Try espalier technique to grow trees in smaller space
With land so valuable in Hawaii and our gardens getting smaller, many of us still want to grow fruit trees. Espalier, an ancient and artful gardening technique, could be the answer. Read more
Latest Stories by Heidi Bornhorst
Nonnative tahinu tree flourishes in Hawaii
Tahinu is native to tropical shores from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific and is especially common on coral islands. In Hawaii, it has spread on the main islands, except Kahoolawe. Read more
Supernutritious sweet potatoes prove easy to grow
Uala, or sweet potato, is easy to grow in Hawaii and very versatile in recipes. Read more
Botanical garden, hybrid orchid among Foster’s legacies
Do you know about Mary Mikahala Robinson Foster and her many gifts to Hawaii and the world? Read more
Nutritious ulu could boost Hawaii’s food security
Ulu is rich in fiber, calcium, potassium, B vitamins and pro-vitamin A carotenoids. If more people ate breadfruit, we would cut down on diabetes and other health issues. Read more
Gold trees and relatives can make splendid, colorful lei
The combo weather we’vebeen having — dry, then wet, calm, then windy from all different directions (trades, Kona, weird easterlies, superstrong southerlies) — seems to have triggered a stress response in gold trees and their relatives that is making them bloom so beautifully this year. Read more
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Grasscrete a concrete replacement that helps the aina
Grasscrete, where grass is grown in cells interspersed between concrete is an akamai and aina-friendly investment in our underground water aquifers. Read more
Bougainvillea blossoms make fine lei
Yes, a florist would be faster and easier, but making lei with bougainvillea are a timely way to take advantage of the winter blooming plant. Read more
Scour personal growing area for holiday gifts, decorations
Decorating with and giving plants and flowers as gifts is a fun thing for gardeners and plant lovers. Read more
Decorate with, give away festive puakenikeni balls
Gardeners can use puakenikeni fruit to make excellent and versatile holiday decor. Read more
Sweet-smelling ginger can be both pleasant and a pest
Late one pau hana evening, I was picking a sweet bouquet of fragrant ginger from my garden. Ah, I thought to myself, this is one of life’s simple, joyful pleasures. Read more
Keiki might be thankful for thornless kiawe trees
Question: Why did the big old historic kiawe tree at the Halekulani Hotel fall over? Could it be saved? Could they plant a new one if not? Read more
Retro hedge choice returns as a pest-resistant beauty
Question: Can you tell me more about blue plumbago? Where can I get it? Read more
Native pohinahina deftly veils ugly fences, even holds in eroding slopes
Question: Can pohinahina be grown as a vine? I have an ugly chain-link fence and want to go native and xeric! Can it take strong wind and drought? — Mahalo, M.B.G., Hawaii Kai Read more
Rare state flower deserves to be propagated in islands
Question: Please tell us about our state flower. It’s a yellow native Hawaiian hibiscus, right? And where can our ohana go and see it this summer? Read more
Garden to offer free entry, a sale and ‘planting ideas’
Have you visited your local botanic garden lately? Walked through it and looked up at the towering and flowering trees, orchids, rare palms? Have a few plants follow you home? Read more
Cultivation can help survival of native Hawaii gardenia
Who doesn’t love gardenias? Most Hawaii people, and gardeners in general, swoon for their fragrance and floral perfection. It feels like summer to us when kiele, or gardenia, is in bloom. We cherish the flowers and like to grow them in our gardens. Read more
Easy, ono beans are perfect for starter vegetable garden
Question: My daughter got inspired at school to grow a vegetable garden for our ohana. She wants us to eat vegetables that we grow ourselves. We want to encourage and help her. What are the best plants for success in Hawaii? Read more
Native Hawaiian plants will flourish if allowed to crowd
Question: I planted native Hawaiian kupukupu fern around my epic hapuu Hawaiian tree ferns. The kupukupu went nuts, grew really well and is even climbing up the hapuu trunk. The hapuu fronds seem smaller now. Read more
Lacy native Hawaiian plant needs to be grown with care
I was reminded about a fabulous yet undergrown native Hawaiian plant on our New Year’s Day hike with my epic neighbors and their akamai son, Scotty. Read more
Seeking gardeners’ gifts? Utilize local flowers, plants
It’s easy to find or create local gifts and decorations for your plant-loving friends and ohana. It’s also good for our environment and the Hawaii economy to keep it as local as we can. Read more
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