Joni's visit to Hawaii -

Well, last Sat. I met Joni (SRQ Hoyas) on Oahu. She had arrived earlier and had, of course, scoped out some hoyas at a little nursery...then we went to Ted Greens for hours of OOOOOOOhs, and AAAAAAAAhs and then we all went out to dinner. The next day Joni came back to the Big Island with me for 3-4 days. What a great time we had!!! It was as if we had known eachother for a long time...she is very easy to be with and was a help in the greenhouse as well. Here is a photo of the 3 of us (pssst, I am in the middle)... Can you believe Ted is coming onto 88 years?!!!! He looks and IS very fit and really fun to be around!

Hopefully when she gets home this weekend she can add photos, too.

OH, BTW - we called David Liddle (everyone know about Penny Talk?) who said they were processing our order as we spoke and it would be coming shortly - hoping for next week early!!!

Here is H. monetteae ... every node had flowers and they were REALLY fragrant!!!

hate it when I do that!

Here is my H. acuta from Kota Kinabalu which opened up for her....

What a great photo! All smiles ... but I can't imagine anyone in Hawaii ever frowning! ^_^ Glad you and Joni got to meet and had a good time together, sounds like a lot of fun!

Oooh, nice monetteae - and another fragrant one? Love the pink blooms on that acuta!

I'm so glad you had such a good time, I love the picture -- you all look happy. Thanks for sharing it.
Good for you =)

Its always good to see the faces behind the print. Though through other photos I have seen Carol, Joni and Ted before, but usually all you see in the photos is a hand or finger. ( Hey I know that Hand! LOL )

Looks like you all had a good time.
Ted looks really great for 88 years old, WOW! what is his secrets????
Acuta pink is really pretty!

Thanks for sharing those pictures Carol - glad you guys had fun!!

Gabi

Hi,
I've been wanting to add to Carol's thread....boy things get outta hand fast in my absence.

It was an honor to be the guests of Ted, Dorothy and Carol in their beautiful islands. When I picked Carol up at the airport in Honolulu, almost an hour after she landed, (I couldn't find her and she does not have a cell phone) she greeted me with a gorgeous lei and a smile. We load her bag into my car and headed to a beach closed to where I was staying in Kailua. We grabbed a to go lunch and some Chai Tea lattes. After chatting for about 2 hours we both felt like we were old friends just catching up on old times...all thanks to the internet I suppose?

Then it was time to head up the coast to Ted Green's home for the introduction, was not sure how that would go. If you've ever gotten emails from him after placing a cutting order...you know exactly what I am talking about. Oh..on the way we stopped by a nursery which I somehow found some noid hoyas the day before. They were selling them for $3/foot so I grabbed a bunch... I wanted Carol to take a look at them too.

In order to get to the Green's home we went up and up and up. He lives on the side of a mountain and his view of the water is awesome. I was greeted with a bit of OFF mosquito repellant and hugs from Ted and Dorothy. He was anxious to show me his gardens...hoyas and orchids galore...many of them in full bloom.

This message was edited Mar 1, 2011 4:40 PM

Ted's hand in H. glabra leaf
amazes me how these heavy plants grow up trees!

Ted is a unique kinda man...so funny and friendly and passionate about his plants and life in general. As Carol mentioned above...88? I would not guess he's a year over 60...maybe a tribute to plant lovers!
Yes...men and women wear the hawaiian floral shirts on the islands.

I'd guess we were in the garden for 2 hours...then we took a took a break before we headed out to a yummy Thai restaurant for dinner. We brought our own wine and quickly had more food than we could eat on our table and great conversation. Again...I felt so welcome and like I was meeting good friends for dinner. Conversation was collecting Hoyas, of course. I belive DL's name came up a couple of times...all good. I asked all the questions about growing and collecting that I could think of...who wouldn't in this company.

The next day Carol & I headed to her island...I could not wait!

Oh my goodness Joni ... Thank you for posting some of your vacation photo's! Love the photo of you with that Eriostemma, You look so pretty! I'd be wanting to make Lei's from a few of those vines to bring home! ^_^

Mr. Green sure does not look anywhere near the age of 88! I'm thinking it must be the combination of being a plant lover AND living in the Paradise! I think I remember Carol posting her age once and she doesn't look her age either! Great shot of her standing on that volcanic rock, with the waves in the background!

Ok ... will wait for more Hawaii pictures!

A few things I found interesting as we made our way from the airport to Carols 12 acre estate:

The locals lanscaped their yards by sitting the black nursery pots on the ground...like little soldiers in a line.
The ground is lava rock...no dirt or sand as we know it...thus very difficult to plant anything in the ground.

The foliage and plants grown were very familiar to what I grow here at home in Florida.

The local market has soooooo much in the way of prepared fish, sushi, salads etc at their deli...I could have sampled it all.

We visited a Sunday Farmer's Market...Carol knew everybody by name...who would have thought. And all the goodies they had for sale and to taste. The bartering system seemed to be taken advantage of.

At her house I was greeted by Bob (DH), Thelma (lab) and two black kitties. I wish I'd have taken more photos of the places I went but seemed to be focused on the specifics.
We soon headed to the gardens by car this time. here was sooo much to look at up, back, over and around...a bit overwhelming but beautiful. I was amazed by the amount of work she & Bob had put into their piece of paradise, the amount of time it took to maintain and also the neverending plans to add to the landscape.


Carol is a great cook and she seemed to eat like I do...whatever I am hungry for is what is for breakfast lunch or dinner. Nothing formal but always something fresh from the garden and or market. Everything was healthy...except for the cocunut cheesecake...but it sure made us all happy...yum!!!
In the mornings I had coffee that was grown on the property. I would describe it as smooth...unlike any I'd ever tasted.
I would have loved to experience the Cacao but it had now been produced yet...I belive this was the first year they were going to make their own chocolate.

The next morning we drove to see Kilauea...the active volcano. The last time I was in Hawaii...I took a helicopter ride and experienced this activity from the air. Just as dramatic from the ground!

My kinda folks ... whatever your taste buds want at whatever meal time sounds like my kinda day! My DH is totally the opposite from me. He has eaten cereal for breakfast his entire life, on occasion the eggs, bacon etc. I cannot eat cereal in the morning ... prefer it for dinner or a night time snack. He eats ice cream at night while I will eat a bowl of cereal. I should eat healthier ... but I've been known to eat pasta or pizza for breakfast! Did it in my younger years and still do!

How cool ... growing your own coffee ... and growing Cacao for making your own chocolate! Wow, visiting Carol & Bob would certainly be educational!

Back to the house with lots of info given on the way home...Carol is a spectacular tour guide. She definately knows her island and anything you'd wanna know about it...she's got all of the answers :0)

Still awaiting the DL order Carol gave him a call to get the scoop which she shared with you earlier on this thread.

More tours of the grounds...I just loved this bamboo!!
Gotta find a plant to purchase for my yard.
Outstanding!!!!!

Great photo of "Carol At Work"!

Pretty black bamboo ... just be careful planting it in your yard Joni, I've heard some of it can be very invasive ... spreading everywhere.

By this time I was on Hawaii time...definately.
5:30am I wake because the sun is coming up...3:00pm stay inside because the mosquitos eat you alive...8:00pm head off to bed to be lulled to sleep by the kokee(sp?) frogs. But the best thing is NO SNAKES anywhere!!!!

It's a clumper, Lin...we have only one runner and it is planted in a crack in the ground....we murder anything that crawl out! I prefer 'savory' to sweet for breakfast, too. Left over stirfry or pasta is great!

OMG...I am exposed to the world! My shambles of a desk! Somehow it is ME!!

I am having a great time all over again!!!!

Joni...love the photos!!!! Can you send them to me on my email? AND the ones you didn't post...

The next morning was spent cutting and cutting and more cutting...yep hoyas and eriostemmas from the trees...that we were able to reach.

Eriostemma ciliata

Carol untangling H. samoensis...she gave up and just cut the entire rope down...I spent 1 hour unwinding this vine.
But it's beautiful and I love it!

This was the box I shipped home...30 lbs or Ti plants, hoyas and stemmas!
Carol is a trooper...many hours it took to label and cut and clean and pack.
The box made it home one day before I did.
Thanks Carol for all the goodies...they seem to be adapting to Florida living.

Hmmmm That area is on my to do list. I wanted to take them all down and restart....but heck...they love it where they are and how they are. Who am I to argue?

Carol's greenhouse now that she is winding done...:0(
Still blooming but many openings...for more plants!

Plumeria...do not know the name yet?

Blue Jade vine...I would love to have a start of this.
The photo does not do it justice...the blue is neon!

This message was edited Jun 18, 2009 5:51 PM

Another one I wanna grow in my Florida/Hawaii garden!

My last day with Carol...a great view on our way to the airport.

It was just a great experience and adventure.
There was never a dull moment or even an uncomfortable one.
I refer to Carol as a close and dear friend...she is truely a remarkable lady and...great grower!!!
Next...it's her turn to visit my beautiful state!

Aloha!
Joni

Joni, Your photo's and stories make me feel like I was right there! I'm so glad you had such a great time!

Wow! That is a heavy box of plants you shipped back ... please share pictures as they get accustomed to your garden!

That Plumie is gorgeous! I have a few that I planted outside last year. Two died in the freezes we had this winter but the remaining three or four are putting on growth, I hope to see some blooms before long! I had one that had a burgundy color flower, not spectacular but it sure smelled great. Mine are all noids so I have no idea what I've got ... hoping for some pretty colors like the one in your photo!

What is that plant you call Blue Jay vine? Looks really nice, I love that dark blue color. The foliage reminds me of Vigna caracalla "Corkscrew Vine": http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1884/)

Wow, Carol - that is one Huge greenhouse! When I was younger that would look like fun but now looks like a lot of work!

What is the beautiful plant with all the yellow in the leaves in Joni's photo? It looks kinda familiar.

What you DON'T see is that very same spot where Joni is on the rocks.....covered in a huge wave about a second after she got down! Scared us, somewhat!!!

Yup...can't wait to see Joni's digs and spend time with her there in FL. Soon.

Lin...the tree with the yellow in the leaves is an Erythrina they call the Samoan Sunshine Tree. Really neat and it really stands out. There is a Gaul Wasp (Gall Wasp?) that has invaded the islands and is killing off the Erythrinas. I have tried all sorts of things but the magic mushroom is that BATS with Fertilizer in it. I put a huge scoop on it and it killed the Galls and the plant loved it. (PS - that BATS was on sale at WalMart for 7$...guess they had to get rid of it as the regular price was 25$)...heh heh heh.

This message was edited Jun 18, 2009 11:26 AM

Oh my goodness ... would have scared the beejeebies outta me! Joni, you could have been swept out to sea!

I'm on the east coast of Fl but would love to meet you and Joni both! Maybe if you ever do get to visit Joni, I could arrange to get over that way for a day ... would be so much fun meeting you two!

Sounds like you had a super trip and a great visit together. Your pictures make the islands come alive Joni and Carol. Thanks so much both of you for sharing this.

Christine