July was the month for BLOOMING SILVERSWORDS. We had three institutes where members were able to visit and observe these beauties on Mauna Loa. For those who were unable to attend, we are pleased to provide you with a bird’s eye view.
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park employees, volunteers and partners are doing an incredibly important job securing large-scale habitat and stabilizing current populations. Science and muscle save silverswords from extinction. Toiling on hard rock at high altitude, park crews have erected miles of fence and smaller “exclosures” to keep out foraging cattle, sheep and goats. These animals eat silverswords and other alpine plants like candy.
I want to thank our informative guides, Ranger Jay Robinson and botanist, Tim Tunison for leading us on these truly spectacular institutes.
A special thank you to Member, Alice Lindahl for her beautiful photos. Click on the photo for enhanced viewing.
-
- Silversword Flower
-
- Young Rosette
-
- Silversword Flower Bee
-
- Silversword Flower Buds
-
- A Cluster of Silverswords
-
- Blooming Silverswords Against a Blue Sky
-
- Water Droplets in a Silversword
-
- Jay Robinson Sharing Knowledge