Our chosen flower for today’s Flower Friday is another of my backyard beauties. This yellow rose is called Golden Showers and it is of the climbing variety. I have repotted 2 of the rose stalks in separate large pots. These, I had bought at the end of this past Spring from a mega store at a deep, dirt cheap so to speak discount. I also have one plant of this same variety in the ground, but it has not produced but 4-5 blooms in so many years. this lone little rose decided to grace me with its full bloom beauty this morning. Yesterday it was just a bud. Lucky Me! Roses the week before Christmas. I’ll say it again…Lucky You Live Hawaii…

These pretty yellow blossoms are only 3″ in diameter. I prefer my roses and most flowers for that matter to have a fragrance. These Golden Shower lovelies are no exception with a light yet spicy aroma.

The above shot is with a macro lens which has made every amateur photographer believe they are a pro.

My flower garden has pleasantly surprised me this week with a plethora of rose blossoms. Truely only 5 flowers but their colors are presented as a mini bouquet to me and now I can share them with you. Each rose bush gifted me with a single bloom. I don’t know much about roses but I feel extra special that I have these 5 flowers in 5 different colors, in December to boot. The individual flowers have their unique scent. Where’s that scent-a-rama application when you need it? This 1st photo was taken on my front porch where the light was true.

This 2nd photo was taken inside under artificial overhead light. These flowers were so pretty that I had to share them twice.

Is it usual for roses to bloom so abundantly in December? I’ll do a bit a research and report back. Have I mentioned yet how…

Lucky we live Hawaii…

No such thing as Monday Blues when you work in a lei shop. How could that ever be possible when surrounded by these beautiful and fragrant lei. At Po’ohala Lei and Flowers on Beretania St. in Downtown Honolulu Chinatown, today’s offerings will chase away any blahs or blues you may have. How fortunate to have another fresh ilima to twine with the heady pikake bud. If your sweetie prefers a non scented but stunning lei, adorn your special someone with this scarlet double or rope rose. This red rose bud beauty will last for days. Among the many lei shops in Hawaii, Po’ohala is the only one offering these  strands of rose, pikake and pakalana artfully twined and heavenly scented. Today we sewed them in both pink and red roses. After I have worn a lei with roses in it for a couple of days, I cut the string then remove and float the roses in pretty bowls of water and place them in different parts of my house for an extra pick-me-up of loveliness. All these lei are appropriate for both men and women…and no, in Hawaii giving and wearing  of lei are not hobbled by gender boundaries…and YES, another reason “lucky we live Hawaii”. Ahh, too many choices. Which lei will you choose?

Take a look at today’s featured lei at Po’ohala Lei & Flowers. Wow! such unique and lovely offerings. The red rose and tuberose crafted in the rope style pictured on the top has both the long lasting beauty of the rose coupled with the sweet scent of the tuberose. This lei is candy to the eyes and senses. More selections for today include the rare and valued hala ula and a tightly woven Micronesian style ginger in yellow-I beleive that we are the only lei shop of the many lei shops in Hawaii to make this style lei in awapuhi melemele. Look! Po’ohala Lei has created the much desired rope pikake and a rope pink rose. Come buy, you know they won’t last long.

Po’ohala Lei & Flowers located in the ever interesting Downtown Chinatown, Honolulu, Hawaii. 69 N Beretania St. Phone 537-3011

Another gorgeous lei from the gals at Po’ohala Lei and Flowers. Pictured on the top is the rope pikake and pink rose lei. We have crafted it in the exquisite double or rope style. The roses are long lasting and of course the scent of the luscious pikake is heavenly. Have a Hawaiian sweetie? Let them know how special they really are to you. This lei is the one that says it all. Also pictured is the non-scented 3 strand pink rose lei, a 5 strand pakalana and a Micronesian style ginger artfully brightened with yellow rose petals. Laying enticingly on the bottom is the full rope pikake. Notice how many pikake flowers we put in this lei? Our creations are full and fresh. We don’t scrimp on the blossoms. We don’t scrimp on the Aloha. Po’ohala Lei & Flowers in downtown Chinatown. Hawaii grown. Hawaii sewn

Vibrantly blushing with a peaking young bud, this is a photo of my Mardi Gras…Mardi Gras rose that is. This lovely Jackson & Perkins tag says Mardi Gras (Jaci Rain). I don’t know much about roses except that they have been blooming the past few months filling my garden and house with their flowers and fragrances. I am successfully fighting my own War on Ugliness. Appropriately, these roses bloomed this past Fat Tuesday…Mardi Gras.

Imagine my surprise when I walked outside on Christmas day and saw this surprise gift of a Christmas rose blooming just for me on this day and now I get to share it with you.