Spring Season Maui

Aloha,

It has been  a  very wet and windy winter and spring  this year on Maui. The mountain grasses are taller than I have seen  in many years. My yard and fruit trees are flowering and getting ready for a bumper yield.  All the avocado trees Upcountry are completely covered in blossoms and my mangoes are growing larger by the week.
We are so fortunate that our reservoirs are now full to the top. Regardless of the extra work and hassles of rain and mud, there is something very reassuring about the abundance of water. I keep envisioning the aquafir  increasing the fresh water level as all this sweet rain filters through the porous lava rock.

I don't know if there is a more beautiful time of year to visit Hawaii.  The glorious Jacaranda trees are starting to bloom. The  harbinger of Spring, one very large purple blossom covered tree, is now in it's full glory. This particular tree on the Lower Kula Highway, is larger than most, blooms earlier than all, and stays in bloom longer as well. The purple highway is still a few weeks away from wowing all those who are lucky enough to drive our beautiful stretch of upcountry Maui. Before long, the road will be lined with blooming Jacaranda. Even our local residents like to roll Upcountry this time of year for a view of the emerald green pastures dotted with bright purple trees.

This weekend was one of my favorite events in Haiku, the 21st Annual Haiku Ho'olaule'a Flower Festival.This is a very well attended event with visitors and kama'aina  happy to spend a day with ohana and friends sharing some good outdoor fun.
 Despite the occasional showers, everyone was enjoying the Keiki performances and foot stomping local bands. Home style nurseries,  flower and vegies growers displayed their wares in attractive booths. Today I purchased a few unusual Antherium blossoms, hand painted greeting cards, and some unique, affordable locally made jewelery

If you want to experience the lushness of nature , the sweet scent of flowers and some locally grown ono food, come visit Maui during our quiet season. Off season travel is so relaxing. It's easy to park in town and at the beach, the sunsets are vibrant and our island home is a happy place to be.

Aloha, a hui hou,

Cherie

Upcountry Bounty

Yum, yum Aloha....

This ono (delicious) organic bounty was picked from the organic garden of the Hale Ho'okipa today. My garden produces an abundance of food. The Winter Pears, avocados, are so creamy and filling, a meal in itself. I serve them in the morning for breakfast. My famous combo is avocado and chili peppa jelly on toast. I have made many converts at the breakfast table.

The papayas are also pumping out now that the rain has come. I had the good fortune of getting a Mexican papaya which produces really large fruit. In all the papayas I have served for breakfast, I've only found one seed from this variety. I'm wondering when I will come across another one to germinate. The Hawaiian sunrise papayas are my favorite, and are the sweetest.

It's been a bumper year for the lilikoi, passion fruit. I have three varieties producing fruit, and two more varieties that are keiki's, young plants. With lilikoi, the more wrinkles, the sweeter they are. (Ah, more good things to be said about aging...) The passion fruit has a very bold flavor, and it makes great toppings for cheesecake, or fish, and they really add a zing to my morning fruit salads. People wake up in a hurry when they slurp a passion fruit. I always get a little chuckle out of the surprised expressions.

Being such a dry and windy spring, most of my cherimoya blossoms sailed away on the wind. They look like little helicopters, and their fragrance is so special and subtle, like an apple, pear combo. The flesh of the cherimoya is white and super sweet. I call it ice cream fruit. The local name for it is custard apple. They have a very short shelf life because of all the sugar. I am usually trying to give away lots of them, or scrapping them up off the driveway if I did not get to them in time. But, it has been a precious few this year.

This tropical bounty is very satisfying...even so, I have to admit that I look forward to cherries in the summer, and apricots. I do have three special upcountry peach trees that are heavy with peaches in the summer.
We are so lucky to be able to grow year round here. Come on over for breakfast, you'll be glad you did!

Malama ka aina , care for the land...and it gives back to you.........

With Aloha,

Cherie