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!