Natures Notebook

Strangers in aStrange Land

A young Kwai Chang Caine approaches his teacher with trepidation. In his first lesson, Master Kan instructs Caine to snatch the pebble from the palm of his outstretched hand. After the boy fails in his attempt, the instructor kindly informs him that, when he can seize the pebble, his education will be complete, preparing him to leave the Shaolin temple. The opening title sequence of the television show had me immediately enthralled. For the next three seasons, I eagerly watched each installment as an adult Caine traveled the American West in a meandering search for his half-brother.

The tree was discovered in 1880 growing on Hong Kong Island by a French Missionary and Botanist, Jean-Marie Delavay. He took a cutting of the specimen and planted it near the French Hospital. It was soon discovered that the tree was sterile. Despite producing beautiful flowers, it developed no seeds. Later scientists determined that it was a rare, natural hybrid and named it Bauhinia × blakeana. Most subsequent specimens have been cloned from the original stock.

The television series was certainly an unconventional Western. The hero didn’t ride a horse and carried no gun. He attempted to elude conflict and avoided inflicting any permanent harm upon those who attacked him. The leading man was plain spoken, spiritual, and perhaps a bit supernatural. As a monk, Caine followed his teachings of Kung Fu and protected the weak and defenseless. He sought simplicity and beauty in life, despite the complex, violent environment he found himself in.

Upon first impression, the tree seems to be anomalous and enigmatic, very much like Kwai Chang Caine; a stranger in a strange land. The large, violet blossoms initially appear to be from a regal orchid, yet the tree belongs to the humble bean family of plants. Like Caine, the Orchid tree is adaptable and can thrive far from home in Florida’s alternating wet and dry seasonal climate. Furthermore, a contrarian to norms, it blooms in fall and winter as opposed to our local population of trees that flower spring and summer. Scientists have named the unique leaf shape as a twin-lobed orbiculate, but Caine would see the leaves rather, as the gossamer wings of a butterfly.

Each Western town Caine visited, he left an example of dignity and compassion. Perhaps every Hong Kong Orchid tree planted is a reminder of the natural beauty in life. You may take your own spiritual journey to find truth and beauty. Your path may be circuitous or direct, practical or quixotic. Finding a Hong Kong Orchid tree at the end may not even be the most significant event in your journey. But for those that seek the maximum number of Orchid Trees in the smallest space, I would recommend the parking lot of the Coastal Commons building. There you will find a row of Hong Kong Orchid trees like windmills at La Mancha.

The Shell Point Life editorial team would like to thank Steve Morton for sharing his expertise and passion for Shell Point’s beautiful landscaping and natural surroundings with the readers of this publication through his regular back page column Nature’s Notebook. We wish Steve a very happy retirement!