In West Hawaii, the fall weather brings on the dry season. In fact from October 2016 to April 2017, we almost no rain. This fall appears to be another dry start so keep in mind the importance of sufficient irrigation[Read More]
General Gardening Category
Vegatables and Annual Flowers Make Good Mates
September is just around the corner so it is time to think about our cool season gardening. Also, high food costs are everyone’s headache these days. As a result, yards and lanais are prime opportunity to help cut food expenses. You can do it by planting...
What Is Permaculture?
Many folks look back and long for the “good old days” but looking back to the plantations days of the 20th century in Hawaii, it wasn’t that great for many. We used to spray pesticides like DDT, Chlordane and Dieldrin to keep pests from our crops. We used mercury and...
Spice And Herb Gardening For Flavor
Hawaii could be called the Spice Island considering that the spices and herbs of the East Indies and the Mediterranean are also easily grown here. Fresh herbs and spices are a natural for outdoor or kitchen gardening. Homegrown flavoring plants will add interest and...
Warm Wet Weather Ideal For Disease
The best disease prevention measure you can take with ornamental plants is to start with healthy or disease-resistant plants. According to University of Hawaii plant pathologists, once an ornamental plant becomes badly diseased, it is difficult to nurse it back to...
May Day Is Lei Day
Today is May Day and Lei Day in Hawaii. We celebrate flowers of all kinds. Traditionally, everyone should be wearing flowers. Fragrant Plumeria, pikake, tuberose, and orchid leis are appropriate gifts today and for that matter all week through Mother’s Day, May 8th....
Fragrance Adds Another Garden Pleasure
“April showers bring May flowers” on the mainland, but in Hawaii, spring is all year. However, there is a noticeble spring fever effect when it comes to local gardeners because many flowers start heavy blooming at this time. Garden groups like the Hawaii Island Palm...
Garden Pathways and Walks
Did you ever feel like giving up on your lawn and paving the whole thing? Of course you have, but let’s face it, it’s not practical. Your neighbors would probably tar and feather you. Not only that, but you wouldn’t be really happy even if they...
Annual Palm BBQ and Rare Plant Auction
Hawaiian landscapes are unique. They bring together rare, bold and colorful plants from all over the world and combine them with our own native plant materials. Palms, bamboos and ferns combine to give a lush tropical effect where rainfall and irrigation are...
2016 – The Year of the Monkey and Palms
This is the Year of the Monkey according to the Chinese calendar. With that in mind, the International Palm Society has scheduled their biennial meeting in the land of our distant relatives in Borneo, June 12th to the 19th. Sarawak, Borneo is famous for its...
Tropical Plants, Rainfall, And Climate Considerations
A few months ago, folks were complaining about dry weather in West Hawaii and too much rain in East Hawaii. Now, West Hawaii is getting much more rain than usual. In fact, we have had more than 30 inches in the last three weeks at Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary in Kaloko...
It’s Back – The Vine That Ate Kona
In 1995, a mysterious vine began to pop up all over the lowlands of West Hawaii. It showed up on Oahu about the same time. The University of Hawaii Agricultural Extension offices began to get calls that kudzu vine was sprouting up all over and covering shrubs and...
Be A Tree Or Forest For The New Year
Last week, this garden column subject was about connecting with nature by meditating in your garden or in a forest. Several readers responded in appreciation and mentioned they viewed their garden anew. In conjunction with the article, a number of calls came in...
Christmas, the New Year, and Peace in the Garden
Many lessons may be learned by spending quiet time in a garden or forest setting. Start by visualizing a tree or many trees. Then allow the shades of green leaves and variations of brown stems and tree trunks to cool your mind. The next step is to free yourself...
Your Soil Is Keeping Secrets
It hasn’t rained in weeks. It is hot and your soil is getting really dry. So you turn on your sprinklers for a half hour. Do you have any idea how far down it has wet your soil? Do you how many inches of rain it was equivalent to? Did it get down into the root zone?...Recent Articles
Brighten Fall Gardening With Flowering Plants And Trees
Temperatures remain very warm but things are about to change. Fall has officially arrived in the northern hemisphere since the sun has moved south of the equator.[Read More]
Vegatables and Annual Flowers Make Good Mates
September is just around the corner so it is time to think about our cool season gardening. Also, high food costs are everyone's headache these days.[Read More]
What Is Permaculture?
Many folks look back and long for the “good old days” but looking back to the plantations days of the 20th century in Hawaii, it wasn’t that great for many.[Read More]
Spice And Herb Gardening For Flavor
Hawaii could be called the Spice Island considering that the spices and herbs of the East Indies and the Mediterranean are also easily grown here.[Read More]
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