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Yes, apparently Etlingera elatior is the main name, but Alpinia elatior, Alpinia magnifica, Amomum magnificum, Elettaria speciosa, Nicolaia elatior, Phaeomeria magnifica, and Phaeomeria speciosa are all accepted synonyms. See http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/htm... for more info.
bayucca- Those are synonyms.
Might be a juvenile American Robin too...
My wife tells me these are fairly common on the west coast. She tells me she grew up seeing Steller's Jays, Scrub Jays, and Magpies, but had never seen a Blue Jay before moving east.
I'd say about 4 or 5 inches, longest one I've seen around here.
Variegated Boxwood, maybe?