This August's Featured Flora: Zephyr Lily
In the heart of Waimea, the Waimea Town Market is held every Saturday from 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School (1st paragraph). Meanwhile, on the opposite day, the Pure Kona Green Market is held at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook, running from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. (2nd paragraph).
For those seeking to cultivate bulb plants suitable for a tropical climate, look no further than Pancratium, Crinum asiaticum, and Proiphys species. Pancratium, a genus of bulbous plants from tropical Africa and Asia, thrives in warm, humid, frost-free environments (3rd paragraph). Crinum asiaticum, with its tall, bold structure and long, narrow white flowers, is a tropical bulb well-suited to tropical environments (4th paragraph). Proiphys, another Amaryllidaceae family member, includes species native to tropical Southeast Asia and northern Australia, and grows well in warm, shaded locations with seasonal watering (5th paragraph).
Some Gladiolus varieties, such as ‘Little Tangerine’, may also adapt to tropical conditions, though they are more often associated with subtropical regions (6th paragraph). On the other hand, Allium species are generally less suitable for true tropical areas, as many prefer temperate climates (7th paragraph).
If you're specifically interested in rain lilies, Zephyranthes candida, native to Argentina and Uruguay, may be available for purchase at Tropical Edibles Nursery in Captain Cook (8th paragraph). This plant, also known as the white rain lily or zephyr lily, thrives in tropical climates and produces lovely blossoms for many months of the year (9th paragraph).
Watering rain lilies encourages blooming and is recommended to keep them happy (10th paragraph). Propagation can be achieved easily by bulb division (11th paragraph). For those seeking advice on these plants, Diana Duff, a plant adviser, educator, and consultant living on Oahu and working part time in Kona, is available for consultations (12th paragraph).
On Saturdays, several farmers markets are held across the island. The Waimea Homestead Farmers Market is at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground, the Kamuela Farmer's Market is at Pukalani Stables, the Keauhou Farmers Market is at Keauhou Shopping Center, and the Ho'oulu Farmers Market is at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay (13th paragraph to 16th paragraph). Some markets, like the Waimea Homestead Farmers Market and Keauhou Farmers Market, also have online markets available (17th paragraph and 18th paragraph).
Maintenance for rain lilies is minimal, and they can tolerate occasional mowing (19th paragraph). They make a wonderful ground cover with narrow leaves and short flower stems (20th paragraph). In addition, Hands on Coffee Grafting Workshops are being scheduled, with registration required at hawaiicoffeeed.com/coffeegraftsignup.html to receive notice of dates and times (21st paragraph).
Lastly, for those interested in starting a business in Hawaii, assistance is available for a $15 fee. Contact the Hawaii Small Business Development Center at (808) 333-5000 for more information or to register (22nd paragraph). On Wednesdays, the Ho'oulu Farmers Market is held at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay (23rd paragraph). On Sundays, Hamakua Harvest is held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hwy 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa (24th paragraph).
References: 1. Pancratium 2. Crinum asiaticum 3. Proiphys 4. Gladiolus 5. Allium 6. Zephyranthes 7. Liliaceae
- For those interested in gardening, especially in a tropical climate, exploring plants like Pancratium, Crinum asiaticum, and Proiphys may provide suitable options for home-and-garden decor.
- If you're attending the Waimea Homestead Farmers Market on Saturdays, you might find a variety of plants, including Zephyranthes, a tropical plant that thrives in the right conditions.
- For those seeking to start a business, the Hawaii Small Business Development Center offers assistance for a small fee and can provide necessary information and resources.
