Pitaya Buds

Yellow Pitaya is putting out buds

Heavy Starfruit/Carambola Bloom

It looks like its going to be a big crop of Starfruit this year. Heavy blossoms on trees. Drought conditions in some parts of the island though so hopefully fruit will set.

Tamarind Tree in Bloom

The Tamarind in the front orchard area is really coming into its own with lots of new growth, fruit and flowers. For tropical trees in this area Cal-pril or Dolo-pril really make a difference in nutrient uptake and the results are dramatic, struggling trees show vigor and new growth as they are able to take in nutrients with the addition of soil amendments.

On the non organic side Tri-Super Phosphate is also a good boost for struggling trees

Mystery Fruit / Wax Jambu

A customer brought a fruit in yesterday for identification. I recognized it as a Jambu, which is a close relative of the Mountain Apple. It was a pretty, solid white variety and I'll be propagating some seeds.

Cacao Flowers and Fruit

Pitayas for Sale

I just picked first batch of my pitaya for sale this year. Had to have Cindy use a net to catch them as they fell from branches where cacti had rambled. I've got to get more established on proper pole supports!

Exotic Fruit Sign

This old sign is about to be retired.

Vanilla Orchids/ Pods

Vanilla Orchid Vines that had been running wild and uncared for bloomed this year in a few places. With Ken Bernard and Robert Wolaver's help we managed to pollinate some flowers. I'm hoping to propagate more vines this year and give them a little more tlc. The flower /pod above is growing in a Mamey tree in the main orchard. The photo was taken 3 months apart to show the time frame of pod development.

I like to think that since both their point of origin is Mexico they may have some symbiotic bond? The shade from the Mamey does let a lot of light in so maybe as with the Pitaya it is good for a overstory / understory cultivation regime

Thunbergia Mysorensis

This vine has always been a favorite with visitors. Here it is growing in a Mamey tree. I'm propagating it now for using in an arbor out by the fruit stand.

I got it originally from Kartuz Greenhouses, a great resource for tropical vines .

Banana Poster

Ken Love has a great banana poster available on his hawaiifruit.net web site . Check it out . It has some great varieties.

Ice Cream Bananas

This banana does well here in Kilauea and is also a favorite with mainland growers as it is cold tolerant. Follow the link to check out the "banana wiki" site

Guanabana / Soursop

Looks like its going to be a good year for soursop this year.

We're going to have to find some recipes to use the mass of fruit that comes ripe over 3 or 4 weeks.

Narcissistic Brazilian Cardinal

This Cardinal has been hanging out in our parking lot for the last few months. He looks for and finds his reflection in the cars that park. Every day he is hopping round on the hoods of cars pecking at his windshield reflection.