It’s been a wet year, but we still need to be conscious of ways to conserve water. Using techniques and the right plants in our gardens is wise planning for the future. For 25 years the Halawa Xeriscape Garden has grown and evolved and taught many of us how to be wise about water in our yards.

Transformed from a dumping ground, the garden up at the mauka end of Halawa Valley is well worth visiting. It’s a well-planned landscape, and you can learn a lot by visiting the garden and going on a guided or self-guided tour of the interesting labeled plants.

The Friends of Halawa Xeriscape Garden and the Honolulu Board of Water Supply partner to malama this educational garden. They will host the 25th annual Open House and Unthirsty Plant Sale at the garden Aug. 2.

You can learn about rare and interesting plants and less thirsty gardening from experts, and there are tours, classes, free mulch (bring a container), performances by Jerry Santos and the Royal Hawaiian Band, keiki activities and a plant sale.

People need to stop cultivating overly plush, chemical-induced lawns. It is more akamai to focus on planting food and other useful plants. In Hawaii we have a wealth of native Hawaiian, useful, edible herbs and exotic xeric plants to choose from — not just cactuses and succulents.

This year, plants grown by volunteers include rosemary, geranium and nasturtium. Recent studies have shown that smelling rosemary helps with memory. Nasturtiums have spicy, edible flowers. Besides being pretty and xeric, these plants are also pest repellents.

To mark the 25th anniversary and say mahalo to longtime garden volunteers, Eagle Scout Ben Sakai and Board of Water Supply staff made over a part of the garden into the Heritage Garden.

HALAWA XERISCAPE GARDEN OPEN HOUSE AND UNTHIRSTY PLANT SALE

>> When: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 2

>> Where: 99-1268 Iwaena St.

>> Parking: Vehicular traffic will be restricted in the garden. Visitors should park along Iwaena or Iwaiwa street. A free shuttle will run along Iwaena Street from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

>> Info: Call 748-5041, email contactus@hbws.org or visit www.boardofwatersupply.com.
 

WORKSHOP SCHEDULE
At the Pavilion

>> 10 a.m.: Xeriscape 101, by Mark Takemoto

>> 1 p.m.: Bokashi Composting, by Jan Nadamoto

At the Green Lanai

>> 10 a.m.: Succulent Container Gardening, by Bryan and Imelda Cyr

>> 1 p.m.: Economical Aquaponics by Happyponics Farm

At the Lawn

>> 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.: Rain Barrel Catchment

Heidi Leianuenue Bornhorst is a sustainable landscape consultant specializing in native, xeric and edible gardens. Reach her at heidibornhorst@gmail.com.