Greetings plant and garden lovers. In previous posts I've mentioned that a good portion of an acre of the intentional community where I live was covered by lava from the 2018 eruption here in Lower Puna, on the Eastern tip of the Big Island of Hawai'i. The whole southern side of the property is now a 15-foot tall lava wall.
There are two easy access points up on the lava, one being on the property and, one off. At the on-property site one of the fellows who lives here (Sundog) built a geodesic bamboo structure in which to live. We had the idea to make pockets of soil and mulch up on the lava, surrounding his place, to plant interesting and useful plants that might be amenable to the unusual conditions. Over a short time the first phase of this was completed.
The photos below are a few snapshots of what we've planted so far, as experiments. We are in the midst of torrential rainstorms and lots of clouds now, as we move into the wettest part of the year, so I ask for understanding for the less than ideal quality of the photos. I also took them a bit later in the day than I usually do.
Sweet potatoes.
Sqaush.
Tobacco.
Wider views.
Various cacti and succulents (and a Cuban oregano).
On the path up onto the lava, over the course of two or so years, I've also planted several bromeliad species and varieties as well. Given that bromeliads are epiphytes, usually living way up in the tree tops, using the trees simply as support, to get into the sun, they tend to adapt exceptionally well to living up on lava, requiring only rain, sun, and bits of organic matter that falls into pools of water at the center of their rosettes.
Just another snippet from my jungle life. If these plants do well, I'll post photo updates. 🙏💚🤙