Holiday in Hawaii #20
When we travel, I like to buy charms for my charm bracelet – it’s a simple way to remember the wonderful places we’ve been to. In Hawaii I found the perfect bead. Its circlet of flowers was reminiscent of a beautiful lei, made of the flowers of the frangipani tree. When I told the shop assistant I love frangipanis, she corrected me. “These are plumeria,” she said. I was confused – I’d always thought leis were made from frangipani flowers.
Later, as we walked through the mall, I pointed to a frangipani tree in the garden and asked Marsha what it was called. “Plumeria,” she said. Mystery solved! Plumeria = frangipani; the same flower with two names.
The scientific name Plumeria honours the 17th century botanist Charles Plumier, who studied the plant species of the New World, while the common name Frangipani refers to a 16th century Italian who invented a plumeria-scented perfume.
We saw frangipanis blooming everywhere in Hawaii: in the gardens of historic missionary homes, between the headstones in churchyards, and adorning the monuments at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu.
And I have a frangipani lei on my bracelet!
See more beautiful wildflowers at Jude’s Garden Photography Challenge
Now that’s one wild flower I’d be very happy to accommodate 🙂
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They are so beautiful. We can grow them here too, although they do better further north in the tropics.
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wonderful
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Thank you!
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welcome
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Beautiful flowers! How wonderful that you found a charm for your bracelet.
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I’m building quite a collection. I decided I would buy a pineapple charm too, but then I didn’t see another shop until we were at the airport for our flight home. Sadly, we were there too early and the shop wasn’t open. A good excuse to go back, I reckon. 🙂
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Yes, I think going back to Hawaii for a pineapple charm is an excellent goal! 🙂
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These are beautiful. I imagine they have a beautiful scent too?
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The scent is divine, especially in the evening. You can smell a frangipani tree before you see it at night.
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Mmmmm, how lovely.
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Frangipanis are wonderful. As are charm bracelets.
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True on both counts.
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Stunning flowers. I have Christmas tree ornaments from places we have been, but I like your charm bracelet idea much better. It is smaller, lighter, and you can enjoy the memories all year long. 🙂
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Yes, the charms are easy to fit in the suitcase! We have bought tree ornaments too and it’s nice to get them out each year and remember where we bought them. When we were in Bruges, we went to a Christmas shop and decided we would buy an ornament. That was until we looked at the prices. They were all hand blown glass, very beautiful and upwards of 30 euros – double that for Australian dollars. We left them there!
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I love frangipani and have planted several in my garden. Great shots 😀
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My parents had a very large one in their garden for many years, but it had to go when it tried to invade the water pipes.
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What a wonderful way to bring a meaningful, and VERY small souvenir home with you!
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We tend not to buy souvenirs but these are easy to fit in the suitcase!
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Gorgeous! I can almost smell that wonderful frangipani scent.
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It’s such a beautiful fragrance.
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It’s like passionfruit-they call it lilikoi! I thought that it was some really unique fruit at first!
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I didn’t know that. Tricky!
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I love the flowers; it is found a lot in India!
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They grow in the tropical parts of Australia too.
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Now I’d like to see a photo (or several 🙂 ) of the bracelet! It’s a lovely idea. I used to collect plates but they’re a bit heavy strung round your wrist. Postcards are easier and I still indulge the odd one.
There’s a lovely one we often stroll past in Tavira, and I always cross over the road for a closer look.
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Plates could be awkward!
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Great photos. Only know the flowers by plumeria. Now I know the other name. Love the fragrance of these flowers also. Thanks for sharing. Really enjoy your photos and stories about Hawaii. Hope you return soon for the pineapple charm.
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Here in Australia, we only call them frangipani. I’m glad you’re enjoying Hawaii. We loved it and I would very much like to return one day. It’s a good stopping point between North America and Australia so there is always a possibility we will go there again.
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Frangipani flowers are really beautiful and the scent is wonderful. WEtreid several times to grow one in Johannesburg but they didn’t like the winters. Maybe I’d have more luck in Florida. 🙂
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I’d say so. They definitely like tropical climates, although they do grow in more temperature areas here as well.
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These look exquisite. Now if only I could just smell them! 🙂
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Come to Queensland for a holiday!
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I’d LOVE to! 🙂
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That’s a wonderful idea! Now I need to see the bracelet!!!
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I will have to see what I can do.
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🙂
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Lovely photographs! ❤
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Thank you. 🙂
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