National Tropical Botanical Garden: Maui Adventures: Part 3

Ali'i Kula Lavender Farm

Due to a wet fall most of the lavender plants didn't display their true glory but our visit to the farm was lovely. Overall being surrounded by the fragrance and aromas was a treat. I made sure to stock up on my lavender product from the gift shop. The overall style and layout of the garden was full of picture perfect vistas and views of the coast. 

"Created by Agricultural Artist and Horticultural Master, Ali’i Chang, AKL’s 13.5-acre farm resides at an elevation of roughly 4000 ft. and is home to approximately 55,000 lavender plants and 45 different varieties of lavender. Olive trees, hydrangea, Protea, succulents and an exceptional variety of other plants can be found on the farm, which offers the first and only Lavender Lifestyle experience on Maui."

Lavandula stoechas (Spanish Lavender)

Container gardens appeared in each space. 

Tranquility among the flowers

The garden was filled with sculptures 

Surrounded by lavender 

King Protea around every corner

Bees busy at work 

Pipiwai Trail & Waimoku Falls

Beauty among the bamboo forest

Almost to Waimoku Falls 

Made it to Waimoku Falls 

 

Great end to a beautiful hike

Double waterfall 

What a way to end the hike !

 I will always remember my adventure during a FANTASTIC trip to Maui !

National Tropical Botanical Garden: Maui Adventures: Part 2

Just a taste of my quest into the Haleakala crater

 Years ago, I was first taught the adaptations associated with the Haleakala Silversword in basic botany. From that very moment, I knew I had to see these botanical beauties in person. Thankfully some of the National Tropical Botanical Garden interns were able to travel the Maui garden, Kahanu Garden. This was a chance of a life time and I jumped on this opportunity. After weeks of planing and working out the logistics required to spend a night in the crater, we were ready to begin another journey. 

Haleakala National Park is set in "a dormant, but not extinct volcano, that forms the east side of Maui. The Hawaiian area is sacred to native islanders, as well as a famous destination for island visitors. Elevation is 10,023 feet. Haleakala National Park, featuring two entrances, affords visitors an amazing experience that includes distant vistas, waterfalls, rain forest, plants, wildlife, and volcanic scenery."

My first sighting and selfie !

Hiking into the crater 

From start to finish there was a noticeable change in landscape as the grasslands turned into rolling hills of volcanic rock outcrops. This wind swept landscape is filled with the stories of evolutionary pressure that have allow certain adaptations to develop   

Rolling hills dominated by grasses 

A contrast of wonder 

Grasses seem to go on for miles 

The landscape changes as we hike further into the crater 

Clumps of green scattered in the landscape 

Rocks adorn the surface 

A botanical paradise

Mars 

Shrubs hold on to the side canyons 

Trails leading to an unknown world 

No picture will do it justice 

The landscape continues to change 

Almost to the center 

Speechless views

Haleakala Silversword overload

The Haleakalā silversword is endemic to the region of the Haleakala crater meaning that is only found on the island of Maui at elevations above 2,100 meters.  Due to excessive grazing by cattle and goats, and vandalism the silverswords are protected as threatened species Over the years this species' recovery has been met with considerable success. Plants that are within the Silversword alliance are in the plant family Asteraceae (sunflower family). These plants are monocarpic, so once they flowers and produces seed they rapidly senescent and die. 

What spectacular specimens 

Some signage 

Glory in 3's

Generations of blooms to come

The future 

In full-bloom 

Brilliant purple disc and ray flowers make for a fabulous inflorescence

Botanical beauty 

Perfect timing 

Up close and personal  

A family for the next generation

Splendid 

Notice the old leaves still lagging on the steam

Growing on the volcanic rocks

Old leaves protect phloem and xylem from the every changing temperatures 

Close and personal, again 

Small hairs show more adaptations to their environment

Some of the unique flora of Haleakala 

"Over 850 species of plants are found within the bounds of Haleakala National Park. Of these, over 400 species are native, or arrived without human intervention; over 300 species are endemic to Hawai'i, found only in the islands. This astonishing diversity reflects the variety of climates and elevations that allowed plants to fill niches from dry alpine deserts to humid, salt-sprayed coastlines. Plant communities formed in some of the most unlikely dry deserts and lush rainforests. Ethereal silverswords, bird-pollinated geraniums, Seussian na'ena'e and mintless mints are a few of the amazing plants that evolved in the unique and diverse environment on Haleakala."

Dubautia menziesii

Coprosma montana

Leptecophylla tameiameiae

Dodonaea viscosa 

Stereocaulon vulcani

Sadleria cyatheoides

Sadleria cyatheoides

Asplenium trichomanes subsp. densum

Sunrise and hiking out of the crater

Greeting the morning 

Beautiful sunrise

 Progress up the trail in the morning sun

Getting closer to the top 

Clouds dot the morning sky

A trail full of zig zags up the crater 

Almost to the top 

Great view of the ocean 

Thank you to the National Park system for current ID and facts associated with this blog. Cannot wait to continue botanizing !