawi Hawaiiana on White by Petter Johansen

Above are two Japanese Fern Tree twigs (Filicium decipiens) and below Waiawi ula'ula (Psidium cattleianum) and Yellow Waiawi Guava (Psidium lucidum) leaves on a white background. 

The Japanese Fern Tree (Filicium decipiens) is a popular decorative tree, with red berries and lush strong evergreen leaves, it is found planted in gardens and parks in Honolulu, and next to the Hong Kong Orchid Tree this was one of the first trees I noticed in Hawaii.

Friday, May 18, 2012

Photos of Common Oleander Flowers (Nerium oleander)

Common Light Pink Oleaner (Nerium oleander) Photo by PJ 2005, Honolulu Hawaii
Common Pink Oleaner (Nerium oleander) Photo by PJ 2005, Honolulu Hawaii

The Common Oleander has been featured in the following Dried Floral art works: White Rainbow Shower, Common Oleander Leaf, Red Strawberry Guava Leaves and Hong Kong Orchid Tree by Petter Johansen 

Sunday, March 25, 2012

White Rainbow Shower, Common Oleander Leaf, Red Strawberry Guava Leaves and Hong Kong Orchid Tree by Petter Johansen

Upper left; a Purple-Pink Hong Kong Orchid Tree Flower (Bauhinia blakeana), far right; Common Oleander Leaf (Nerium oleander), Far left, central left and far down; Rainbow shower Tree (Cassia jawanica) Lower central; Red Strawberry Guava leaves aka Waiawi Ula'ula (Psidium cattleianum)

In this floral creation you have four plants that have a special place in my heart, one from my childhood back when I was learning and reading about medicinal plants, one because of its beauty and two because I have had a chance to do research and assist in doing flowcytometric readings on them. 

This was one of the first trees I noticed when I arrived in Hawaii for the very first time in January of 2005, with its seasonal flowering spread over the year and especially during the Hawaiian winter, which to me feels like a regular Northern Norwegian Summer, cool and with lots of rain.

Having read about this plant and admired its pretty white, light pink or bright pink flowers for years I immediately recognized this by its leaves and flowers it is a poisonous, but beautiful plant that has fascinated me since I was about ten years old, and at last I had seen it grown all over Honolulu as a ornamental flowering hedge plant.

Rainbow Shower Tree (Cassia jawanica)
Another of the very first trees I noticed growing as a ornamental tree all over Honolulu, with individual trees showing great variation in color, from pure yellow, to different degrees of yellow and white to degrees of pink. In 2011 I had the opportunity to assist an researcher in running flowcytometric readings and help his laboratory with my own special protocol for doing flowcytometry on troublesome plants.

I could write a whole book about this tree and I have been working with this invasive tree plant since 2006, and in October of 2011 I actually started my own non-profit research company called the Psidium Research and Development Foundation to bring awareness of the Strawberry Guava problems in Hawaii and also it's troubling growth patterns on a global scale.  

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Photos of The Hong Kong Orchid Tree, Bauhinia blakeana

The Hong Kong Orchid Trees (Bauhinia blakeana) are a common part of the Honolulu landscape, as a popular ornamental tree with beautiful purplish pink flowers and a thick green foliage. These photos were taken by Petter Johansen on the 22nd of January 2012 of a Hong Kong Orchid Tree standing in full bloom Waikiki, Honolulu, Hawaii.







Saturday, February 11, 2012

Yellow Waiawi By Petter Johansen

Yellow Waiawi on Yellow by Petter Johansen 2012

Yellow Waiawi By Petter Johansen

This dried floral creation was made by Petter Johansen it is yellow strawberry guava (Psidium lucidum) also known as Waiawi in Hawaiian, all placed on a environmental friendly yellow construction paper background and a multi-colored board closed off with a 14" by 11" blue-gray metal frame..

Thursday, January 19, 2012

Floral Myriad on Orange by Elder Small

This floral creation has been donated as part of PRDF's fund raising effort

Floral Myriad on Orange By Elder George Small

This dried floral creation was made during the first charity workshop arranged by the Psidium Research and Development Foundation (PRDF), featuring Waiawi Ula'ula leaves and other assorted leaves and flowers. The Waiawi Ula'ula (Psidium cattleianum) also known as Red Strawberry Guava are in the lower right corner of this image.

The charity auction with this floral image in our ebay account has ended, the item did not get a buyer so if you are interested contact us either through the ebay link (link to ebay Floral Myriad on Orange By Elder George Small) or by email at psidiumresearch@gmail.com

If you wish to buy this floral creation or other to support the cause of researching the Waiawi repair the damage it has caused the Hawaiian Rainforest's, contact PRDF at psidiumresearch@gmail.com

Blue, Purple and Pink Wedding Bliss


Blue Wedding Bliss

Oleander leaves (Nerium oleander) on a blue background with assorted leaves and flowers, the first of a set of three made as a wedding gift.



Purple Wedding Bliss
Second dried floral picture as part of the Wedding Bliss set, with assorted flowers and leaves on a purple background.

Pink Wedding Bliss

This is the last of the three part Wedding Bliss set, featuring flowers in full bloom and their attached leaves on a pink background. The camera was not able to catch the true beauty of this piece.