| By :
Wendy Moyer
Can you think of a place in the United States where it's possible to harvest mangoes, pineapples, papayas, citrus, avocados, and bananas near the ocean throughout the year and to be able to enjoy strawberries, plums, apples and peaches in the mountain region whenever you'd like? The only place that comes to mind is Hawaii. Hawaiian gardens are different than just about any other gardens in any other place in the world. Bougainvillea, hibiscus, orchids and jacarandas grow in abundance. The Hawaiian air is sweetened by gardenias, night-blooming jasmine and ginger. And annuals such as petunias, begonias, impatiens, zinnias, salvia, and marigolds splash color in the gardens. Plants that are coddled in most mainland homes seem to grow like weeds in the Hawaiian isles. Orchids, palms, and philodendrons grow with abandon in the wilds - as well as in the yards of many homes. And they're often accompanied by croton and ti, and other exotic species. Many plants came to the Hawaiian Islands via the Polynesians, migrating birds, and ocean currents. However most arrived years ago when plant enthusiasts migrated to the islands from Europe, the Orient, and the Americas. Some species of plants found the soil so nutritious that they seemed to go wild. Some examples include macadamia, coffee, coconuts, guava, avocados, mangos, and kukui. Anyone who wants to plant a garden has a huge array of plants to choose from - whether they want to landscape their community, business, or their home. When choosing plants, though, the Hawaiian gardener has to take into account where they are going to have their garden. They need to know about the requirements and growth habits of the plants that they would like to grow. One consideration is the elevation of the garden spot because of the way temperature is affected by elevation. Although temperatures rarely go below fifty degrees or higher than ninety degrees, some plants favor a specific temperature range. Also, if the garden is located in a spot that is higher than an 8,000 foot elevation, then there could be frost almost any night throughout the year. Another consideration is the type of soil the plants thrive in. In the islands the soil varies from being deeply acidic volcanic soil to being highly alkaline beach sand. Richer soils also make it possible to grow the best vegetables and flowers in the world. People who live in Hawaii can pick a basket full of tomatoes, a dozen long stem roses, or a fresh green salad, no matter if it's November or it is June. One thing that many people in Hawaii as well as the mainland have in common is that they love to furnish their gardens with beautiful furniture.
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