Though COVID is still around, people are starting to travel. We seem to be feeling safer having been vaccinated and knowing medical treatments are now available. If you’re still not ready for a long flight to a faraway place, you might want to consider expanding your idea of a stay-cation to include a trip to Oahu.
Plant lovers planning a trip to Oahu, might want to check out Lyon Arboretum in Manoa Valley at 3860 Manoa Road in Honolulu. With several miles of walking trails through thousands of interesting plants, Lyon presents an opportunity for a wilderness adventure not too far from home.
In 1918, the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association began doing research on watershed restoration in the Manoa Valley. The Association invited plant pathologist Harold Lyon as the first director of the acreage they had acquired. Based on his observation of the critical decline of Hawaii’s forests, Lyon urged the HSPA to explore watershed conservation. During his tenure from 1920 to 1945 he oversaw the importation and planting of nearly 8,000 different species on what became a 200-acre site. To maintain diversity, Lyon acquired and planted everything from ground covers to large trees.
In Lyon’s words, “Here then is a golden opportunity to build in upper Manoa Valley, a vast botanical garden of native and introduced plants and at the same time carry through a project in water conservation that would prove of immense value to Honolulu.”
In 1953, Lyon urged the HSPA to donate the site to the University of Hawaii under the condition that the site continue as an arboretum and botanical garden into perpetuity. When Lyon died in 1957, the arboretum was renamed Lyon Arboretum to honor him.
On my recent visit to the garden, I met with Lyon’s Education Manager Raedelle Van Fossen for a short tour of some of the interesting features at the facility. Senior Research Assistant Jesse Adams took us to the herbs and spices garden, which is a short walk from the visitor center.
The native Hawaiian ground cover bacopa was thriving in part of the garden that is in partial shade. Known for frequent rain showers, the Manoa valley is an ideal location for plants that do well in moist soil. A large collection of blue turmeric was next to catch my eye. The leaves have a dark center vein and the edible roots are indeed blue. Sometimes referred to as black turmeric, this herb is reported to have medicinal properties similar to the orange rooted variety.
Two interesting plants that were new to me were next on our tour. Limeberry (Triphasia trifolia) produces a small dark red berry that has a sweet acidic flavor. It is native to tropical southeast Asia. Thankfully, a sign told me that what I thought was the native ulei was actually a Chinese pepper tree. Though not fruiting at the time, it does produce a small spicy fruit that surrounds the seed which is used in Chinese cooking.
Nearby we passed a gazebo overlooking a small, attractive pond known as the Young Memorial Garden. We were on our way to meet Tim Kroessig, the horticultural manager. Tim and a group of volunteers work in the large onsite greenhouse.
Tim described their activities, “Our job is to propagate and grow the numerous species that live at Lyon.”
They are not only charged with growing plants for their annual plant sales, but also to propagate them for out-planting by the grounds department in the arboretum. Though their focus is on native Hawaiian plants, Tim has a special love for pitcher plants. Most of them are in the Nepenthaceae family. The greenhouse walls are alive with interesting specimens from this carnivorous family.
Tim was also was happy to report that they have been doing research on ohia. Their conservation effort has been seed-banking the 13 different ohia taxa in order to find ones that are resistant to the fungus that is causing Rapid Ohia Death.
Tim then took me on quick trip through the native Hawaiian ethnobotanical plant garden and we stopped to experience the vistas from the visitor center onto the lower expanse of the garden with its misty mountain backdrop.
This was a lovely introduction to the garden for me and whetted my appetite for a longer visit to see Fern Valley, Inspiration Point overlooking Manoa Valley, the Palm Section and maybe even take the hour-long hike out to Aihualama Falls and back.
With the mission “To inspire and cultivate the conservation of tropical plant biodiversity, and connect it to the culture of Hawaii through education and research”, Lyon Arboretum has an important role in the community.
My short informational tour convinced me that the staff and volunteers are dedicated to fulfilling this mission in all the ways that they pursue their particular assignments. I came away inspired.
With thousands of plant species on site and almost 7 miles of trails that weave among them, Lyon Arboretum is a place that you can visit often and still want to go back for more. It is open to the public weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reservations are required for admission and optional donations of $10 per person are very much appreciated. To make a reservation, go to the website manoa.hawaii.edu/lyon and book through the Eventbrite link on the website. Reservations open up on Fridays for the following week. For questions about the garden or your booking, can call the Main Office at (808) 988-0456.
I have to mention that next to the entrance to Lyon is the starting point for a well-known and extremely popular hike to Manoa Falls. My preference was to explore the quieter and much less touristed grounds at the botanical garden. If you do get to Oahu, don’t miss the beautiful Lyon Arboretum
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living part time in Kailua-Kona.
Gardening Events
Saturdays: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden,” 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Come with a mask and be prepared to practice social distancing. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Visit the website www.amygreenwell.garden/get-involved/volunteer-1/ and sign up for the weekly email for more information on work days.
Sept. 1: “IPM and Sustainable Strategies for Banana Bunchy Top Virus” from 6 to 8 p.m. Virtual Event. Presentations by Amjad Ahmad, Extension Agent, CTAHR-UH Manoa. Register for free at: https://IPM-BBTV.eventbrite.com. Sponsored by East-Oahu Hawaii Farm Bureau. Contact Amjad Ahmad (alobady@hawaii.edu) for more information
Sept. 22: “Mango Workshop” proposed start 9 a.m. Discussing mango production in Hawaii, results of research and trials for treating mango diseases and for inducing off-season mangos. Sponsored by USDA and UH CTAHR. For more information and registration go to www.hawaiicoffeeed.com/mango.html. The Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center (ADSC) is again offering the full suite of Soil and Plant Tissue analyses. Contact Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 1910 East West Road, Sherman Lab 134, Honolulu or call 808-956-6706
Farmer direct markets
(check websites for the latest hours and online markets)
Wednesday: “Ho’oulu Farmers Market” at Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
Information on their online market: keauhoufarmersmarket.com/onlinemarket
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables
“Waimea Town Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Parker School in central Waimea
“Waimea Homestead Farmers Market” 7:30 a.m. to noon at the Waimea middle and elementary school playground
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
“Hamakua Harvest” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Highway 19 and Mamane Street in Honoka’a
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu; Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu at (808) 322-4893. Walk-in from 9 a.m. to noon Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays at the UH-CES at Komohana in Hilo or call (808) 981-5199 or email himga@hawaii.edu