Arbor Day means free plants on Kauai
LiHU'E, Kaua'i — Kaua'i's annual Arbor Day celebration on Saturday will feature 1,500 native plants to be given away, plus educational booths and presentations, and keiki activities.
The event will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. behind Kmart at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center.
Participants can travel down "Tree Trail" between educational booths on the way to the free native plants. Naturalists from a variety of organizations will answer questions and offer information about topics like forest birds, invasive species, horticulture, endangered plants, watershed health and more.
By learning from these booths, attendees can earn an extra "Tree Token" to redeem another plant in addition to their first free tree received for attending.
Extra plants also can be obtained by turning in a weed for the invasive-species bounty. Species such as kahili ginger, Australian tree fern and fiddlewood are welcome. For more weed ideas, visit www.hawaiiinvasivespecies.org/iscs/kisc/wow.html.
Another new feature will be the "Talking Story about Trees" tent, with the following presentations:
• 10 a.m.: Botany and Horticulture of Cacao.
• 10:30 a.m.: Growing Hawai'i's Native Plants (books available for purchase and signing).
• 11 a.m.: The Nature Conservancy on "Diversifying Our Invaded Forests."
• 11:30 a.m.: Hanalei Watershed Hui, on "Trees and Water — The Vital Connection."
• 12 noon: Growing Hawai'i's Native Plants (books available for purchase and signing).
• 12:30 p.m. Kaua'i Forest Bird Recovery Project, Kaua'i's Native Birds.
Free native plants will include: a'ali'i, alahe'e, hala, lama, noni, loulu, milo, kamani, kou, ohi'a lehua and Kaua'i's endemic Munroidendron racemosum. Plants are grown by Kaua'i Nursery and Landscaping; the National Tropical Botanical Garden; and Kukui 'Ula.
Event participants include: the Kaua'i Landscaping Industry Council; the National Tropical Botanical Garden; the Hawai'i Invasive Species Council; Kaua'i Nursery and Landscaping; Kukui 'Ula; the Hanalei Watershed Hui; the Sierra Club; The Nature Conservancy; the Kaua'i Native Plant Society; the Kaua'i Endangered Bird Recovery Project; and the Kaua'i Outdoor Circle.
To learn more, reach Jackie Kozak at jkozak@hawaii.edu or 346-5390. Or visit www.arbordayhawaii.org/events/kauai.htm.