Gardeners considering a “vacation at home” of sorts might consider a short trip to Oahu to visit some of the wonderful botanical gardens near Honolulu.

Perhaps one of the easiest gardens to visit is the Foster Botanical Garden, located right in the city at 50 North Vineyard Boulevard. Founded in 1853, Foster is the oldest botanical garden in Honolulu. Its 14 acres contain over 4,000 tropical plants from around the world. More than twenty trees on the property have been designated “exceptional” by the Honolulu City Code, and all are marked with gold tags.

I recently made a trip to attend the Mid-Summer Gleaming at Foster Garden. It was a very well attended event with wonderful nighttime lighting throughout the garden. Music, food and the blooming titan flower added to the merriment, but I went back a few days later to enjoy the garden when it was quieter and less crowded.

The only sounds that day were the wind in the trees and the faint background noise of cars on the highway just outside the garden. Fragrant flowers were blooming in several areas, adding to the sensory experience.

If you have been to this garden before, you will know that the size of some of the trees there is truly remarkable. Although I have been there before in previous years, it is the impressive sight of the huge trees that draws me in every time. Many of these trees were planted more than 150 years ago and some are over 30 metres tall. This obviously presents a photographic challenge to capture, but I did my best.

When Dr. William Hillebrand and his wife leased five acres of land on this property from Queen Kalama in 1855, they began planting some of their favorite tropical plants. They lived on the property from about 1855 to 1871, and many of the trees they planted can still be found on the upper terrace of what is now Foster Garden.

In 1861, Thomas and Mary Foster lived in a house next to the Hillebrands’ property. When the Hillebrands returned to Germany, the Fosters bought their property and continued planting.

In 1913, Mary met a Buddhist spiritual leader who sparked her passion for Buddhism. When she received a cutting from the Bodhi tree under which Buddha attained enlightenment, she immediately planted this sacred tree in her garden. The tree still stands today and is easy to find: just to the left of the main path as you enter the garden.

In 1925, Mary’s neighbor, botanist Dr. Harold Lyon, encouraged her to catalog her plant collection and ensure that the garden was preserved after her death. When she died, she left the garden to the City and County of Honolulu with a request that it be preserved as a public park.

Under Dr. Lyon’s direction, the garden opened to the public in 1931. Since then, the city and county have purchased surrounding land to expand the garden. Today, the 14 acres are divided into several sections, each of which is home to numerous interesting species. One section along a path to the left of the entrance is called the Lyon Garden, and is home to many plants that Dr. Lyon loved and planted.

I particularly like the huge old trees found in the upper terrace area. Two kapok trees, both over 24 metres tall, enhance the grassy meadow. Their large buttress roots provide a base for the tall trees and make for an interesting sight. Kapok is native to tropical parts of the Americas and the cotton-like fibres that come from its seed pods were once used as stuffing for cushions and life preservers.

The Queensland Kauri is another large tree on the upper terrace. It is native to parts of Australia and the rainforests of Papua New Guinea and is definitely over 30 metres tall.

Probably the tallest tree in the garden is the Quipo. Native to Central America, the tree can grow up to 60 metres tall. Although it was planted here in 1930, I suspect it is now around 40 metres tall. It is easily identified from a central pathway not far from the entrance.

Standing at the foot of these giants allows us to put ourselves and our problems into perspective for a moment. For me, this adds to the relaxing environment that Foster Garden offers its visitors.

Back in the palm garden you will find another interesting tree. The double coconut is native to the Seychelles. The tree bears coconuts that are literally twice its size and can weigh up to 50 pounds. Be careful not to drop one of these coconuts on your head.

Still in the palm garden, near the double coconut, you will find some native Loulu palms. All are plants of the genus Pritchardia and some are endangered, including the Pritchardia lowreyanaThis tree, which is considered to be one of the exceptional trees, was planted by Hillebrand around 1851 and is now surrounded by a protective fence.

Those who enjoy growing edibles will feel at home in the Economic Garden, where you will find ulu, kukui and macadamia nut trees as well as taro and black pepper plants.

Nearby is a section called Prehistoric Glen. This section was planted in 1965 and is home to some of the earliest plants to evolve on our planet. You will find several species of fern here, as well as some species of cycad. Many of these plants have been growing on Earth for more than two hundred million years.

If you continue through the garden and head back to the entrance, you will find a beautiful area called Dibutsu. The focal point of this area is a replica of the Great Buddha of Kamakura. The statue was dedicated in 1968 to commemorate the centennial of Japanese immigration to Hawaii.

Nearby is a large baobab tree. This was planted in 1940, but the species, native to the tropics of Africa, is over two thousand years old. This is a great place in the garden to sit and relax in the shade of the baobab, with a good view of the Buddha.

A visit to the greenhouse is a must. The very warm and humid environment is home to many beautiful orchids and other tropical species, including a large pitcher plant and the infamous corpse flower. This flower was in bloom on the day of the Summer Gleaming event, but was no longer in bloom the day I returned.

The carrion orb is a large and strong-smelling specimen, aptly named because its flowers give off the smell of rotting flesh. They only bloom every few years and usually last only a day or two. The Foster Garden specimen is twenty years old and stands eight feet tall when in bloom.

Right outside the greenhouse is a garden full of plants that our butterflies especially like. I saw a monarch butterfly and several other species fluttering around the sunny garden, but they were impossible to photograph.

I had a lovely day at Foster Garden and highly recommend you visit it on your next visit to Honolulu. It’s a great place to escape city life, see interesting plants and enjoy a picnic on the lawn.

Garden events

Saturdays: Work day at the Amy Greenwell Garden, from 9am to 12:30pm. Meet at the Garden Visitor Centre opposite the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Bring a mask and be prepared to socially distance. Volunteers can help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a packed lunch. Water and snacks will be provided.

Thursday, August 29: Small Business Credit and Finance Workshop from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Hale lako @ NELHA, 73-970 Makako Bay Drive, Kailua-Kona. Admission is free. For more information and to register, visit hisbdc.org/workshop. You may also contact D. Boyd at [email protected] or call 808-333-500.

Remember these dates:

Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 4-6: 34th Annual Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers International Conference at the Maui Food Innovation Center and farm visits. Presentation by Dr. Johathan Crane of the University of Florida Tropical Research and Education Center and workshops. For more information, visit htfg.org.

Friday, October 11: 10th Annual Landscape Conservation Conference from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Westin Hapua Beach Hotel on Hawaii’s Kahala Coast. The conference theme is Fire and Water.

Farmers’ direct markets

(Please see the websites for current opening hours and online markets.)

Wednesday and Friday: Ho’oulu Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Sheraton Kona Resort in Keauhou Bay

Saturday: Keauhou Farmers Market, 8:00 a.m. to noon at the Keauhou Shopping Center; 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 downtown 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. on Highway 19 and Mamane Street in Honokaa.

Plant advisory centres

Anytime: [email protected]

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at UH-CES in Kainaliu: 322-4893 or come in person.

Mon., Tues., and Fri.: 9:00 a.m. to noon at UH CES at Konohana in Hilo, 981-5199 or [email protected].

Diana Duff is a plant consultant, educator and consultant who lives part-time in Kona.