Our second in a series of visits to Honolulu County’s five Botanical Gardens took us to Koko Crater in February. We were joined JASNA British Columbia friend Marigayle and Ken Paterson and once again called on the botanical expertise of member Donna Lum’s husband Larry. We took cover under a tree when our pleasant morning gave way to rain, then made a dash for lunch with additional members in Hawai‘i Kai.
The 60-acre garden on the inner slopes of a volcanic crater focuses on the cultivation of rare and endangered dryland plants. We wound through baobab, mesqujite and myrrh trees. It was too early for the plumeria collection to be in bloom, but we’re sure Jane Austen would have enjoyed the colorful marveled at Hawaiian ma‘o flowers and xeriscape favorite desert rose.
Next, we head up and inland to visit Wahiawa Botanical Garden.
jasnahawaii.org 