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• Michelle and Ryan Rutan Garden Tour (Former Carlsmith)

  • When
    Saturday, April 29, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Onomea - directions sent later

  Michelle and Ryan didn't fully grasp the significance of the palm garden that laid hidden on their newly acquired property until they saw about a hundred palm enthusiasts from around the world rushing excitedly from palm to palm, nearly knocking each other over in their eagerness to take photos.  Even before Michelle and Ryan Rutan moved permanently to Hawaii, they graciously agreed to share their garden with strangers. 

  HIPS volunteers lent a hand to help uncover what is the palm legacy of local legend Donn Carlsmith, who began planting palms from all over the world five decades ago.  Michelle and Ryan are now members of HIPS and have invited us to take a look at the fruits of the hard work that has gone on to start bringing the garden back.

  
  

  
  

  Carlsmith was born in 1929 into the prominent Hilo family for whom beautiful Carlsmith beach is named.  An avid plantsman, he promoted the introduction of palms into the local Big Island nursery trade and is credited with establishing much of the interesting palm plantings found throughout Hilo town and along its bay front in the 1970s.  He was on the board of the National Tropical Botanical Garden, became the very first Hawaii Island Palm Society (HIPS) president, and was president of the IPS between 1978 and 1980. His Onomea garden was the grand finale to the first day of the 1980 IPS Hawaii Biennial. 

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• Cindy and Jerry Andersen Garden Tour

  • When
    Saturday, May 20, 2023
  •  
    10:00 AM
  • Location
    Leilani Estates - directions sent later

  Jerry andCindy Andersen have created a beautiful garden reflecting their passion for palms, cycads, and aroids.  The Andersens had a successful nursery in Fallbrook between 1995 through 2015 and have been members of the Southern California Palm Society and Hawaii Island Palm Society in addition to the International Palm Society for many years, so you know the palm species in this garden are going to be spectacular. 

  

  
  

  They expanded the original two acre property by purchasing neighboring lots over the years and the garden now stands at 8 acres.  A few of the exceptional palms in the garden are the double coconut, (Lodoicea maldivica), the extensive Dypsis and Ravenea collections, Johannesteijmannia altifrons and J. magnifica. Great cycads are also scattered around the garden including Encephalartos laurentianus and many Zamia species. 

  

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• Casa de las Palmas Garden Tour

  • When
    Saturday, July 08, 2023
  • Location
    Hilo - directions sent later

  Irene Francis and Lars Woodruffe's Casa de las Palmas garden was a huge hit on the IPS 2022 Hawaii Biennial.  HIPS has toured the seven acre garden in the past, but it has only gotten better from its devoted owners care.  

  The garden was originally built by the late nurseryman Jerry Hunter, owner of the southern Californian nursery Rancho Soledad.  Since Lars and Irene purchased the property in 2017, they have added to the lovely bones of the garden and brought it to perfection.

  The garden was recently featured in Ke Ola magazine, by Sara Stover and with great photos by Patrick Stover.

  
  

  

  
  

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• Hilo Orchid Show

  • Start
    Friday, July 28, 2023
  • End
    Sunday, July 30, 2023
  • Location
    Hilo

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• Jan Anderson Garden Tour - Date Tentative

  • When
    Saturday, November 04, 2023
  • Location
    Directions sent later

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