January in Volcano Hawaii

 

A Zen Riddle

Giving Yellow a Bad Rap!!

Is it possible to yell-o quietly?

For well over a year now, we have been convinced that the colors YELLOW and ORANGE have been getting a bad rap.  Yellow has turned into "yelling" and Orange feels like "rage" And, it has only gotten worse since the end of 2016. We have decided to counteract the negative influence of our Cheeto-Headed President with our own personal beautification campaign here in Puna on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Us in the Mellow Yellow Submarine

Although there are admittedly more serious ways to engage politically (which we encourage,) this week we chose simply to focus on the BEAUTY of YELLOW and ORANGE that we have planted in our yard. As we have created beds around the property, for whatever reason (and sometimes for none at all) each of them has a name.

"Cosmic Dancer" is in the upper right corner

For example, we have the "Valentine Bed" because we built it together on Valentines day a couple years ago. There is a "Pink Bed" that began primarily with pink flowers, but since has been enlivened by other colors as well. There is the "Monarch Bed," the "Bromeliad Hill, "The Terraces," and even one named "Kate's Bed" because it was planted mostly by our friend and yard helper, Kate.


Until recently, there was a bed with no name -- until, that is, the hibiscus we planted there went into full bloom along with all the other yellows and oranges that are featured there. The name of this hybrid hibiscus is "Cosmic Dancer" and thus the name "Cosmic Dancer Bed."

We have two YELLOW ohia trees in our yard and one surprised us last week by bursting out with little yellow
pom-poms all over it. Despite the fact that we have had over 20 of our forest ohia trees die in three years, many are still alive and healthy, so this lovely, rare yellow ohia is a particular joy.

Bloomers for Us Boomers!

Cotyledon Happy Young Lady

I plead ignorant of the names of all these amazing blooms that are popping up in the yard right now.

Only one plant below, with the yellow cala-shape was here when we moved in four years ago. This is the first year it has bloomed. The bloom is about 7" tall but the huge leaves are nearly 4' long!
Other specimens were gathered or gifted. The upper left chandelier-type is a succulent that over grows in an ancient cemetery along the famous Red Road in Puna -- close to the ocean. In our yard they grow in a well drained nutrient deprived area similar to that of the beach area where we gathered some, leaving appropriate ho'okupu (gifts of gratitude.)

The star-shaped pale yellow ones were gifts from a neighbor and this is their first bloom. (I have a call into the friends who gave it to us and will add the name soon.)

The pink ornamental "pineapple" one was another give-away from local jungle gardener with a warning -- the spiked leaves have the most deadly thorns; they do -- the worse of any bromeliad I have met! The entire "head" will soon be covered with small purple flowers -- that are just now becoming visible.

Over the past 4+ years my garden has become an integral extension of my home. Artfully working with and learning from the land and plants continues to be a deeply entwined relationship of ALOHA and MAHALO.

Wheel of Fortune?

THE GAME??:         WHEEL OF FORTUNE!
THE CATEGORY:   BEFORE AND AFTER
THE ANSWER:        "HURRICANE-ARMS-OF-FLOWERS"

As the arms of the hurricane Madeline spiral in closer to the Big Island of Hawaii we are experiencing "waves" of weather. (Udate below**) There are hour long bursts of tremendous rain and wind, followed by lulls of blue sky when your senses tell you it is "over" -- but it really isn't. Such is life in Puna on the Big Island during hurricane season.

Enough flowers to create 5 lovely arrangements

As has been the pattern since we retired and relocated here, the weather determines everything. Yesterday, we followed our checklist:  secure loose items around the property including umbrellas, chairs, yard equipment, garbage containers, flower pots, etc.  It also meant we needed to mow NOW because in another few days it would be hard pushing.  Phil started the generator and I walked the property looking for suspicious long branches or plants that needed to be pruned to prevent breaking.

The brunt of Madeline is expected to arrive around 2-3pm today. So, for now, in between the alternating waves of weather I strolled out to gather arms full of flowers, and Phil made a trip to a friends house to pick up some koa wood for his art projects.

As neighbors, we are all checking on each other, rounding up stray pets, sharing "remember when Iselle hit" stories, emptying the rain gauges (2 inches in last 12 hours) and focusing on indoor projects.   A HUI HO!!    ((Update** lots of rain, wind and storm surges, but we are safe.  Some damages along coastline for residents.  The gift of Iselle is that we KNOW it can and does happen and are better prepared.)