Hawaiian Flora - Foster Botanical Garden

Good Day Everyone,

Here is a blog for all you garden lovers!

The Foster Botanical Garden is home to a collection of rare and beautiful plants from the tropical regions of the world. Some are rare or endangered in their native habitat. The Foster Botanical Garden is the furthest place to walk to from the ship. It is featured in our P&O Cruises Port Guide. It is one for five Botanical Gardens in Honolulu. These Gardens were set up by Vanda Mary Foster who was widowed and childless, and on her death left the Gardens to the City of Honolulu to be enjoyed by generations to come. Thank you Mary Foster.

You can start in The Conservatory, a glass structure housing spectacular hybrid orchids and rare variates of tropical foliage plants. Here are few pictures of the orchids that were blooming on the day.

This one is a blossom of the Cannonball Tree - Couroupita Guianensis. This strange South American tree sprouts flowers and fruits right from the trunk. The fruit (cannonballs) are filled with a foul smelling blue pulp that attracts pigs and chickens!

I do believe that this is a Diamond Dove - who was very happy to sit and pose for this photograph. I think he was fascinated by the Arcadians!!!

This is one of the lovely shady walks leading to a specimen tree.

Even though it was a very warm day there was plenty of welcome shade to be had in these Botanical Gardens. This walk here is in the upper terrace which is the oldest part of the garden sating from 1853. In this photograph you can see a selection native Hawaiian Palms as well as more recent plantings.

This Orchid was growing outside on the tree that you can see behind it - of course orchids have a symbiotic relationship with trees.

Reluctantly after a very pleasant morning spent admiring the plants and the numerous brightly coloured butterflies it was time to return to the big white ship in the harbour - ARCADIA.

This is a fantastic view of the aft starboard side of Arcadia taken from the top of the Aloha Tower. Just look at those lovely big balconies on the aft end Suites, and a rare sight not a person to be seen as all our passengers were off ashore enjoying the delights and sights of Honolulu!

Taken from the same view point in the Aloha Tower you get a wonderful side on, full on view of the ARCADIA with the lush green mountains, forming a perfect backdrop to the best floating Hotel in town!

That's it for now,

James.

One is nearer God's Heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth.

Dorothy Francis Gurney 1858 - 1932 - Dorothy was writing this poem at the same time as the garden was growing to maturity.