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Copyright ©
2006 Pat Rooney, All Rights Reserved
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The oldest of several botanical gardens in Hawaii, Forester Botanical Garden started after William Hillebrand leased a portion of what is now central Honolulu from Queen Kalama in 1853. As a botanist he planted a great many trees, then left Hawaii for his native Germany, where he produced Flora of the Hawaiian Islands (1888). The site was the sold to Thomas and Mary Foster who added several acres and plantings before it was bequeathed to the city as a public garden in 1931. The first director was Dr. Harold Lyon, a preeminent botanist in Hawaii. Major streets now encompass the site, check the satellite image to get a feel for how precious a retreat this makes in the center of a busy city. Of note are the orchid gardens, a prehistoric glen, a multitude of protected exceptional trees, and, as you can see, a magnificent palm collection.
The talipot palm from Sri Lanka reigns as one of the largest, if not the largest, of the fan palms. The one above is a youngster, at a mere 30 feet tall and fanning perhaps 40 feet. They grow up to 80 feet tall and fan up to 50 feet. The plant only flowers the last year of its life with a magnificent fluorescence. Up to 25 feet (8 meters) high by itself, is bears millions of tiny flowers. Unfortunately I missed the flowering of the neighboring tree in 2004, but this one is due sometime in the next 20-40 years. I'll be waiting.
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