Enjoy the spirit of old Hawaii in this garden.
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Featured image courtesy of Garden of Eden
Transcript:
Hey there, Garden Lovers,
Today is February 10, and this is A Garden A Day with Mædunbroc Gardens.
Thank you for listening.
It seems as each year passes, it gets more and more difficult to find natural places that are the same as they used to be. That old cow pasture you used to pass on your way to school now has 376 brand new houses on it with asphalt roads and paver driveways. That forest where you used to look for animal tracks and climb trees now has an eight lane highway running through it. Those old mudflats by the creek where you used to catch fiddler crabs, well, you can’t access it anymore because a developer bought it and poured a concrete boat launch right on top of the little critters.
But every once in a while, if you’re fortunate, you find a place that keeps the spirit of the old alive, and if you’re really lucky, you get to see it and experience it for yourself.
That’s what you get in today’s garden. So, where are we? Today we are exploring the spirit of old Hawaii at the Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Maui, Hawaii.
The garden is located along the famous Road to Hana on the island of Maui, the second largest and most popular of the Hawaiian islands.
The garden is privately owned and operated by Alan Bradbury and his family and spans twenty-six acres of tropical paradise.
Bradbury, Maui’s first ISA certified arborist and landscape designer, purchased the property in 1991. His intention at the time was to build a recording studio on the property, but he quickly realized the salt air had different plans when he noticed his equipment rusting overnight. He shifted his attention to taming the jungle and creating a botanical garden.
Bradbury’s vision was to restore the natural ecosystem and promote Hawaii’s native plants. Over time, he has included exotic plants and trees from all over the subtropical and tropical regions of the world, specifically the South Pacific.
The Garden of Eden employs about fifteen gardeners, and they use no pesticides on the property, and they limit their use of herbicides to highly invasive non-native species.
In 1995, Alan and his garden received recognition from the State of Hawaii for his conservation practices and proper land use and development techniques.
The following year, 1996, Alan Bradbury opened the Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden to the public.
There are two and a half miles of trails that meander through the garden with plenty of labels for most of the plants you will see. Currently, there are more than 700 plants labeled.
The garden includes the most extensive collection of Ti plants in Hawaii. The leaves of the plants have traditionally been used to make hula skirts and leis, and the plant is considered to be one of Hawaii’s most useful plants.
Visitors will delight in the rainbow eucalyptus grove and see the vibrant colors of these towering trees.
There is also a bamboo alley, a tropical fruit grove with papaya, mango, and avocado, including a century-old mango tree, rare orchids, a banana patch, paperbark trees, and wild Hawaiian roses.
Visitors will also enjoy the Jungle Walk through dense tropical rainforest and the Enchanted Forest which envelops visitors in the vibrant colors of Hawaii’s native plants.
In addition to the beautiful plants, Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden offers visitors stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and waterfalls.
One of the most famous views is Keopuka Rock that was seen in the opening sequence of Jurassic Park.
Photo opportunities abound in this garden.
Peacocks and ducks join hikers in the garden, and you are allowed to feed the ducks. Food is available at the duck pond.
Picnics are also allowed in the garden, and there is usually a food truck open for business.
An art gallery is located on site featuring jewelry, painting, photography, ceramics, and glassworks, many made by local Maui artists.
The Bradburys have never accepted state or federal funding for the garden, and they give back to the community. They donate a portion of their profits to environmental organizations and donate cuttings to local schools to help with their gardening programs.
The garden is open 8:00 to 4:00 everyday including holidays.
No reservations are required, and guided tours are available.
Well, that’s about it for today. I hope you’ve enjoyed today’s garden.
Thank you so much for listening. Join me tomorrow to find out where we are going next. I release a new episode every single day.
As a reminder, you can learn more about the gardens featured on A Garden a Day by clicking on the links in the notes or by visiting our website, agardenaday.com.
And If you like A Garden a Day, and I hope you do, please consider liking, subscribing, and telling your friends. If you are able, please also consider giving us a five-star review. It lets me know you like the show, and it also helps others find the podcast. I really do appreciate your support.
If all goes well, I will be right back here tomorrow. See you then!
To learn more about Garden of Eden Arboretum and Botanical Garden, check out these links:
https://mauigardenofeden.com/
Read this: https://mauigardenofeden.com/about-us/
https://mauiguide.com/road-to-hana/garden-of-eden/
https://www.hawaii-guide.com/maui/sights/garden_of_eden_botanical_arboretum
https://www.mauihawaii.org/sights/garden-of-eden-maui/
https://mauioceancenter.com/landmark/mauis-garden-of-eden-arboretum-a-tropical-escape/
https://www.hawaiiactivities.com/travelguide/garden-of-eden-arboretum/
https://thishawaiilife.com/garden-of-eden-maui/
https://roadtohana.com/garden-of-eden-maui.php
https://www.hawaiimagazine.com/mauis-garden-of-eden-a-tropical-rest-stop-on-the-road-to-hana/
https://www.succulentsandmore.com/2013/07/maui-garden-of-eden-arboretum.html
http://www.mauiexplored.com/eastMaui/garden.of.eden.html
https://hawaiianislands.com/maui/things-to-do/garden-of-eden-arboretum
https://hawaiitravelwithkids.com/best-road-to-hana-stops-garden-of-eden-arboretum/
https://mauihacks.com/what-are-rainbow-trees-in-maui/
https://www.to-hawaii.com/maui/gardens/mauigardenofeden.php
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