Checking Out More Farmer's Markets and KCC

We checked out the KCC (Kapiolani Community College) Farmer's Market this past Saturday. We were targeting "Pang's Nursery" but they were there the previous weekend (but we got to meet the Olomana Farmers owner Ken). This place must be on some Japanese Guide to Oahu, because 4 out of 5 people walking the pop up tents were tourists. Definitely good for the local vendors and great for new food creations to be experienced (but it was crowded). Marlon tried these Ahi Sliders - served on tempura kale chips. Ono yummy!!! There was a time where signs like this would fire up my "challenge" spirit. Now my "you'll be in pain and suffer for hours if you take that 'challenge'" sense kicks in. Cool sign nonetheless... Live Kona Abalone anyone??? These are grown locally on the Big Island with cold, deep seawater (I highly endorse!!! - check out my LinkedIn profile as to why). We also came on this day to check out the Cacti and Succulent Garden at KCC. Tons of plants they had made me think twice about some of the succulents that currently sit in pots at our house (given unfettered space and resources - some Euphorbias turn into giants). Noe saw some Aedium (Desert Roses) that had huge caudex (trunks). Lots of plants you normally wouldn't see (lots of things you don't see all the time) WHAT????!!!!!????

Checking Out UH Manoa

I know these past several posts have diverged somewhat from the 'amphibious' nature of this blog - but with all our focus on plants and plantings, that's what we've been doing. On that note, here's another. UH Manoa was having a open house yesterday and La and I wanted to bring Marlon and Noe to checkout the programs, the campus and life for college students. Lots of booths with students and instructors super willing to discuss their programs. And the best part of the open house (according to the kids) was the Biology Department - because they had chameleons. And lots of cool plants and trees (UH Manoa has always had cool trees)! Cannonball Tree And I enjoyed more what this University does best - Hawaiian cultural endeavors. Makes me want to make some hand tools.

Planting Roots

I told La the other day "I am so happy to have finally moved to a place where I know I won't have to pick up again after two years and move across country". We were both walking outside in our backyard in the morning and looking at the plants we have recently brought home. Prior to this move, we only bought very few plants and never put any of they in the ground because we knew we'd have to undo everything within a year or so to get ready for the upcoming move. For now, we don't do that anymore - so we kinda went crazy with acquiring plants (or at least Noe and I have). Noe and I have established a pretty good sized succulent collection. The grouping is large enough that most stores we go to no longer have plants that we don't already have. This is good news for La (since she thinks we have too many already - btw her garden is in the ground and growing well - Heliconias, Bird of Paradise, various elephant ears, a Traveler's Palm and much more). Don't be jealous La ;) I'll take a few more pictures later today - but I'm really happy about these!!!