The University of Hawaii's Urban Garden Center(UGC) in Pearl City hosted the annual Hawaiian Electric Arbor Day Tree Giveaway, on Saturday, November 2. The UGC also held a plant sale in honor of Arbor Day that is celebrated in Hawai'i on the first Friday in the month of November.
Saturday's free tree giveaway also included shrubs, and native Hawaiian plants. The event opened at 7:00am with residents lining up as early as 5:15am to get first choice of a plant of tree grown throughout the year by the Urban Garden Center's volunteers and Master Gardeners. By 8:00am, 470 plants had already made their way out of the Urban Garden Center. The most popular selection of the day went to the bay leaf plant.
Over 2700 plants and trees were given away on Saturday by Hawaiian Electric Company in six locations throughout Oahu.
Securing a place in line early was indicative in successfully choosing and bringing home a free tree or plant. As an observer, I have to say that by 8:00am, everything was gone. Completely cleaned out. All that was left was the temporary fencing that had earlier corralled the trees and plants that was quickly disappearing while being taken down by the Pearl City Boys Scouts from Troop 326 who volunteered their time to help out with the setup, breakdown, and assisting in bringing the trees and plants to customers cars parked on the UGC property.
It was a fun and great experience watching the community select a special tree or plant or make that special purchase that will find its way to their home gardens and residential landscapes.
I would like to say mahalo to Janet Crawford from Hawaiian Electric Company for introducing me to individuals on Saturday that played integral roles in the success of the Arbor Day event. Also, mahalo to Janet for the great photos that captured residents choosing and holding their beautiful trees and plants.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
University of Hawaii Master Gardeners were hand to answer the public's tree and plant care questions.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Mahalo to Pearl City Boy Scouts from Troop 326 for helping with setting up and breaking
down the free tree and plant areas as well transporting trees and plants to customers cars.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Former Urban Garden Center Master Gardener President Bob Speer is pictured with
Ray Uchida from the University of Hawaii College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
Photo by Barry Villamil | [email protected]
Janet Crawford from HECO (center) is pictured with Jackie Ralya, horticulturalist and
certified arborist (right), and David Leonard, certified arborist and volunteer photographer.
Photos below provided by Janet Crawford, Hawaiian Electric Company
