2010-12-17 Lyon Arboretum again

Last time we were rushed through the arboretum because it closes at 4pm...

There were lots of various ginger things. These were about 18in tall.


My favorite native Hawaiian plant: Metrosideros polymorpha.


Emphasis on the poly: the lemon yellow form.


Tacca chantrieri. Black Bat flower.


Something tropicalesque.


The plant this was on looked a lot like a Podocarpus... it obviously isn't... Don't know what the heck it is, though.


Hey, I have one of those... not quite that big, but close.

2010-12-15 Cactus Garden and Manoa Falls

The Kapi'olani Community College dedicates copious land to its ever expanding cactus and succulent garden. They also have an awesome farmers market which was a bit touristy, sadly. But, that didn't stop their jam from being voraciously devoured by me and others related to me.


Kalanchoe in bloom.


Check out these Pachipodiums!


So cute! They were crawling all over the Aloe licking the nectar.


We went for a leisurely hike up to Manoa falls. By leisurely, I mean sweaty. And by hike I mean up a jogging up a rocky hillside in 80F weather. Can we perhaps be less used to this? Absolutely! Just make the humidity 103.2% and you're set! It turned out we had too much blood and we had to sweat it out.


Occasionally, I would have a few seconds to take a picture. Some sort of Neomarica.


After the hike, we went to the neighboring Lyon Arboretum. Lachnalia was opening up.


Another Albizia. I think this is the one that's coming in the mail.


Gloriosa superba.


Could be a Jacaranda, but whatever it is, it's over 200ft tall and well over 10ft in diameter. Notice the tiny swing set to the left.


Last, we went for a short hike along the top of the ridge. Way cooler up there amongst the Araucaria.

2010-12-14 Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden

On the East coast of Oahu. Water deemed acceptably stunning. No snorkeling of which to speak.


We traded water things for their dry-land counterparts. This is Hawaii's showy native Hibiscus.


Hawaii has about 4 plants that are native to the islands. Everything else is brought over. These are some amazingly huge 4ft tall non-native Bromeliads.


Lisa under a Ficus. Shortly after having her dreams dashed as she learned that there in fact ARE mosquitoes on Hawaii. Many, as it turns out.


Albizia. I could not get enough of them. Enormous. I'm expecting one the mail any day. Those flat rate boxes can hold a surprising quantity.


Brownea macrophylla. Winter is Not the blooming season in Hawaii, but a couple flowers were open.


The hillside.


Hey! It's that field from "Lost" where they drove the Dharma Truck around after Hurley had a win for once... you know... So we ran around in circles for a while.