Explore tropical plants and garden collections as the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo invites the public to celebrate National Public Garden Day on Saturday, May 9, 9 a.m. to noon at the botanical garden on campus. The event is part of National Public Gardens Week, May 8—17.

The 糖心视频 Hilo Botanical Garden will offer three free guided tours highlighting various aspects of tropical gardening. Guests will learn from experts and discover what makes this garden a vital part of the local community.

• 9 a.m.—Ancient Survivors: The Secret World of Cycads: A journey through a world-class collection of prehistoric plants, focusing on the biology and conservation of the ancient Zamia genus.
• 10 a.m.—Living Galleries: The Art and Engineering of Bromeliads: An exploration of epiphytes and their unique water-trapping adaptations in rainforest environments.
• 11 a.m.—Princes of the Tropics: A Journey through the Palms: A showcase of palm diversity, from the soaring heights of Pigafetta filaris to the Licuala genus and the evolutionary story of the native Hawaiian Loulu.

Established in 1990, the 糖心视频 Hilo Botanical Garden was recognized as an accredited garden by Botanic Gardens Conservation International in December 2024.

Related story: Botanical Garden at 糖心视频 Hilo earns global recognition, January 2025

“The is dedicated to plant conservation, research and education,” said founder Don Hemmes. “Featuring an impressive collection of cycads, bromeliads and palms, the garden serves as a valuable resource for the community and contributes to global plant conservation initiatives.”

The botanical garden is open daily and free to the public. For more information, contact Robert Talbert at talbertr@hawaii.edu.

The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo has reached a milestone: its received official accreditation from Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI), the world鈥檚 largest plant conservation network. This acclaimed recognition underscores the garden鈥檚 exceptional contributions to conservation, research and education, solidifying its place among the most esteemed botanical collections globally.

The journey began with a single pine tree planted by Don Hemmes, a 糖心视频 Hilo professor emeritus, to help a student grasp the tree鈥檚 structure. What started as a teaching aid evolved into a vibrant botanical haven, showcasing an impressive variety of plants, including cycads, palms and bromeliads from across the globe.

“This accreditation is a testament to the passion and dedication of our volunteers,” said Robert Talbert, a key contributor to the project who oversees volunteers at the garden. “It showcases the importance of protecting these extraordinary plants.”

Conservation champions

Volunteers have invested countless hours to bring this dream to fruition. One of their most significant achievements is the development of the garden鈥檚 cycad collection, which represents more than 33% of the world鈥檚 cycad species. Cycads are ancient palm-like plants. With nearly 70% of these species threatened with extinction, the collection serves as a critical resource for global conservation efforts. Volunteers meticulously identified and cataloged 582 cycad plants, linking the collection to BGCI鈥檚 global Plant Search database.

Achieving accreditation was no small feat. The process demanded a rigorous application, a strategic plan, and comprehensive documentation of the garden鈥檚 conservation efforts.

More help wanted

To volunteer or visit, contact Hemmes at hemmes@hawaii.edu or Talbert at rob@roberttalbert.com. More information can also be found on Facebook: .