Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rtech.UUCP
Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!dual!unisoft!mtxinu!rtech!jeff
From: jeff@rtech.UUCP (Jeff Lichtman)
Newsgroups: net.garden
Subject: Re: Botanical Gardens
Message-ID: <593@rtech.UUCP>
Date: Sun, 11-Aug-85 03:54:50 EDT
Article-I.D.: rtech.593
Posted: Sun Aug 11 03:54:50 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Aug-85 02:41:40 EDT
References: <857@mtuxo.UUCP>
Organization: Relational Technology, Alameda CA
Lines: 75

> 
> 
> I'd like to assemble a list of botanical
> gardens open to the public along with
> descriptive information (specialties, cost, etc.).
> over the net.
> 

Berkeley has two botanical gardens open to the public: the UC Botanical
Garden and the Tilden Botanical Garden.  I don't know much about the latter
except that it is in Tilden Park, is devoted to California native plants,
and is free.

The UC Botanical Garden is located on Centennial Drive behind Cal Memorial
Stadium.  It is divided into sections, each one containing plants from a
different part of the world.  There is an Asian hill, an African hill,
a California area, a new world desert area, a Mexican area, and an Australian
area.  There are also areas devoted to types of plants: a "Plants for Mankind"
area (containing mostly food plants), a rose garden, a tropical greenhouse,
a greenhouse containing ferns and insectivorous plants, a greenhouse containing
an extensive collection of cacti and succulents (with some orchids thrown in),
and an herb garden.  Admission is free, and it is open almost every day of the
year (used to be every day but Christmas, but they've broken that rule a few
times in recent years).

> The immediate personal concern:
> 
> What gardens are worth seeing in Hawaii and Australia?
> I'd like to see orchids in particular.
> 

I was impressed with Olu Pua Botanical Garden in Kauai.  This is a privately
owned garden, and is open only for tours, which don't happen every day.  The
advantage is that the people who give the tours are botany students in
residence, and they really know something about plants.  This garden doesn't
have much in the way of orchids, though.  You have to pay to get in; I think
it cost me $3.00, but I'm not sure.

The Nani Mau Gardens on Makalika Street in Hilo on the Big Island have much
more in the way of orchids.  You have to pay to get in; I don't remember how
much, but it was pretty cheap.  There is a self-guided tour: you walk along
a path at your own pace.

If you really want to see Orchids, go to the Akatsuka Orchid Nursery in the
town of Volcano on the Big Island.  This is not a botanical garden; it is
a commercial orchid nursery.  Their indoor display is stunning.  I spent
a long time wandering around looking at their large variety of orchid
plants, and didn't feel any pressure to buy anything (I did eventually buy
three plants).  This is a must-see for orchid lovers visiting the island.

Hawaii Tropical Botanical Gardens is different from most gardens.  It has
the feeling of a natural jungle.  It also goes right down to the water's
edge, which is unusual for a botanical garden, even in Hawaii.  This garden
is a privately owned, non-profit botanic preserve.  When I went there last
October, it had only been open for about three months; the workers there
told me that it was founded by a California businessman who fell in love
with the spot, quit his job, and spent six years and a million dollars
developing it.  To get there, take highway 19 north from Hilo for about
5 miles, then go on the scenic loop.  There is a yellow church which they
have converted to an office.  Stop there, pay the fee (I don't remember
how much), and they will drive you to the garden for a self-guided tour.
Again, this is not a typical botanical garden; the plants aren't labeled,
and it feels mors like an uncultivated state park.  However, it was one
of the most beautiful places I saw on my trip to Hawaii, and was well
worth the stop.

> 
> Doug
> (...!ihnp4!mtuxo!sam)
-- 
Jeff Lichtman at rtech (Relational Technology, Inc.)
aka Swazoo Koolak

{amdahl, sun}!rtech!jeff
{ucbvax, decvax}!mtxinu!rtech!jeff