Phyllostachys Spectabilis Leviosa!

I returned to Pergolatory from my vacation to find that not much had changed. The weather here had been rainy and overcast much of the time that I was enjoying 80°F on Maui. However, today I walked out to do my usual rounds and found that my phyllostachys spectabilis bamboo was pushing up culms everywhere! The extra daylight and sun heated cinder block wall must have triggered their arrival. The black bamboo phyllostachys nigra doesn't have any new culms yet, but it's on the opposite side of the patio where it relies on the afternoon sun - the afternoon sun that we haven't been getting yet. The spectabilis culms are fairly large in diameter, so I'm really excited for the added privacy that they'll provide.

 

Update: A few weeks later and there are 40+ new spectabilis culms, with a few of them taller than the 6' fence already. Their diameters are about what you would expect for a first season of growth. The black bamboo started coming up recently too. And the culms are thick. One of them is easily 1.5" in diameter. They're not yet as tall, but given last year's growth, I expect that they'll reach 20' at least!

Pergola-tory in Maui, Hawaii

I've been in Maui, Hawaii for about a week now. I come home soon, but before I check on my own little paradise, I have some pictures to share. Truth be told the foliage here in Kaanapali is all staged. There are regions of the island that I would have liked to explore if I had a partner with which to do it, and perhaps they have more intrigue. At the hotel though, it's all hibiscus, bromeliads, bougainvillea, and plumeria.

My family and I did venture a little out of the resort area. We stopped in a little pull-off and traipsed through some forested areas where there were many plants with which I'm unfamiliar. The area wasn't a rain forest though, so it wasn't as exotic as I had hoped. Here are some pictures.

There wasn't a single passiflora in sight. That might have something to do with the strict agriculture regulations which prevent the import of passiflora to Hawaii. Oh well, looks like I'll have to wait until I get home to enjoy my California flowers. But, until then...pineapples!

Oh Geez, My Logee's!

I came home from work today to discover a long rectangular box near my front door. I knew without seeing the label that it was from Logee's and that my first four new passiflora had arrived! They're not much to look at yet, but I have high hopes. Here are the sprouts in all their green glory.

Katydid Don't!

So right after my first post today, I walked to the front yard to turn on the water for my bromeliads and check on the doves' nest in the ficus tree. I noticed another critter in my nasturtiums though. A katydid! In Redondo Beach?! I have such fond memories of these buggers from being a little boy in Kentucky, that I don't have the heart to remove him even though he's obviously chowing down on my plants.

We're Buds.

It was 84°F here today. My solar powered fountain started fountain...ing for the first time this year. When I was out there admiring it, I noticed that one of the passion flowers had a tiny little flower bud on it. I'm not sure which one it is, and I won't until it blooms, but I think that tomato fertilizer is paying off. Since I found that bud, I decided to poke around and see if I could find some other signs of Spring. Sure enough, the Japanese maple has a few leaves starting to emerge. The Chocolate vine has it's little purple buds ready to open too.

My passion vines from Logee's should come this week! I need to get those planted in to fill up some pots which lost a couple. I might even put one in the front yard to climb the palm tree, but I haven't fully decided. OK, I just decided that since I have more coming at the beginning of next month from Grassy Knoll, that I should pick one for the front too. I'll make sure that it's sweet smelling so that a breeze can carry the scent into my house. Let's see..P. serratifolia should do the trick. Here's what Logee's writes about it:

"A rich and pleasing floral fragrance combined with a long flowering season are some of the strong attributes of this Central American species. Blooming from May to October, the flowers have purple petals and dense frilly filaments accentuating the 3” blooms. It is a strong grower yet modest in stature making it an excellent candidate for containers. We grow it in a hanging basket where it makes a beautiful specimen. If cross-pollinated with another species, it will produce edible fruit."