Na Pali Coast, Kauai

As I mentioned last week, after my work in Lanai wrapped up, I visited Kauai for four days and three nights.  Kauai is the oldest of the Hawaiian islands and thus the greenest.  In fact, it's called the garden island.  A stark change from the dry climate of Lanai and the Big Island,  Kauai typically receives rainfall and is inhabited by lush landscapes.  And by feral chickens.  Seriously, so many chickens. I have yet to see 'The Descendants' - appearing in theaters now - but I will be sorely disappointed if chickens don't have as much screen time as George Clooney.  (Obviously, George Clooney is a better screen presence - the chickens are just a great realistic detail to include.) 

Anyhoo. Speaking of movies, perhaps on a long shot, you saw 'A Perfect Getaway' with Timothy Olyphant, Mila Jovovich and Steve Zahn?  It's one of those action-y, suspense movies you could kinda watch for the third or fifth time on a lazy Saturday morning.  No chickens, but the Na Pali coast is featured pretty faithfully.  Which brings me to today's post.  (Finally.)

Na Pali Coast State Park is a 6000+ acre piece of land on the north shore of Kauai.  One of the most popular hikes is a 4 mile (round trip) hike to Hanakapi'ai beach. As you can see from the above pic, the hike is at times very, very muddy.  I felt badly for those without hiking boots, especially people who were absolutely destroying their bright white running shoes.  (But then again, a hike like this is well worth $100 or $150!).

The beach is only accessible by foot or boat and is devastatingly beautiful.

This hike was so much fun.  It was challenging, between the mud and some rocky areas, you do have to be somewhat mindful of where your foot lands.  Because of the level of difficulty, if you start up early enough in the morning (easy for those of us with jetlag), the trail isn't too crowded.

I think I'll be putting together a top five list about Hawaii before the year is out.  This hike is definitely on that list.

Triangle Palm

As you may know, I was working in Lanai, Hawaii for the first week of November (tough gig).  The second week, I spent traveling.  Over the past two years, I've been fortunate enough to spend a total of eight weeks in Hawaii; I had visited Lanai, Maui, the Big Island and Oahu.  This trip, I made a point to spend a few days in Kauai.  Kauai is the oldest island and thus the greenest, which made it a refreshing change from the drier climate of Lanai.

While in Kauai, I went horseback riding at Silver Falls Ranch, a great place near Hanalei.  I took a private ride so my guide and I could canter and trot (though I was still a little too cagey to all-out gallop!).  Somewhat spoiled by all my Hawaii travels, I didn't feel the compulsion to stop and take photos during the ride; I wanted to just enjoy the moment, not to mention I must have THOUSANDS of pics of Hawaiian landscapes by now (and am not near finished sharing them with you all, either!).

However, I did have to stop a take a few library shots of this unusual palm: Dypsis decaryi, or triangle palm (not to be confused with triangle man). Dypsis has long fronds with leaves ascending from the main stems.  These fronds emerge from three points, forming a triangle. Native to Madagascar, the plant is popular for its odd shape.

I'm not sure I'd use this in a landscape design, though the bluish tint of the foliage and the shape is kinda fun to look at.  It is just so odd; I feel like seeing it takes you out of the moment, like seeing a mega star take on a cameo role in a movie. Botanical stunt casting, perhaps...

Strange Art

Yesterday, I was heading back to DC after a weekend in NYC and southern New Jersey.  I was giving my mom a lift back to DC as well and we had to stop to take pictures of this funny little sculpture.

I think it's part bunny, part Max from Where the Wild Things Are.  In any case, it's a strange surprise to encounter on a relatively quiet rural road in south Jersey.

Clover, more specifically those with four leaves

Sadly, I don't have any good pics of Trifolium repens, or red clover, besides this one.  And you can hardly see the leaves on it.  As the genus name implies, this plant typically has three leaves, but if you find one with four (a 1 in 10,000 chance) then you are said to be granted with good luck.   

 

Legend has it that the leaves on clover stand for hope, faith and love and if there's a fourth leaf, that stands for luck.  Why some specimens of Trifolium have that fourth leaf is still not fully understood.  The possible reasons include environmental conditions or a very recessive genetic marker.

In any case, have a lucky and happy St. Patrick's day!

Spring Window Display

This was too cute not to share.  I saw it at the Gracious Home near Lincoln Center when I was in New York last week. 

Get it?  Bulbs, and bulbs?  I appreciated the wink that someone at Gracious Home was sharing with those of use who know what tulips grow from.

Pineapples

Since I already am on a bromeliad kick today, I thought I may as well share some a shot of a variegated pineapple (Ananas comosus) growing in Longwood Gardens' conservatory.

There it is, that wonderful tropical fruit.  Every time I went to Hawaii this year for site work, I couldn't wait to run across to the ABC store and pick up my day's supply of pineapple.  It's a simple but undeniable thrill to be able to eat an exotic fruit like this and know that it was harvested a mere 60 miles away. 

 

(ABC Stores, by the way, are a chain of Hawaiian bodegas where you can buy food, magazines, sunscreen as well as alcohol.  It's not just a liquor store, like our east coast ABC stores.  I had to explain this recently to an accountant, who saw frequent trips to the ABC store claimed as travel expenses, and began to wonder if I didn't have a drinking problem!)

Hawaiian Ironwood...And Monty Python

Those of you in the DC area can attest that yesterday was bitterly, terribly cold.  So no new pics today.  Instead, I'm taking you to a place where the balmy breezes blow all year long.  Hawaii, of course.

 

The photo above is of a tree species ubiquitous in Hawaii - it's Casaurina equisetifolia, or ironwood.  Unlike Carpinus caroliniana, which is also called ironwood because of the sinuous nature of the bark, Casaurina is called ironwood because the wood is so dense, it sinks in the water.  Obviously, the idea of wood sinking reminds me of this movie scene.  Go to about 2:00 to see what I'm referring to, if you don't have time for the whole (hilarious) clip.

By looking at the long thin leaves, one can understand the species name enough - it almost looks like a horse's tail.  Thus, equis (horse) folia (leaves).  

The specimen above (growing at the Pu'u O Umi valley on the Big Island) is a condition one can find many ironwoods - they grow near the sea and withstand the winds and salt spray well, but they can become a bit ragged with age.  The specimens below, at the North Shore of Oahu, are a bit younger and less torn-up.