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We have come to a time when we need to depend more on our gardens and what they can produce to keep our food costs lower and products locally grown. Humans have had an impact on the world’s ecosystems for a long time. Some regions where humans and other mammals have thrived have changed the…

It is time to think about planting your vegetable garden to minimize the effects of increasing food bills.. This week and for the next few weeks let’s consider a landscapes that feed us.  You might even want to take the organic approach. Since our soils have lost many nutrients let’s look at the best sources…

April showers bring Mayflowers or at least it used to be that way. Some parts of our island have had an extended lack of rain this spring. Everything is topsy turvy when it comes to weather patterns, but we are beginning to get some much needed rain both in East and West Hawaii. This should…

This weekend is Palm Sunday and commemorates Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. According to the Gospels, it was a week before his crucifixion, when crowds greeted him with Date Palm leaves and shouted “Hosanna” acknowledging him as their king. He came riding on a donkey, fulfilling the prophecy in Zechariah 9:9.This Sunday marks the beginning…

If you are maintaining turf on a golf course, it has to be almost perfect. However most folks aren’t held to such high standards when it comes to a home garden. The important thing to know is that plants produce oxygen and sequester carbon thus helping to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the…

After 45 years of living in the cool mountain mists of Kaloko Mauka’s Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, we have decided to move. Life at 3000 feet elevation and 100 inches of well distributed precipitation makes almost anything easy to grow except ultra tropical plants like coconut palms and breadfruit. Due to getting older, we have…

The old saying that March comes like a lion and leaves like a lamb usually holds true, but this year, only time will tell. Spring flowering trees are on schedule like the cherry blossoms of upland Waimea. Check them out soon before they disappear for another year. As they begin to fade, blue jacaranda, silver…

March has a lot of history, hope and lore associated with it. For some superstitious folks, “Beware the Ides of March,” a quote from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, brings a sense of foreboding. Searching history, you can find yourself going down the rabbit hole seeking where it all started. The Book of Esther refers to the…

A trip to less industrialized tropical and subtropical regions of the world can be very enlightening in some unexpected ways. By visiting these places, we can learn more about what tropical fruits are integral to the colorful cultures of the world. Most may be grown in Hawaii with our varied climate from tropical to temperate….

Some might disagree, but recent travels in the tropical world to discover a better place has brought me to the conclusion that we are blessed and should appreciate what we have here at home. Foremost is the aloha expressed in the way we treat one another. When it comes to our natural environment, our islands…

By Norman Bezona Professor emeritus, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources   The dry weather from Thanksgiving to January created conditions for heavy flowering when a rainy spell in mid January stimulated a big flush of flowering shortly thereafter. When Kona has a wet winter and flowering is intermitant, it results…

Nestled in the heart of Hawaiʻi, the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary is more than just a breathtaking landscape—it’s a thriving ecosystem and a testament to the importance of environmental stewardship. Whether you’re seeking a way to give back, explore your creative side, or simply connect with nature, this sanctuary offers unique opportunities to engage and…

By Norman Bezona Professor emeritus, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources   It is fun to go native, but you don’t need to strip down when it comes to incorporating native plants into your Hawaiian garden! Next weekend, Feb. 1 will be a great opportunity to get expert advice from nursery…

By Norman C. Bezona Professor emeritus, University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources In Hawaii, growing roses is always a rewarding challenge to the gardener. Roses are cool climate plants that do best at elevations of 1,000 feet or more. At lower elevations, insects and disease problems are aggravated. At best, roses…

This will be my last column until sometime in November. We will be traveling in Europe and maybe North Africa for a change of scenery and to see how folks are getting along there. Meanwhile, let’s take a moment to reflect on how we are getting along here. Good fences and hedges make good neighbors…

Today’s column comes to you as we head for Italy. We are already missing the tropical ambiance of Hawaii Island and won’t be back until two days before the Nov. 5 election. We especially want to be home for that event. Palms play an important role in creating a tropical ambiance and some species have…

Our young volcanic soils are often in need of organic matter and nutrients. Where animal manures are available they are probably the best source of fertilizer. Compost and mulch can also help to add and hold nutrients. Sources vary but one of the best is Hawaiian Earth Recycling. According to Gerald Kosaki, general manager, the…

Temperatures remain warm but things are about to change. Fall will officially arrive Sept. 22 in the northern hemisphere since the sun will move south of the equator. The autumnal equinox for us is spring for those south of the equator. As the earth tips to the north the sun appears to move further from…

Is it a weed? A weed may be defined as any plant growing in the wrong place. Some folks even think a plant that is not native is a weed, but with that mind set, even the coconut palm is not native and could be considered a weed. Perhaps an even better definition is “a…

Many folks are now improving new and established gardens with mulch, but be wary of where you get it. It is possible to spread insects like the coconut rhinoceros beetle, sugarcane borer and fire ants as well as some diseases. The best source of mulch is one you make or one that is not made…