A "Mountain" of Lava - Revisited

 

Four Years and Counting

Fragrant Pua Kinikini

Red blooms of Hawaiian Ti

We began to buy plants for our undeveloped acre long before the container of our personal possessions arrived at the port of Hilo on the Big Island.

As is true in life, some things don't grant you the delight of instant gratification like the familiar annuals (or even perennials) of  The Continent.

Hybrid Bromeliad
 (Reba for size perspective)

That being said, we had no idea that we might have to wait not two or three years, but four or five years for some of our first one-gallon purchases to bloom.

Newly planted bed outside
our front gate (bromeliads)

One of many Heliconia varieties

Ta DAH....well, this is that year, and we are delighted with some significant and crazy blooms.

While these may appear to be exotic, here in the rainy jungle-forest area the Puna District, they show up frequently in gardens we have visited.

On our visit to the Botanical Gardens above Hilo, we were stunned by the outrageous blooms of both Heliconia and Bromeliads, and of course the huge variety of colorful Ti plants, so these are featured in our landscaping. In addition to the flowers, our fruit trees have been loaded with both blossoms and fruit. Like many of our friends and neighbors, we have a couple trees each of oranges, tangerines, limes and lemons, a couple dozen pineapple plants, passion fruit (Liliko'i), papayans -- and eatable.

WE WILL UPDATE THIS POST WITH A PHOTO OF THE HYBRID BROMELIAD WHEN IT BLOOMS (PICTURED ABOVE AS JUST A 'STOCK') SHOULD BE STUNNING. 

Blooms and Butterflies

For artists on the Big Island of Hawaii inspiration comes from so many places. Of course the island itself is amazing -- the volcanoes, lava, intense blue skies, big cloud formations, and all the patterns and colors of the ocean.

Just walking around the property is also inspiring. The other day Phil took the camera out to get just a FEW of the artful explosions happening and I created a montage of some of them.

He also got a photo of one of Hawaii's Monarch butterflies laying eggs on the purple Crown Flower -- which then inspired him to use a piece of koa wood to create a whimsical butterfly.