HAWAI'I GARDENS
Plantings to honor Hawai'i 'Tree Ladies'
By Heidi Bornhorst
Every day is Arbor Day in Hawai'i. Trees grow and can be planted at most times of year.
In keeping with a long and growing tradition, we celebrate trees even more this time or year. (In Hawai'i, Arbor Day is the first Friday in November.)
There will be tree plantings, tree giveaways and celebrations around the Islands.
At 9 a.m. tomorrow, four royal poinciana trees will be planted in honor of the "Tree Ladies" who have done so much to keep our Islands green, full of healthy well-grown trees, billboard-free and even free of obnoxious signs in the sky.
These special ladies are board members of Scenic Hawaii Inc., a nonprofit organization dedicated to these missions and more.
They are Lucy Pfaltzgraff, Jacque Law, Ann Simpson and Cecilia Blackfield.
The poinciana trees will be planted in the rolling-hills section of Kapi'olani Park. This is bounded by Paki Hale and the city's urban forestry nursery,Noela Drive and Paki Avenue.
The trees will be cooperatively planted and nurtured by scenic Hawaii Inc. and the expert municipal arborists.
Shower tree for Pearl City garden
Kaulunani, the Oahu Urban Garden Center, the Hawaiian Electric Co. and the Waimea Valley Audubon Center will host a tree- planting ceremony dedicated to Arbor Day in the Year of the Hawaiian Forest. A rainbow shower tree will be planted at the Pearl City Urban Garden Center.
Peter Young, chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, has agreed to plant a tree on behalf of Gov. Linda Lingle. Lingle has agreed to sign an Arbor Day proclamation.
This tree will mark the end of the first century of the Hawaiian Forest and the beginning of the second. A representative of Hawaiian Electric and Kevin Eckert from the Kaulunani council also will be on hand.
It's at 10 a.m. Monday at 962 Second St., Pearl City.
Magnificent trees of Waimea Valley
You can take a one-hour stroll and witness the amazing botanical events now occurring in O'ahu's Waimea Valley. Become one of the few to observe the endangered native Hawaiian munroidendron's show-stopping columns of blooms.
Visit the 30-year-old Colvillea racemosa tree (a native of Madagascar), flowering for only the second time in its 30-year life.
Tour collections of trees from Southeast Asia, and Central and South America, ancestral places of origin for many of Hawai'i's ative plants.
Meet at the Visitors Center at 9:30 a.m. Call 638-9199 for more information. Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water, sunscreen and rain gear.
Narra trees for Magic Island
The narra tree, or Pterocarpus indica, is great for our growing urban forests. It should be more widely used. Narras are tough, and drought- and pest-resistant.
Narras have a tall weeping or vase-like shape that looks attractive in many landscapes. The narra is in the bean family and has small, yellow fragrant flowers that can be sparse, or a mass of golden flowers in spring. The pods are unique and attractive — good for that festive holiday dry decor.
The wood is also highly prized if you ever need to cut down your narra.
On Nov. 7 at 9 a.m., the Outdoor Circle and Honolulu officials will be celebrating Arbor Day with a tree planting at Magic Island.
City managing director Ben Lee will join Outdoor Circle members, the city's Department of Parks & Recreation staff and others to demonstrate our mutual interest and support in keeping Hawai'i clean, green and beautiful.
Children from Noelani Elementary School will help us celebrate by making a presentation about the importance of trees. Volunteers will be on hand to share information with park visitors on the damage caused by dumping hot coals from barbecues at the bases of trees.
We hope you will be able to join us for this special celebration of trees and our urban forest. Please invite anyone who cares about trees and our environment to the tree planting.
Heidi Bornhorst is a sustainable landscape consultant. Submit questions to islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com or Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. Letters may be published or distributed in print, electronic or other forms.
