The Eppies are Blooming!

Eppies in Hawaii? You betcha! They just love it here. Our warm humid climate makes our Eppies happy campers! And you thought they only grew in California!
For those of you that aren't familiar with Eppies, they are actually Epiphylum, which means "upon the leaf". That's because the flowers actually come out of the edges of the leaves, as you can see below. They are a type of cactus originally found in the jungles of South America and Africa.
As you can see in the photos, Eppies are quite happy to live in our rocky terrain. They are natural climbers and will grow onto just about anything. Maintenance is just about zero, as these plants can take advantage of absorbing the moisture in the air, so little watering is needed. All of the Eppies on our property were propagated from one plant that we purchased a few years back.
Notice that the Eppies in the photo above have a small tree growing right out of the rock to keep them company. It's one of our native Ohia trees, and like alot of things here It's Amazing!

Dragonfruit!

Way back in November, I posted a shot of a Dragonfruit flower (scroll down to see it). Ordinarily, these plants have to be hand pollinated inorder to produce fruit. Well, I don't know how it got pollinated, but that flower decided to produce the wonderful fruit you see here! Yummy! It should be ready to pick shortly, and I'm really looking forward to trying it.

The Ohias are Blooming!

It's springtime here in Hawaii, and on the Big Island, it means that our Ohia trees are blooming. These rugged trees live to be hundreds, maybe even thousands of years, and are so tough, they can grow right into the volcanic rock. They can even stand up to being scorched bare by the heat of a lava flow getting too close. As soon as things cool down, the foliage just grows right back. They are also the first trees to inhabit new lava after it cools! The beautiful lipstick red flowers even get there own name, they are called "Lehua". Although these flowers are magnificent, they are not the best part. Soon the beekeepers will bring in the beehives, and then it's time for world famous "Lehua Honey"! Yep, all that Lehua honey comes from right here in Hawaii. Even mainland folks can find it in Haagendaus Vanilla and Honey ice cream.  

Of course, for those of us who actually live out here on the island, soon the farmers markets will have Lehua honey available in many different sizes. If you are fortunate enough to be visiting in late spring and even through the summer, be sure to try this delightful treat!

Mele Kalikimaka! The Poinsettias are Blooming!

Mele Kalikimaka means Merry Christmas in Hawaii, and you know it's just about that time when you see these giants blooming!

Christmas Poinsettias in Hawaii!

Here's a photo of some Hawaiian Poinsettias in South Kona. You're probably used to seeing these in a little pot growing about 1 or 2 feet tall, however, here in Hawaii they grow to be TREES! This one is on a bank and is about 10 feet tall. The flowers are about 12-15 inches across! That's a palm growing next to it, and it was taller than me! The Poinsettias bloom here every year starting around mid-November and going until late January, with no special attention. When I first came here I had to stop my car, get out and touch one to make sure it was real! Truely AMAZING!

POINSETTIAS!

The Beautiful Dragonfruit Flower!