Aromatic Spider Lily

The spider lily, a/k/a the crinum lily, is a member of the Amaryllidaceae family. They grow from zones 8 to 10 on the mainland and Hawaii's zone 11 loves 'em!

Here in Puna it's a fast grower, averaging 4 to 5 feet. The flowers are fragrant and they bloom from summer through fall. I love the white, but they can be pink, red, striped or multicolored.

Not long after I moved to Big Island late 2007, I visited the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden located north of Hilo where I sensed a magnificent aroma in the air. There was an area near where the stream fall flows into the Pacific at Onomea Bay. I kept walking in circles searching for the source of the perfumed air and once discovered, I was determined to have spider lilies in my landscape.

I noticed a few of them planted in Pahoa's new shopping center landscape next to Long's Drug Store. Mine was pulled and gifted by a neighbor early 2009. By 2011 there were two stalks with a third forming this summer.

So that worked well, but I'm anxious to learn how to propagate bunches!

Self Puna Gardener Newbie Sought Dirt

What a trip it was for this Kentucky-born gal to learn that landscapers don't provide soil here. I designed my fifth-acre property lot to have a corner island of fruit trees, flowering bushes and vines to climb the tall Ohia tree. I visioned it as my blooming food island. My shopping list was complete and I was oh so eager.

Thankfully, it was the banana tree supplier at Maku'u Market that asked me where I was going to get the dirt. Since he was recommending a landscaper, I was shocked. Landscapers don't supply dirt? So he explained that any landscaper has to work out the foundation with me. I learned the only truck loads you can get in this Big Island region is mulch from the Hilo dump. That's mulch, not dirt. With lava everywhere, you'd think I would have known that!

So my mission began for the foundation of seven varied banana trees. I learned the Hilo Transfer Station provides free green waste (mulch) when available. The equipped truck was on the west side, so I had to wait. Next mission was a hauler with a truck. That led to learning how the haulers work. There's self-loading in Hilo from 7am to 5pm. Assisted mechanical loading availability is subject to working machinery and time permitting. There may also be a wait time (line of haulers) for assisted loading. To abide by road regulations, haulers are asked to bring a pitchfork and tarp to properly cover truckloads of mulch.

Acquiring local dirt is complex, so I went for the easy method of Home Depot purchasing. They allowed me to pre-order so that the landscaper could pick it up on his way over. And although I'm a seasoned mainland eastern gardener, I didn't have a clue to what banana trees required. This is where the expertise from landscaper Jeff Goodman of Tropical Abundance came into play.

Jeff analyzed my site with his wife Lani beforehand. They studied my dumped pile of mulch, which was a combination of the city and neighborhood green waste, ‒ a total of three truckloads. Lani could tell that some of the green waste was newer and more acidic. They determined how to distribute the mulch and where to place the plants with soil, lime and chicken manure. They also sourced me a grafted mango and avocado tree to pick up at the Garden Exchange in Hilo.

No doubt every Puna garden newbie has a story to tell. I hope mine helps other gardeners from the mainland where lack of dirt is an unfamiliar situation.

Do enjoy my before and after pics. I am happy to report that one year and one month later my apple banana trees are producing!