Photographer: Ed Finney, Sarasota, Fla.

Summer in the South NEXT | START OVER | PREVIOUS Shell ginger is very beautiful as well as being a most unusual and interesting plant. The plant is tall with large tropical-looking leaves which have a beautiful green and yellowish-white pattern all year round. When the plant blooms, it produces cascading clusters of beautiful white and pink spherical buds which have the shiny appearance of mother of pearl. These then open up to display an exquisite yellow and red orchid-like flower with a mathematically designed pattern. Submit a picture. Copyright © 2005 Consolidated Publishing Co.