May 10th is National Public Garden Day. In honor of public gardens everywhere the Botanical Garden at University of Hawaii, Hilo (BGUH) has invited the school’s chancellor, Bonnie D. Irwin, to install an endemic Pritchardia beccariana in the palm walk section of their garden.
By attending this tree planting ceremony, we have an opportunity to show the chancellor how much the gardens are loved and how important it is to protect them for future generations.
Schedule:
2:30 pm Check-in at the cafeteria breezeway. (Restrooms are available here.)
2:45 pm Tour begins, we will be dividing into two groups with one group starting at the palm garden while the other explores the cycad garden
3:30 pm Regroup at the breezeway and switch guides
3:40 pm Second half of tour begins
4:30 pm We meet up again and join the Chancellor for the loulu planting event near the palm walk.
Grab some dinner and come back to UH Hilo to treat your soul to the awesome beauty of the natural world in a photographic slide show by botanist photographer Cedric Pollet at 6:30pm.
BGUH was started by past HIPS president Don Hemmes over 30 years ago.
The garden contains palm trees from around the world: gigantic species from the South Pacific like Pigfetta and Clinostigma, as well as more diminutive genera Licuala from SE Asia and the Chamaedorea of South & Central America. But the garden is celebrated as one of Hawaiʻi’s most complete cycad collections. There are over 120 species from 10 genera and several species that are yet to be named. 45 species of Zamia from Mexico, Central America, and South America can be found nestled within an extensive collection of bromeliads, many of which were developed by world renown grower and hybridizer David Shiigi of Hilo.
HIPS will be hosting a photographic presentation by French photographer, author, and landscape designer Cédric Pollet. His work combines his scientific and botanical background and often focuses on the fine details of plants and trees.
Cédric will be staying with some HIPS members and photographing palms in some of their gardens for an upcoming book.
Visit two gardens never before seen on a HIPS tour. This is a great opportunity to visit two gardens in Hilo town without the hassle of parking. HIPS is arranging convenient parking and shuttles between the gardens. These gardens will set your heart racing and fill you with inspiration for your next garden project.
Karl and Sandi Mendonca’s Paradise on the Wailuku River
HIPS Vice President Karl Mendonca and his wife Sandi put their first palms in the ground 15 years ago and though they have about 150 species of palms, their 1.3 acre garden reflects their broader interests in orchids, spices, anthurium, water gardens, koi, and bonsai.
There is so much to see and the garden vibe so welcoming and relaxing, you might never want to leave.
Part of a late 1800s plantation garden located along the Wailuku River, the setting of this garden is spectacular.
Jason Dunn's Species Rich Garden
If you wondered where all Bill Austin’s palms went a few years back, they are planted here. It’s not possible to use all the superlatives that this ½ acre garden deserves in this brief description. Jason’s photographic account on Palm Talk illustrating the nearly 7 year journey from overgrown town lot to the garden today will make you cheer at the audacity of the venture, and gasp at the beauty of some of the best looking big boy palms in any garden. (They are at the perfect height for admiring). We can’t wait to see it in person. Treat yourself to a great garden creation story by reading Jason’s Palm Talk post.
Date: TBD
Located at a cooler elevation near the northern end of the Kona Coffee Belt is one of HIPS favorite gardens. This elevation on the “dry” side of the island is often graced with afternoon showers and allows for a an extensive natural forest. And it is here that long time IPS Member (and 15 year IPS PalmTalk Forum Admin/Moderator) Dean Ouer has worked on enhancing his 3 acre forested property with palms, aroids, and other tropical fauna for 14 years.
HIPS last toured Dean's garden in 2016
The International Palm Society toured Dean's garden in 2022
Contact Us:
Hawaiiislandpalmsociety@gmail.com
550 Akolea Rd
Hilo, Hi 96720
