Exceptional, Exceptional trees. There are so many things to discover in Hawaii and this small garden is big in delight. There are 24 officially designated “Exceptional Trees” in this space. Large, unique, spectacular and astonishing trees are here. In the large category, there are Tamarind, Boabab and Quipo trees. The Quipo is sleek and tall growing like a silver streak train to the sky. The unique, includes the blue marble tree and the cannonball tree. A cannonball tree is truly loaded with heavy, round, brown balls that grow from beautiful orange flowers.
Category: Pacific Region, US
Limahuli Garden, Kauai
The tour guides try to convince you the only way to see the beauty of Kauai is by helicopter and the Napoli Coast cannot be enjoyed but by guided activity. Yet this garden will give you a glimpse of all of this in a most enjoyable stroll. You drive nearly to the end of the road of the northwest shore of Kauai. The 1000 acre valley garden rises up from the entrance gate. Lush and green surrounds you. Mountain peaks and unique plants are well labeled and described in the accompanying booklet provided with your admission. Plants in Hawaii arrived by wind, water and wing, the garden illustrates these contributions.
Chickens in Kauai
Chickens were a constant part of my childhood. My Grandmothers, my great aunties, and my Mom all raised chickens. Those chickens supplied our eggs, and our dinner.
Getty Villa, Pacific Palisades, CA
Too hot to garden?
Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley, CA
As the summer heat wears on I wonder if I might feel cooler thinking of places that are hotter and drier than where I am. So Death Valley National Park and Furnace Creek CA spring to mind. Just the names sound hot and years of record high heat support its reputation of the hottest, driest, and lowest place in the U.S. Though Death Valley was set aside as a protected area in 1933, it didn’t become a National Park until 1994. Always curious about this fierce sounding place I was completely surprised by the flowers of the park and the oasis garden at the Furnace Creek Inn. Travel really does break apart our preconceived notions of a place.
Plant People
San Diego Botanic Garden
Just before the killer cold snap last January I had managed to prune my torch bougainvillea into a heart shape topiary. It made me smile and I eagerly looked forward to it as part of the landscape for a Valentine celebration in February. Then nature changed my plans and the shape was lost in the freeze damage. A topiary is a fanciful thing, it isn’t a garden style that appeals to everyone. It is a living work of art that requires a vision, patience and an artist using the medium of plants.
Los Gatos, CA, The blooming town square
A town square has long been a fixture in this country. A small open green space surrounded by the shops and offices needed for the community to function. Many have a band stand for what was a frequent summer tradition of concerts in the park. Nearly all of these town squares are surrounded by trees. Certainly the story behind the selection of the tree to plant would involve meetings, community leaders, horticultural experts (likely both certified and self-identified) and the decision would not likely have been quick or easy. What ever the process I think Los Gatos has one of the best trees.
Hakone Gardens, Saratoga, CA
We are all influenced by our life experiences. Some experiences change the direction of our lives. Such is the origin of this authentic Japanese garden built by Oliver and Isabel Stine. The 1915 Pan Pacific Exposition had such an impact on this San Francisco couple that Mrs. Stine spent most of 1916 visiting Japanese gardens in the Fuji-Hakone National Park region of Japan. Where many of us would be content to bring back souvenirs of such a trip Mrs. Stine brought back an architect and landscape architect to design the 18 acre estate and garden in complete authenticity.
University of CA, Santa Cruz Arboretum
I almost stepped on this snake today.
Yes, I was leading off down the trail and just walked into a shady patch. There Mr. Snake was resting, all stretched out. He scared me more than I scared him. Fortunately no rattle, just a pretty marking and a rather chilled out snake that barely moved as we stepped carefully around him. There are critters in the garden.
San Jose Municipal Rose Garden
Naglee & Dana Ave. CA
I realize the US Constitution does not promise her citizens a rose garden but it is lovely when citizens and elected officials figure out a way to provide one anyway. The early 20th century was a grand time for advocating for public green space for all people. In 1927 the Santa Clara County Rose Society advocated for establishing a community rose garden. The rose society promised to provide the roses, the city set aside 5 1/2 acres of land just outside the city and the idea began to grow.