Carnivorous Plants Excape in Puna

Grow to be about 12" long

We have three kinds growing wild

These unusual looking plants are VOLUNTEERS growing along the unfenced back corner of our property.  They grow as long vines, and are called Nepenthes.  These are escapees from our neighbor's amazing nursery.  When we discovered them, we decided to build a trellis so they could grow to cover up an unsightly corner.  Rain water collects in the long horn-like shape and bugs (even big ones) are collected and dissolved inside the plant -- especially mosquitoes!

After we bought our house near Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii, we began to tell our friends about it  One dear couple asked where the house was, and when we replied "Leilani Estates," they responded, "Our dear friends live there....what street?"  It was then we discovered that we had bought a house right next to people who were long time friends of our Humboldt buddies.

Please take a moment to look at the wild plants growing next door at Leilani Hapu'u Nursery.   Link to photos of Sam and his COOL plants

29 Years (and counting)

Wedding Photo and article

Here's what he wrote in May of 1986:   

"...looking for a woman that excites my creative imagination and I hers.  She is artistic, spiritual, humorous, affectionate, ready for the love of a lifetime...."

Phil had never written a personals ad before; Lunel had never answered one...until that week, 29 years ago in Santa Cruz, California.  This week we celebrated 29 years together, and looking back 4 houses, 6 cats, 5 dogs and 3 businesses later, we are still amazed and grateful.  Moving to the Puna District on the Big Island two and a half years ago confirmed our dream to continue our adventure together, and reaffirmed how important it is to ASK for what you want and need.

To celebrate we are having a party this Saturday and will be viewing the Induction Ceremony of the 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.   So?!  We're a little bit older... Bob Seger SINGS IT!!!!

 "Rock And Roll Never Forgets" (Bob Seger)

So you're a little bit older and a lot less bolder
Than you used to be
So you used to shake 'em down
But now you stop and think about your dignity (not!)
So now sweet sixteens turned thirty-one
You get to feelin' weary when the work days done
Well all you got to do is get up and into your kicks
If you're in a fix
Come back baby
Rock and roll never forgets
You better get yourself a partner
Go down to the concert or the local bar
Check the local newspapers
Chances are you won't have to go too far
Yeah the rafters will be ringing cause the beat's so strong
The crowd will be swaying and singing along
And all you got to do is get in into the mix
If you need a fix
Come back baby
Rock and roll never forgets

Booming With Blooms

Island boy at Wailoa Center

When we retired and moved to the Big Island of Hawaii a couple years ago, we left an beautiful well-established Victorian garden we had lovingly tended for over 20 years.  The loss we felt over leaving has been replaced by the delight of our new land and landscape as we work to terraform forest and jungle into garden.

In developing our new garden in the Puna district, we've had a ton of fun buying a whole new pallet of bright unusual plants.  Over a year ago we purchased some unique bromeliads and right now, they are sending up stocks of blooms which will open soon.

In the meantime for Mother's Day, I received this amazing orchid with long, long whiskery lips or lobs.  Many of the orchids we have purchased in the past two years have surprised us by blooming again.  In Humboldt County we never bothered with orchids; too much fuss.  Here, we keep a couple trays filled with them out under the ohia trees and do nothing to them except wait for them to bloom, them bring them into the house to enjoy.

We recently visited one of the local galleries in Hilo at Wailoa Center for their fiber art show.  Although there were a couple of quilts, the other entries utilized a wonderful variety of both man made and natural fibers.

TWO DAYS LATER...I went out to weed around some other 4 1/2 foot tall giant bromeliads (which must be done with care as their razor edges can leave you bloodied) I found yet ANOTHER hidden bloom (close-up artfully adapted.)  So, for our 29th Anniversary, we had to walk around the whole yard -- looking down into the intimacies of all our plants!

May Day!

Here's what's happening at the colorful Haysmer household on May Day. I just came in from the yard with a spray of orange rhododendron and purple flowers for the table where we still have a mini-memorial to our beloved Dexter.  Part of that assemblage are two bird nests we found -- one in our yard, and one on our morning walk.


We are happy that the Crown Flowers we planted last month are blossoming, just in time for the Monarch Butterflies that have been exploring our property.  Monarchs of Hawaii do not have the long trek we were familiar with when we lived in Northern California, but have naturalized here in the islands where their favorite flowering plant is the Crown Flower.  The butterflies feed on the nectar of the flowers, and lay their eggs on the leaves.  The newly hatched caterpillars feed on the leaves, spin their pupa and later emerge as new Monarchs.  Although they often munch all the leaves off, the plant comes back fully each year. 

The Crown Flowers (that come in both purple and white) were apparently a favorite of Queen Liliuokalani, so we have included a photo of her statue being adorned. 

Purple Crown Flowers

Much beloved as a ruler and song writer, Queen Liliuokalani was the last reigning monarch before the United States invasion and occupation of the Islands.  On January 14, 1893, a group composed of Americans and Europeans sought to overthrow the Hawaiian Kingdom, depose the Queen, and seek annexation to the United States.  Recommended reading:  Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen.