Lyon Arboretum's gardens and trails — including a 1.5-mile roundtrip walk that leads to 'Aihualama Falls — are open for self-guided tours, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays.

Sign in at the visitor center, 3860 Manoa Road, and pick up a trail map before exploring the grounds. Suggested donation: $5. Mosquito repellent is recommended.
988-0456, www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum

FERTILE FRIDAYS

"Furlough Fridays for Fertile Minds"
8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. March 5
This new addition to Lyon Arboretum's lineup for children touches on science, math, nutrition, art and physical education, with hikes on arboretum's trails, gardening and lessons about Hawaiian plants.
$40
988-0461, www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum

Note: Other Fridays for the remainder of the school year are booked with school field trips and other activities.

GREEN PHOTOGRAPHY

Lyon Arboretum is now accepting images of native Hawaiian plants for a photo contest marking Endangered Species Day, May 15.

Not sure whether your subject matter is native or an invasive transplant? Check out the arboretum's online plant resources, www.hawaii.edu/lyonarboretum.

The arboretum's dense 200 acres is packed with a mix of native and non-native plants — in all, 5,000 species. Researchers tend to about 40 rare species thriving there in a greenhouse.

Endangered Species Day will be tied to a weeklong event that also includes a celebration of National Public Gardens Day, May 7. It will feature special tours and activities, such as an oshibana (pressed flowers) demonstration.

The photo contest's divisions: second- to fifth-grade students; sixth to eighthgrade; ninth to 12th grade; and age 18 and older. Entries will be judged by Lyon Arboretum staff, volunteers, and visitors. Photographs will remain on display throughout the month of May.

— Maureen O'Connell