One thing I love about Hawaii is the tropical flowers.   I particularly love Birds of Paradise.   I purchased a smaller plant back about 3 years ago for $15 at a local nursery.   I waited and waited and waited some more and for a while I thought it wasn't even growing!   I finally found a book that was well written for down to earth people like me  on growing plants in Hawaii.   That's where I read that it takes 3 YEARS for a Birds of Paradise to mature enough to put off its first bloom.   Well, 3 years are up and last week I finally got a bloom!!!    Here's a picture!