Just a taste of Allerton Gardens
"This garden lies between the Pacific Ocean and the McBryde Garden in the Lāwa`i Valley, on the south shore of the Hawaiian Island of Kaua`i. It is a garden paradise, transformed through time by the hands of a Hawaiian Queen, by a sugar plantation magnate, and most significantly by an artist and an architect. The endless possibilities found in this dramatic topography led to the creation of this masterpiece of garden art. A series of garden rooms unfold between the Lāwa`i Stream and the cliffs of the Valley. The sound of water is in abundance in pools, miniature waterfalls, and fountains. Statues grace this former estate and resonate with a European influence.Towering rainforest trees with tall curving roots grow near bronze mermaids, a grove of swaying golden bamboo, a cut-flower garden, and tropical fruit trees. Here the focus is on landscape design, but among the plantings are botanically important species of the tropics, including varieties of palms, ki (ti), heliconias, and gingers. Allerton Garden is managed by the National Tropical Botanical Garden for the Allerton Gardens Trust."
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| No Garden is complete without a few Ficus macrophylla. Remember these from jurassic park ! |
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| Foliage is magic |
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| Water adds life to a garden |
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| Reflections among beauty |
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| Get lost in the ripples |
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| Let the tranquility begin |
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| As the stress melts alway |
Feel your heart beat slowing down !
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| Tranquility in the bamboo grove |
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| What a view ! |
Rare plants !
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| Lets enter into the cloud forest |
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| Schiedea iycnnoides |
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| Schiedea iycnnoides |
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| Cyanea sylvestris |
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| Cyanea sp. |
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| Cyrtandra sp. |
Plants within the gardens
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| Ceiba insignis |
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| Trunk of Ceiba insignis |
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| Palm trees grow in water ? ;-) |
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| Parmentiera edulis |
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| Selenicereus grandiflorus |
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| Unfolding fern fron |
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| Orchids orchids orchids |
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| Heliconia sp. |
BreadFruit Institute
This week the other interns and I got the chance to work with Dr. Diane Ragone the Director of the BreadFruit Institute.
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| BreadFruit |
"The mission is promote the conservation and use of Breadfruits for food and reforestation.The Institute is taking a leading role in the conservation of breadfruit diversity and ethnobotanical
research documenting traditional uses and cultural practices involving bread fruit."
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| Time to collect some BreadFruit |
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| What a beautiful tree |
Asexual propagation from root suckers
Step 1
Find root sucker growing under established Breadfruit tree and remove with a "good amount" of root tissue. This will aid in the successful establishment of the a new clone.
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| Dr. Diane Ragone removing root suckers |
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| Dr. Ragone explains the proper planting of root cuttings. Take note of the size of the root cuttings |
Step 2
Reduce the size of cuttings to fit snugly into pots and add stacks to reinforce rootless cuttings in soil media.
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| Don't be afford to reduce the size |
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| Dr. Ragone shows that new root nodes are starting to form |
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| Interns potting up root cuttings and placing in mist house at NTBG |
Step 3
Water cuttings and keep moist and roots will form in 2-4 weeks if all goes well
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| Interns and the Breadfruit institute with 31 cuttings |
Moon Light & Music
This evening fundraiser served as a way to celebrate NTBG's 50th Anniversary, while fostering new support towards the garden's mission. As the sun set guests enjoy moonlight and musical performances by group Ho‘okena and beloved solo artist Brother Noland.
Leading up to the event I got to make floral arrangements that would be sold as center pieces
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| Collecting fresh flowers |
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| My first tropical floral arrangement |
Imu pig roast
Imu is a traditional method of cooking using an underground oven. This year the interns got a chance to help the morning of the moonlight & music event.
6:00AM - Pig was removed out of freezer
6:05am - Beautiful sun rise with frozen pig in the truck
6:15am - Fire has been burning since 4:00am and is ready for the pig
6:25am - Pig is unwrapped and leaves from Cordyline fruticosa were collected.
6:30am - Banana leaves and trucks were placed in fire to prevent the pig from burning on the hot coals
6:45am - Pig and Breadfruit are held in a wire basket and steam rises
6:47am - Pig is covered with more banana leaves
6:48am - wet towels are placed on banana leaves
6:50am- Tarp is placed on top
6:51am - Dirt is placed on top and a bucket of water is poured in to the fire pit
6:53am - water is spayed on Imu
The Pig was be fully cooked and ready to eat after 7 hours in the underground over. It was a great way to start a Saturday morning !
