HAWAI'I GARDENS
Children's garden at zoo delights visitors of all ages
By Heidi Bornhorst
Q. We heard that the children's garden at the zoo won a much-deserved Betty Crocker Scenic Hawaii landscape award. The trees and plants at the zoo really make it a pleasant place to visit with our mo'opuna (family members). We need the shade in Waikiki — so hot and dusty. So where is the children's garden?
— Mr. and Mrs. Motoyama, Makakilo
A. The children's garden is just makai of the African savanna, on the Diamond Head side of the zoo. From the entrance head back on the right, Diamond Head side. There is an orange fence construction for the Gharial exhibit on the makai side of it. You can also ask one of the helpful staff or volunteers to help you find this keiki-styled jewel at the zoo.
This garden also has some design inspiration for adults, thanks to creativity, dedication and sustained maintenance of volunteers Nalani and Robert Boone. They have created a whimsical children's garden that adults can easily enjoy.
It is complete with mini sections of lush lawn, cactus, water, herb, vegetable and fruit tree plantings. There are also mini sculptures: birdhouses and a "critter" made of old clay pots. One judge commented that its extensive use of mulch, raised beds and other smart gardening techniques offer inspiration to all of us.
In bloom at your school
Our public schools have a great legacy of tree plantings that add beauty and shade to the campuses. This is thanks to Paul Chang, Richard Kawahara, and other dedicated Department of Education arborists.
We just hope that this legacy can be maintained and perpetuated. So many schools seem to get their trees whacked in the summer — when nobody seems to be looking. Maybe it's to make fewer leaves to rake. Who knows.
But we need to be vigilant and ask why trees are being cut down or over-pruned. Chainsaws are deadly weapons in the wrong hands.
On a more positive note, they sure know what they're doing at Kapi'olani Community College. The 'Queens white' variety of rainbow shower is flowing with blooms near the parking lots.
These are nice complements to bold, orange-red poincianas at KCC, Diamond Head Theater and on 6th Avenue.
Ginger soon
It's almost time for gingers to be in full, fragrant bloom. In well-nurtured gardens and some mountain locations, they are in blossom already.
In other gardens, we wait eagerly for the bloom. The fragrant yellow, kahili and white gingers are in the genus Hedychium, native to Asia. They can be weedy pest at upper rainforest elevations, so keep them in your garden and enjoy the fragrance of summer.
