I've been to Oahu, but only very briefly. I haven't visited any of the gardens. I would really like to do that some day. They seem to have gardens everywhere there, including: Lyon Arboretum Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden Foster Botanical Garden Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden Koko Crater Botanical Garden Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden Wahiawa Botanical Garden (different than the second one) All the pictures in my posts were from gardens (Limahuli, McBryde, and Moir) on Kauai.

I'm gonna go ahead and bump all of these down. In case anyone comes along later and wants to see all of them, here are the links: Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 4 Set 5

Royalpaulm, Thanks for the info on the winter weather in Clearwater/St. Pete. I think that couple of degrees difference is why when I was there last (about 7 years ago) I saw mature Malayans in St. Pete, but only saw a couple of mature Jamaican talls in Clearwater. Over here in Texas, the Mexican tall seems to be our best coconut for the Valley since it is hardy to 27F, but there are a lot of Malayans being planted in Brownsville, Port Isabel, and South Padre, when they are available that is. So far, I have only seen developing coconuts on a couple of Mexican talls over here, but as long as the winters stay mild in the Valley, the Malayans should have nuts in a year or two. It seems like the nurseries in the Valley have only recently started carrying Malayans, which may account for the lack of coconuts on trees already planted (many being too young). The nurseries over here do not have a regular supplier of coconut palms, so I am hoping to fill that void soon. John

Goodmorning Everybody ! :) I heard from my swappers last night...:))) Mariann I have a couple of surprizes for you...We love putting surprizes in our boxes Regina started it.. Chell you are so creative and your writing is so much fun to read... I bet the boys loved playing pirate.. I can see their smiling faces now...What a great idea to make a hideout.. They will always remeber their hideout mom made for them... Norma I havent traded with you but I am sure you went way above in sending her nice cuttings..I seen pics of what you send...They are awesome boxes..:)) Please dont be sad..:)) Regina howdy :) I am so sorry about Mark having to have surgery and the heart condition would just send me into heaven.. Wow I am so glad to read it all went well...Shooo My heart sank for a minute...He will be all healed for college this fall..:)) You empty nester dont go through what I went through...Stay busy and call them alot... I miss my kids so much it hurts sometimes... Dogs are okay but they cant replace our true babies...I love reading about chell and her boys... It makes me smile so much... Frances lol You poor gardener..ahhah You need a break from mother nature..Really..:)) Oh big snakes yucky... I would be screaming... I love chippies...They are so cute...Havent had many around with a cat now...Kiki has brought home two gardener snakes...He was very proud of himself... Yesterday I was getting ready to go out and play in the dirt...The crows or blackbirds were screaming...It just like a scene in the movie the "birds"... It creeped me out really bad...I couldnt see what they were yelling at.. I watched tv...Than got bored and went coleus shopping..lol The master gardener sale for the next county over is tommorow... I cant wait to see what they are going to be offering..I have never been to this one...Oh I almost forgot..I heard from the master gardener I met...Looks like we are building another gh..lol She wants to do it closer to fall since everyone is busy with their gardens...I am glad we could help her..They are a pain to build.. well I gabbed enough lol must be the strong coffee and I got a lot of sleep...:)) Have a good day everybody..Barb