Two Down

This morning Kai & I worked on removing the invasive African Tulip saplings in the anthurium garden. There were 3, now there is 1. I had not fully recharged the batteries for the small chainsaw that I had so we were unable to take down the last sapling. Not sure yet when that will happen. I forgot to take a "before" picture.

Cut bases of the 2 largest saplings.

The 2 removed were intertwined with red ti on left; remaining sapling on right.

Remaining sapling as seen from kitchen.

In the meanwhile we worked on Moʻo-proofing the compost bins. The bins are made of the same 4"x4" wire that the fence is made of; she can stick her entire head through that opening & was pulling things out of the bins. Which she then dragged all over the lawn; not a very nice thing to encounter later. We attached chicken wire to the outside of the bins. As part of that project, I cleared weeds from the place I set the bins & mulched in & around with white pine shavings to slow the weeds down as they try to infiltrate the compost pile.

Bin in background is before chicken wire, foreground is after.

I trimmed weeds down to the dirt

Added thick layer of shavings to slow weeds down.

While out there, I also cleared the weeds away from the coconut seedling. I had a pleasant surprise after I cleared the weeds away, I could see the sprout starting to break through the husk! It's taken about 10 months to get to this stage. I got it from Melisa & Mark late September last year. About a month later it started to send out a root but I did not see anything else. Until today. Melisa & Mark are pretty sure it is from their dwarf coconut; they also have a regular height one but this nut was found right under the dwarf tree.

Nut on left is now sprouting; I found new homes for other 2 nuts which are regular height. (Photo 09/29/24)

As I started to clear away grass, I saw the shoot!

Close-up of shoot emerging.

I mulched a wide ring around the sprout.

I added red tomato cage to make it more visible during mowing & weed whacking.

Had to add plant pot to keep Moʻo away. She likes to chew on coconuts & is afraid of plant pots!

Ken came by & picked up the old wooden rocking chair. The arms are wobbly & there is some termite damage. He is going to see what he can do to make it safe to use again. There is also a spindle missing from one of the arms; he won't be able to repair that since he does not have a lathe. But I am  still looking forward to seeing what he is able to do with it.

The window for the start of Episode 29 of the eruption at Kīlauea was narrowed to the 17th or 18th this morning. Since today is the 17th, & there was no precursory activity noted all day & in to the evening, we did not go to see it in the dark this evening. We will be headed over to see it after my physical therapy appointment tomorrow morning. We're keeping out fingers crossed that it will start up & be exhibiting high fountaining when we get there! Wish us luck!

Hauʻoli lā Hānau e Ella! And the MacBook Pro laptop this post is being composed on! This machine is 7 years old!