Royal Poinciana Fiesta Tour at The Kampong

Celebrate South Florida’s magnificent Royal Poinciana Tree
at The Kampong

Gates open at 11 a.m.
Special admission rates: $10 adults, $5 children
Admission includes one-hour Guided Tour of The Kampong
Available: 11:45 a.m., 1 p.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m.

Contact: kampong@ntbg.org

Want to take advantage of more Fiesta activities, including the 1 p.m. bus tour that leaves from The Kampong? See Royal Poinciana Festival. Sponsored by the Tropical Flowering Tree Society….
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Enrollment Open for 2016 Summer Nature Kids Camps

Updated Announcement – Enrollment deadline extended

NTBG’s Education Department has announced that applications are being accepted online for its Summer 2016 Keiki o ka ‘Āina nature adventure camp program. NTBG will offer children ages 9-11 two sessions from which to choose: Monday-Friday, July 18-22 and Monday-Friday, July 25-29 (only one session per child).

Applications are available at: ntbg.org/courses

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Campers are encouraged to apply now. The application window will be closed when each camp is full or no later than June 15.

Camp flyer is available with this website posting….
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Nature of Seeds Lecture

Why Some Seeds Sleep and Others Don’t
Free Talk on May 24 at KCC

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kalāheo, Kaua’i, Hawai’i (May 12, 2016) – “The Nature of Seeds: Why Some Seeds Sleep and Other Curious Questions” is the title of a free public lecture by Dr. Carol Baskin on Tuesday, May 24 at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria at the KCC Campus Center in Puhi.

The fifth lecture in NTBG-KCC’s ‘What in the World’ series will explore the tiny world of seeds as Dr. Baskin, a plant ecology professor at the University of Kentucky, reveals how a seed’s timing affects its habitat. Baskin will also discuss diversity in seed germination and dormancy from a global perspective and in comparison with the seeds of Hawaiian plants.

In her talk, Baskin will illuminate the cycle of seed germination, maturation, and reproduction in relation to a seed’s timing and explain what makes some seeds more successful than others and explore why not all seeds “sleep.”

The ‘What in the World’ lec…
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NTBG's Breadfruit Director Nationally Recognized

Dr. Diane Ragone to receive The Garden Club of America’s Medal of Honor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Kalāheo, Kaua’i, Hawai’i USA (May 10, 2016) – The National Tropical Botanical Garden (NTBG) is pleased to announce that The Garden Club of America (GCA) has named Dr. Diane Ragone, Director of NTBG’s Breadfruit Institute, as the recipient of its 2016 Medal of Honor. The medal, which is given for outstanding service to horticulture, will be presented in a ceremony at GCA’s annual meeting in Minneapolis on May 22, 2016.

“Her work is in every sense the epitome of the best in horticulture: quest for knowledge, preservation, conservation, research, creative experimentation, sharing, mentoring and fulfilling a humanitarian mission,” said the GCA in honoring Ragone.

In her more than 30 years of working with breadfruit, Ragone has researched, collected, and curated the world’s largest and most diverse collection in existence. She has conducted field research in over 50 Pacific island…
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​Increase your Daylily Plants and Watch Them Multiply

Day lilies or Hemerocallis stem from a combination of two Greek words that mean “day” and “beautiful”. They are plants that require a lot of love and deserve your attention. Most Day-lilies come in titian or chrysal colors, but the variations possible are spectacular as well. There are some very affordable Day lilies plants for sale here. Now what can you do to multiply your growing children of the loam? Well, the Day lilies actually do most of the work for you already, in fact some Daylilies can begin to grow small plants on the stems of old flowers. If you happen to see that happen, then an infant Daylily needs your help, cut it and plant it elsewhere.

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Although Day lilies can multiply in the manner mentioned, it is not the only way you can multiply these wonderful plants. So why not cut them out and make more when they grow old and reproduce? It isn’t as simple as that, but that is a rough summary of what you must do. The first step to take care of is observational in nature, take a look at the top of the stems that belong to the old flowers. Is there a formation of profiliferations? If there is, you have just found the little ones, and if they have roots extending from them you should cut the stalks about two to three inches below the new plants. Next you should remove about half of the foliage off of the new plants. Place those little nuggets of beauty into cups of water to allow the roots to grow just a tad bit more. Make sure to keep the water level even with the bottom of the plant. When they finally have healthy and matured roots, you can place them in pots filled with potting soil. Keep the soil moist and keep them in there for about a month before placing them into your garden.

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One should divide lilies during the summer, well late summer to be precise. This is so you can watch those wonderful titian or chysal arms extend themselves, and bloom the following year. Grab your spade fork and get-a-forking. Dig around the clump, and by around that does mean all around, and about 6 to 8 inches deep. Clench the root clump and lift it out of the soil, then separate every plant that makes up that clump you pulled. Make sure to replant the individual plants with the same depth. Oh and before one forgets, after planting the individual plants in different locations, go ahead and remove half the foliage off of each one. The rest is as simple as pie, just let the sun shine gloriously. However, sunlight is not all that these little babies need as you will need to water them quite frequently, especially when you finish replanting them. So, if you are looking for lovely Day lilies, remember you can find affordable Day lily plants here,  to help you get started.talk about cutting them up and making more when they grow large and reproduce.affordable daylily pants for sale click here  talk about cutting them up and making more when they grow large and reproduce.affordable daylily pants for sale click here.

​Groovy Green Holidays

 The True Meaning of St. Patrick’s Day

There aren’t too many people walking down the street at any moment of the day that can explain the story and purpose of St. Patrick’s Day. Today’s society has turned this particular holiday into a never-ending party. The only thing people truly celebrate on March 17th is excess.

Wherever did the idea of green beer, green rivers, and corned beef originate? We are all familiar with the many ways in which the world has commercialized St. Patrick’s Day. It is time to take a look at the actual origin of the holiday.

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Take a moment of time to ponder upon some of the most accurate histories behind the celebration of this overtly green day. Next year, there may be more of a connection with this particular square on the calendar.

Saint Patrick was not Irish.

It seems a bit deceiving, but Saint Patrick was not born in Ireland. He was a British native, who was captured and enslaved in Ireland as a sheep herder for six years when he was only a young man.

Once he returned to England, the apostle was instructed by a higher power to venture back to Ireland and spread the word of Christ. Here is where he earned his reputation as a famed apostle to the country.

Liberating Ireland of snakes was only a metaphor.

Another hare-brained belief that some people still maintain is that St. Patrick was responsible for ridding Ireland of snakes. Though there aren’t any snakes in Ireland, this man was certainly not responsible for their absence.

The water surrounding the Emerald Isle is too cold for any snakes to travel to Ireland. This is excellent news for the large chunk of the world’s population that fear the slithering reptiles.

Celebration slowly morphed into something else.

It would be easy to say that commercialism took over St. Patrick’s Day rather quickly, but that would be dreadfully inaccurate. When St. Patrick died, there was little to no remembrance celebration.

Word of mouth spread and exaggerated many stories about the life of the Saint. Eventually, there was a feast brought into a tradition in tribute to the Christian saint. This was only the beginning of the transition.

It is not very surprising to hear that the U.S. was deemed responsible for turning the whole day into a drunken rager. Capitalism can work wonders when there’s any reason for celebration.

A four-leafed clover is not a shamrock. There is also lots of shade perennials with pretty green foliage.

A shamrock is a three-leafed stem section of a clover plant. The four-leafed clover is a genetic mutation in the plant’s chromosome formation. The Guinness Book of World Records recorded the largest clover stem having 56 leaves.

The Shamrock got its reputation from St. Patrick himself. He used to say that the three leaves represented the Holy Trinity, and the four-leafed clover adds the blessing of God. It was simply a tool for his apostolic mission.

Wearing green is a widespread practice. Trumpet vines are great for greenery with color also.

Covering our wardrobe in green for one day of the year has nothing to do with the reason for the holiday. It is just kind of a common denominator. Shamrocks are green. Ireland’s flag sports green as a dominant color. Society took the concept and hit the ground running with the idea.

Our Proud Sponsor – Plant America Nursery

Low Cost Flower Gardens

With sunny weather in full swing, it is
incredibly important that you put your best foot forward. Before grilling out
those delicious hot dogs and enjoying fun in the park, it all starts at home.
You need to get in touch with a flower business that can provide you with a
wide selection of wildflowers and garden perennials that will make your home
look divine. These businesses provide affordable gardening in your area that
will allow you to make the most of your outdoor area and make your home a joy
to live in. Guests will stop by and enjoy the landscape that you offer and will
be taken aback by the level of craftsmanship and experience put in to make your
garden plants great.

Services for all budgets

The best part about taking advantage of these
services is that you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg in the process! These
companies offer affordable gardening and will be able to help you out from
start to finish. You should first, get in touch with a gardening professional
for a consultation so that they can get a look at your exterior area, while
also allowing you to give them an idea of what you are looking for. By doing
your due diligence in this regard, you will get the greatest flower service
that you could possible imagine.

These low cost gardeners take pride in helping
people like you make their outdoor scenery dreams come true. You don’t have to
worry about the cost, because they will tailor a plan that you will be able to
get on board with. You will get your fill of garden perennials, wildflowers,
ferns, and anything else that you can possible imagine. You should take
advantage of the services that these gardeners offer, because they provide work
that is licensed and certified. When you do business with these gardeners, you
can rest assured that you are getting the most bang for your buck. They should
be thought of as a high quality investment into your property, because they
will increase the value of your home and make the appearance look magnificent.

So what are you waiting for?

Get in touch with one of these professionals
today to learn just how they can help you out. They will give you a fair quote
on any kind of work that you need, and will not rest until they finish the job.
Their services are incredibly valuable and will help you take pride in your
home and enjoy every second of the time that you spend outside. These
professionals can provide references to back up their quality of work, and
would love nothing more than to count you among their next flower and gardening
customers. Leave this one to the pros. Get in touch with flower gardeners that
will provide you with work that is both affordable and professional, with keen
attention to detail. 

Buy all types of flowering plants and trees online at http://www.treesforsaleonline.com

​Top Five Indoor Plants Your Cats Won’t Eat

Top Five Indoor Plants Your Cats Won’t Eat

Sometimes it proves to be quite the battle to find house plants that your furry friends won’t see as a succulent treat. Not only do you have to worry about the well-being of the plant, but you have to worry about whether or not the ingestion of the plant will harm your kitty. Here’s the good news. There are plenty of plants that don’t really appeal to the feline palate. You just have to have the right knowledge of your house plants. Try potting some of these unpalatable house plants. Most perennials are not appetizing also.

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Lavender

You’ll love the sweet smell of this gorgeous plant, but your cats will keep their distance. For some reason, they hate the smell. If they do decide that they need to try it out, and ingest this plant, it won’t hurt them. Your kitty may feel a little bit sick to his/her stomach, but it won’t kill them. They’ll learn pretty quickly that Lavender doesn’t really bring forth delightful consequences, and they’ll leave it alone.

Rosemary

This is a great plant that will not only detour your cats, but it will make your dinner taste better too! The strong scent of Rosemary is another foul existence to the olfactory senses of your kitty. Like Lavender, they hate it! It’s also somewhat of a woody, prickly plant, so not the most attractive to your furry friends. Just make sure to keep it warm and dry. Rosemary has quite the distaste for cold, moist soil.

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Scaredy Cat

It’s all in the name, Scaredy Cat. Your cat won’t really be afraid of this plant, but they won’t like it at all. The plant puts off the smell of dog urine to a cat, but don’t worry. The smell isn’t strong enough to bother a human unless the leaves are crushed or rubbed all over you. There is a small margin for error in this plant, as its effect is dependent upon the animal having a proper sense of smell. The effectiveness has been compared to that of catnip. Only about seventy percent (give or take a bit) of cats really react to catnip.

Cactus Plants

For obvious reasons, cats don’t like cactus plants. Your feline friends are most definitely smart enough to realize that they want nothing to do with this prickly plant. Cactus is also a very low maintenance house plant. They’re great at retaining water, so they won’t die if you forget to water them every once in a while. They’re strong.

Mint Plants

Minty plants are quite useful to humans. We can use them for food flavoring, and there are also some medicinal purposes, depending on which minty plant you’re referring to at the time. Luckily, in the feline world, minty flavors are not very palatable. They may try chewing on your mint leaves once, but they will soon find something very unsavory to their tiny taste buds. Mint leaves are usually quite vibrant and green. They’ll bring a refreshing element to your home.  

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