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!

More on Dragonfruit....

This Beauty is a Dragonfruit flower. It's on a stalk that looks alot like a cactus, even has thorns. It grows very nicely crawling on the rocks. This one is quite large, about 12" across. Will it eventually produce fruit? Probably not, as most Dragonfruit farmers here have to hand pollinate them, and even then it's hit or miss. They sell the fruit here for about $5.00 a pound, and I understand twice that on Oahu (Honolulu). The fruit has a vitamin c content higher than most any other. And is delicious beyond compare!

English Lavender

English Lavender

Our English Lavender (Vera)
One of the main plants we grow here on our farm. We distill the oil and hydrosol from it, and use it in our FBI First Aid Creme, and First Aid Spray, along with our own Rosemary. We get 3 cuttings per year here in  Hawaii, and these will be ready soon. When the buds are at there fullest, the aroma is just intoxicating, and it's my favorite to harvest. As you can see, it does really well here in the clouds at 4300' elevation.

Birds of Paradise!

These beatiful flowers are called "Birds of Paradise". Very common here in Hawaii, and do quite well at almost any elevation. These are on our farm here at 4300'. I just give them a little water and prune off the flower stalks when they are finished blooming. They do well in soil with good drainage, as these are in crushed rock and cinder mix. These flowers do not have any fragrance, or at least none that humans can detect!

Our Beautiful Hibiscus

Hibiscus!

Here's a picture of some Hibiscus flowers! They are about 8-10" across! As you can see they grow in many different colors. The one's used for Hibiscus tea are a dark red color. We have them on our farm, but presently are not in bloom.

Persian Shield!

Here's a couple of pics of our Pesian Shield. I don't have too much info on these, but the grow very well here in Hawaii, as long as they are in the shade. I just like the beautiful purple/lavender color!
By D.MedicineWoman

Gardenia in Hawaii!

Here's a nice pic of one or our Gardenias. These blooms don't last too long, but when they are opening, the aroma is just wonderful!

By D.MedicineWoman

More Plumerias!

Our Hawaiian Plumerias come in many different colors and shades. One of the most popular flowers for leis, or worn in the hair Also makes a wonderful essential oil!

     By D.MedicineWoman

Aloha! Welcome to the Big Island!

I've been living here on the Big Island for about 5 years now, and I must admit that it is one of the most beautiful and amazing places I have ever seen. So much so I decided to start this blog and share photos and info with all those interested.

My husband and I own a small 4 acre farm here, Farm on Big Island, way up on the slopes of Mauna Loa at 4300' elevation. We grow and distill our own English Lavender and also Rosemary. For both of us, farming and growing plants has become a way of life that we are both very thankful for. I'll be posting up many pictures and some information on many of the beautiful plants found here, and I hope you'll check back often to see what's new!

This is a picture of one of our Plumerias that grow pretty much everywhere on the island. You might know it as Frangipani.

This one is more of a pink shade, and they range from white to yellow to pink. When they are in bloom, the aroma is just fantastic!
By D.MedicineWoman