By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
George Hatae planted clumps of fragrant and hardy
rosemary throughout this hillside garden he created
near Pauoa Stream.
Some grandparents give their grandchildren Beanie Babies. George Hatae gave his four grandchildren a landscaped hillside so that they could safely climb down to fish in Pauoa Stream. Hatae, a retired Hawaii Newspaper Agency photoengraver, started the project a couple of years ago. Gift garden
flourishes
on hillsideHe realized then that the rocky, weed-choked hillside below his house was not only dangerous to the kids climbing around it, but was an eyesore in the otherwise well-kept neighborhood.
"I called the city before I got started -- the land belongs to them. I told them about all the weeds and offered to clean it up, and they were very cooperative," Hatae said. "They sent out a crew to spray the weeds, and they regularly pick up the rubbish."
He landscaped the area alone, using slips from plants in his yard and the occasional donation from a friend. "Don't ask me the names of anything growing here. I just picked things I know grow up here in the valley, stuff I like," he said.
That, clearly and simply put, is the basis of good gardening. If you plant what you like and what is proven to grow where you planted it, you will enjoy the garden with a minimum of effort.
Allamanda is a plant he uses most. A climbing shrub with big yellow flowers, it is a natural for the rocky, sunny hillside. It is a Brazilian native, but allamanda has been around so long that it has a Hawaiian name, lani-alii, meaning "heavenly chief."
Allamanda is one of the plants that used to be in everybody's garden, along with spider lilies, shrimp plant and cup-and-saucer, that have gone out of style. Landscaping is subject to the whims of fashion, just like skirt lengths and aloha shirt fabrics. Maybe it's time for allamanda to come back, just as there seems to a spider lily revival.
Another of Hatae's favorites is rosemary that he grows in clumps throughout the garden. It has fragrant needle-like leaves and pale blue flowers. It is grown as an herb to flavor meat, but makes a handsome plant even if you never use it on a chop. Rosemary is easily propagated by taking 4- to 6-inch cuttings from the tips of growing stems and rooting them in wet sand. When roots have formed, the cuttings can be planted in the garden in full sun.
Buddleia or butterfly bush is a fast-growing plant for a rocky hillside. It heavily bears small clusters of mildly fragrant purple or white flowers, similar to a lilac. It needs good drainage and not much else. Be careful where you plant it, because it spreads easily and can get out of hand. Hatae grows his from cuttings.
Hatae's garden is a mix of mainland and tropical plants. In among yellow asters is an unusual hibiscus called "Hawaiian Flag" because of its red and yellow double flowers. Red ginger grows along the stream and the ground covering under heliconias and day lilies is yellow and gold lantana.
A novelty not yet introduced to the garden but growing in pots in his carport, is Hatae's collection of four-leafed clover plants. He cultivates them to be laminated on heavy cardboard and given to friends. The clover is on one side and on the reverse is the message "Good Luck at Las Vegas."
The rock and cement pathways in the garden were built by Hatae, who figures he spends about two hours a day working there. He even totes buckets full of stream water to tend the plants in dry weather.
Hatae's garden is off Booth Road at Polulani Place at the back of Pauoa Valley. He's got lucky grandchildren, not only because he built a garden for them, but because he's a man to admire. Even without the clover.
Tomorrow, Foster Garden moves into cyberspace. At its plant sale being held 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the garden, 50 N. Vineyard Blvd., Foster goes online. Online help
at plant saleGreg Koob and Betsy Sakata, distinguished horticulturists and computer wizards, will run continuous sessions on how to access the 'net.
Their focus will be on sites dealing with gardening, horticulture, forestry and botany. They will show you where to find out why your lychee doesn't fruit or how to propagate ti.
Paul Weissich, a former director of the city's botanical gardens says that gardeners "don't surf the net, they dig it." Then he apologized.
The plant sale will feature Hawaiian native plants, including the most decorative of the endangered species, Gardenia brighamii.
Introductions offered include a tree from Brazil with a reddish bark that peels away to expose a shiny charcoal-black bark beneath. It will eventually grow to a slim 60 feet, and will bear masses of white flowers.
Three-foot specimens of the Gardenia brighamii and the Brazilian tree will be among 11 a.m. auction items offered.
The sale also offers other landscape plants, gingers, orchids, ferns, bromeliads, bonsai, hybrid hibiscus, water lilies and fruit trees. Admission is free. Call 522-7060.
Lois Taylor, Special to the Star-Bulletin Gardening Calendar in Do It Electric!
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