Justin D. Kondrat : National Tropical Botanical Garden internship week 4

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."

No Garden is complete without a few Ficus macrophylla. Remember these from jurassic park !

Foliage is magic

Water adds life to a garden

Reflections among beauty

Get lost in the ripples

Let the tranquility begin

As the stress melts alway

Feel your heart beat slowing down !

Tranquility in the bamboo grove

What a view !

Rare plants !

Lets enter into the cloud forest

Schiedea iycnnoides

Cyanea sylvestris

Cyanea sp.

Cyrtandra sp.

Plants within the gardens

Ceiba insignis

Trunk of Ceiba insignis

Palm trees grow in water ? ;-)

Parmentiera edulis

Selenicereus grandiflorus

Unfolding fern fron

Orchids orchids orchids

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.

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."

Time to collect some BreadFruit

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.

Dr. Diane Ragone removing root suckers

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.

Don't be afford to reduce the size

Dr. Ragone shows that new root nodes are starting to form

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

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

Collecting fresh flowers

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