Hawaii is unique in its horticultural blend of plants and landscapes. Although we live in the tropics, gardening is heavily influenced by the ways of Europe and the Americas. This plus Asian, Polynesian and African agricultural influences have made landscaping
Hawaii is unique in its horticultural blend of plants and landscapes. Although we live in the tropics, gardening is heavily influenced by the ways of Europe and the Americas. This plus Asian, Polynesian and African agricultural influences have made landscaping and gardening fun but a bit complicated.
Fortunately, the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources has been active in the development of the Master Gardener Program in Hawaii County. If you decide to be a certified Master Gardener you will have 45 hours of classroom and hands on horticultural training plus ongoing education. Course topics include basic botany, native plants, nutrition, insect and disease management, propagation, pruning and much more. Once you finish the course you will become a local expert to assist others to be better gardeners.
To learn more about the program in West Hawaii, contact Ty McDonald, UH Extension agent at 322-4884 or by email at tym@hawaii.edu. In East Hawaii call UH Extension Agent Marisol Quinanilla=Tornel at 969=8261 or by email at marisolq@hawaii.edu.
An important upcoming event is a program sponsored by the Hawaii Island Palm Society. Don Hemmes, professor emeritus of biology at UH-Hilo will be speaking at 8 p.m. on April 7. The meeting will be at the UH-Hilo Campus in room UCB #100. Hemmes will be giving an illustrated presentation on his recent travels to the jungles of the Amazon basin. The program will feature rare palms, birds, butterflies, monkeys, amphibians and reptiles found in the lush tropical forests around Iquitos, Peru. Questions abut this event can be emailed to Mary Lock, society president at marylock@sbcglobal.net. More information is also available at www. hawaiiislandpalmsociety.com. The society is offering a free palm of the Amazon to folks who attend the event and join the Hawaii Island palm society.
Most local folks involved in tropical agricultural activities know Hemmes. Although a native Iowan, he has been teaching at UH-Hilo since 1973 so we consider him kamaaina. You surely will not want to miss an opportunity as he shares his vast knowledge and adventures in the Amazon.
