Drought Resistant Gardens

Amaryllis can tell you from experience, that she has seen lush drought-resistant gardens that give color year round.

She learned about it by accident, in California, when she stumbled upon a property a couple had planned for over twenty years. The garden was on a hillside that otherwise would have been a desert land. But, instead this land was wet with succulents, and ice plants dripping with fluorescent purples and oranges and pinks and bright greens. At certain times of year, bearded irises would bloom. They were planted beneath the carpet of ice plant, and emerged in the spring.

She learned that there were fall bulbs and spring bulbs. By learning what blooms in each month, one can create year round color.

Learn the Native Plants that are adapted to the climate you live in. They flourish naturally! Learn about native plants where you live. Just take a look around.

Planting from Cuttings

She started her ginger from cuttings in Hana, Maui. Heliconias can be started from a root section and also spread with very little effort. Taro can be planted in dry land as well as wetland, and can be grown for beauty as well to be eaten. Amaryllis loves the huge leaves of the taro plant, and there are many varieties. She loves to eat poi, and lau lau (fish, pork or chicken wrapped in a taro leaf, tied in a ti-leaf package,and steamed to cook).

It is so delicious.

So many plants can be started from cuttings or divisions from mother plants and in fact,taro is symbolic of the Family, because it lives on and on. The mother root puts out keikis (children), which branch out and create new families of their own. When the root is dug up to be boiled and pounded into poi, the smaller roots are broken away from the mother root and replanted to make new crops. Ask your aunties or friends or neighbors for cuttings, or plants that need to be divided.

Get to know other gardeners who love to plant.

Exerpt from Amaryllis, Amaryllis How Does Your Garden Grow? "Organically, of Course!" By Marilyn Jansen (available in November) at www.amaryllisofhawaii.com and stores throughout the Hawaiian Islands & Las Vegas Nevada!