As part of the 2019 Honolulu Biennial, Foster Botanical Garden features some epic artworks gracing its gardens.

Longtime advocate for our botanic gardens, artist and landscape designer Leland Miyano with a lot of kokua from our community, has crafted a wa‘a, or canoe, out of alien weed trees including strawberry guava, fiddlewood and Ardisia (or inkberry). The weed trees were culled out of Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden and brought to Foster. Miles of ti leaf lei were made, to serve as canoe lashing.

Miyano and friends, including members of the Garden Club of Honolulu, created this artwork called “Huaka’i / A Wake.” Miyano won the biennial’s inaugural Golden Hibiscus award for this installation.

Another artist displaying her works at Foster is Amy Yao, a contemporary visual artist who uses many different mediums informed by ideas of waste and consumption.

For the biennial, Yao made a sculptural installation from algae-based foam as a means of testing this man-made solution to the levels of nonbiodegradable trash and pollution in the water — an emerging technology for surf industries in California, where it is being used for surfboard blanks and sandals.

In a terrarium display, she brings forms and shapes together, which serve as an environment where a planned, low-impact disintegration takes effect throughout the duration of the exhibition. The composition sits on top of a large mound of dirt and is in the Palm garden.

Japan-based artist Misaki Kawai created the bright yellow “Shiku Shiku Stone,” which visitors can find in the Economic garden.

Other artists with pieces at Foster include Bernice Akamine, Bruna Stude and F. Abraham Cruzvillegas. The biennial runs through May 5.

ON SATURDAY, admission to Foster is free from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. during the Friends of Honolulu Botanical Gardens plant sale. FOHBG members can get early entry at 8:30 a.m. Membership includes admission to Foster garden and is $25 annually.

Three free classes taught by expert horticulturists will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Space is limited in the classroom, so come early to sign up. No reservations will be taken. The sign-up table is located next to the garden classroom (makai of the glasshouse).

The classes are:

>> Container Soil Recipes: 4 Basic Do-It-Yourself Mixes, 10 a.m.

Learn how to make four different potting mixes for container gardening and to promote healthy soil in a pot. Recipes include: soil-less mix for orchids/anthuriums; medium to large vegetable/dwarf fruit tree mix; small vegetable/herb mix; and succulents/cacti mix. There will be a review of the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources fact sheet, “How to Collect A Soil Sample.” Taught by master gardener and soil expert Lana Brodziak.

>> Container Gardening Steps to Success, 11 a.m.

Find out how to choose a container, plant selections, and how to arrange and make combination containers, along with fertilizing, watering and choosing the perfect location for your containers. Taught by master gardeners and horticulturists Cindy and Joe Megill.

>> “If It’s Not Cheap & Easy You’re Doing It Wrong: A (Very) Practical Guide to Container Gardening,” 12 p.m.

Slow down and get back to your roots in this class. You’ll learn about containers, fertilizing, watering edibles and ornamentals. How-to demonstrations will show you it’s easier than you think. Taught by Brian Panee of Happy Koi Nursery.

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