It took awhile to nail the name of these brilliant, orange flowers I shot today.
These guys were hanging off the roof of a building up in Motobu. I had to get a photo.
The mission we were on was to shoot Buddha and the bamboo in morning light.
Once that was accomplished it was time to goof-off.
When I saw those flaming vines Map It Okinawa Dude let me loose.
This is a flower, I've been meaning to shoot and identify for over a year, now.
Taking the Photo was the Easy Part
The rest of the story was a little bit different. I thought I had it made.
There was a flower nursery across the street from where the orange flowers were hanging.
The sign was in English "Izena Nursery."
As soon as I opened the door, a pretty gal was standing in front of me.
But, the place wasn't a nursery. It looked like a coffee shop.
Anyway, I showed the girl the photo and pointed across the road to the flowers.
And, I asked her if she knew the name of the plants.
No luck. She asked a taxi driver, parked out front. He didn't know, either.
They both suggested, I go back across the highway and ask a flower shop.
Izena Okinawa Japan has Flower (花) Shops Everywhere
The signs weren't in English but, I know "花" means flower, when I see it.
It just seemed like every flower store in town was sleeping-in late or, abandoned.
GROAN
About to give-up and head back to the car, I spotted a farmer behind one of the nurseries.
He was loading vegetables into a truck.
Farmers are good people. It's easy for me to make friends with them.
It's probably not a great idea to run up to one, if you're a foreigner, and shove a camera in his face.
So, I do stuff like say "Hi" and start complaining about the high cost of my flip-flops.
That gets him laughing.
Then, I shove the camera in his face and ask what those orange flowers might be.
He was a real nice guy and told me "Kaen Kazura."
Before I thank him and leave, I have to make sure I pronounce it right.
He has to yell, real loud to correct me because I don't hear so good.
Gotterdun, I thought, mumbling "Kaen Kazura" all the way back to the car.
From inside my camera bag I grab a marker pen and write it down on my hand.
The Fun Begins with Online Research
None of my search engines leads to a flower named Kaen Kazura.
So, I start typing bright orange flower, Okinawa, Japan, photos, images and plants.
Somebody should come up with a better way to ID Flowers on the internet.
Finding scientific names to match a photo is too time consuming.
But, we gotterdun.
The Flame Vine is a Pyrostegia venusta from South America.
Just One Small Problem Remaining
That crazy marker pen has some kind of waterproof ink in it.
Now, my left hand looks like it had a tattoo carved on it by a do stuff yourself artist.
Does anyone know a way to scrub it off without losing all my skin ?
Or, should I just wear the gloves I bought to match my flip-flops 'til it wears off ?
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