This exotic flower is from the Heliconia family and is often referred to as the “false bird of paradise”. It was photographed during a tour of a spice plantation in Munnar, India. Its radiant colours and voluptuous shapes immediately grab your attention as you question what type of flower or plant it might possibly be. It is exquisite to the point of unreal, tempting one to touch it to be sure it is truly alive and in front of you and not a wax facsimile. I’m not sure what is more incredible-to come across it in abundance in its natural habitat, or to see a single one as part of a tropical floral arrangement having traveled all the way to North America in mid-winter.