I don't think I'm prone to wild eyed flights of fancy where I'm left googly eyed and tongue twisted, but that was the exact situation as the rental Camaro cleared the twisty driveway up to Malolo Farms - a PROTEA FARM - PROTEAS PEOPLE. I've been pretty unhinged about these beauties since first seeing them in the wild in South Africa, but I don't think anything could have prepared me to for the diversity and riotous color and texture I was about to take in. Luckily, Dan was there to wipe the drool off my chin.
Enough of those pincushions, on to the kings and minks!
Ali and her family have been farming in Kula, Maui for 26 years, experimenting with different hybrids, and taking in rescue sheep! Ali's passion for the different varieties and especially the really interesting foliage had me pointing and asking "what's that", incessantly and she was kind enough to not only not kick me off her property but to really answer me and let me wander around.
We even got to poke around the baby protea waiting room (aka greenhouse) under the watchful eye of pup Osa! She was really more watchful for pats and belly rubs, like all good farm dogs.
And last but not least, a few macros to leave you with because I can't resist these guys close up:
