Island Flora

One year ago, I was living in Southern California and had tried my luck growing orchids(many times before). But, no matter what I did, what book I followed or what fertilizer I bought (and I was talked in to buying many) The orchid always died.

When I moved to the islands a friend brought me over an orchid as a housewarming gift. I thanked her but told her that I didn't have very good luck with these flowers. She laughed and said that they were so easy to grow here. She told me to keep them in the house, if I liked, while the flowers were in bloom. After they fell off, just take the pot outside and hang it under a tree or on the fence out of bright sun. She told me to give it a spray of water from time to time.

Sure, I thought....that will work!

Well, it is truly unbelievable. This orchid pictured ( I wish I could tell you the name but in my search for the right one I came upon hundreds......) anyway, this plant is in a broken down plastic container with no soil. The roots are just hanging down and blow in the trade winds every day. I occasionally spray it with water and as you can see, it bloomed.

It has been a year, but yesterday the bud came out and today it opened up. Aahhh! The islands....truly an amazing place to live!