Sterling Landscape of Maui

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My husband and I just returned from celebrating our 25^th anniversary in Maui. We had honeymooned there and celebrated my parents' 50^th anniversary there, so Maui has always been special to us. In addition to the whale, sea turtle and surfer watching, and snorkeling I have always loved spending time with the tropical plants here. The grounds of the resort/condo complex we stayed at were just lovely. I was impressed with the combination of plants and bromeliads. The burgundy and green color combination was striking without a single flower in sight.

Venturing out to the parking area I saw a lovely tree. I don't know what kind of tree this is but it had pinnately compound leaves. What impressed me most about this tree was the root system that was visible above the ground. It was really quite massive and took up every bit of space it had been given. I would love to know what the below-ground root system looked like. This tree was making the most of what it had and was thriving.

Close to the first tree, I saw another smaller tree. Its gnarled trunk and branches had been adorned with air plants and orchids. I've got to admit that I felt more than a twinge of envy at this point. I certainly wouldn't be able to do that in Fairfield.

Another day we went up to the town of Makawao which is considered upcountry as it is situated on the slopes of the dormant volcano Haleakala. This area has ranching and farming. The first thing I noticed was hibiscus in the parking lot that was the size of a small tree. The town was charming with many boutiques and restaurants. Outside one of the stores was a bucket filled with bouquets of Protea for the grand price of $10.00. Guess this is one of the benefits of living close to a Protea farm.

Next time I would like to find out if there are tours offered at this farm. I know there are tours at a nearby lavender farm and at the Surfing Goat Dairy. That's the thing about Maui, no matter how many times you go, you find more that you want to see next time.

photos by Karen Metz