When Christine Turk and her husband, Kyong, saw their first water bill at their new home in Puu Lani Ranch, they knew they had to make some changes. A lot of their 1-acre parcel was planted in grass. They definitely wanted to create a landscape that needed less water. They redesigned most of the site with rock gardens filled with succulents and cactus. In doing so they managed to reduce their water bill to 20 percent of the original cost. Not only is their current landscape low maintenance and drought tolerant, it is also beautiful.
While transitioning to their xeriscape garden Christine’s declaration to her plants was, “If you need a lot of water, we don’t want you.” Any plants that died once the water was reduced were not replaced.
The grass was the first to go. They liked the greenery around their pool but didn’t want the maintenance and mess. Their solution was artificial grass. It looks great, needs no water or maintenance and no grass clippings get in the pool. They were also able to install a low maintenance putting green on the property with the same artificial grass.
Though Christine admits the grass was expensive to install, “we think the savings on water and maintenance will pay for it over time,” she said.
In West Hawaii, where rocks are plentiful and don’t need water, they were the obvious choice to replace the rest of the grass. Initially, Christine put gravel paths through her rocky landscape and filled the garden spaces with succulents like jade plant, dragon fruit and desert rose.
As she started researching drought tolerant plants, Christine remarked, “I was surprised to re-discover several plants form my childhood like Christmas cactus and aloe.”
She started looking for them and other succulents in local nurseries and finally found Pele’s Island Plants in Ocean View, whose co-owner, Bob Zeller is a succulent enthusiast. Some of her first plants came from Bob.
Looking around at her neighbors landscapes, she began to see some unusual cactus species and decided to approach them about sharing their sources or their plants. She hit pay dirt with neighbor, Vicki Guterrez, who was happy to share cuttings or “arms” of some of her large cactus.
As Christine gradually acquired more cacti, she was delighted to find that they were beautiful additions to her property while requiring very little care. Of course, when they are in bloom, they are gorgeous. She finds that she almost always has a few species in flower and often her garden is filled with blossoms.
Christine’s cacti are definitely beautiful on their own and their beauty is greatly is enhanced by the view that serves as their backdrop. Entering her backyard, I was struck by the sense that Puu Waawaa was part of her property. The proximity of this distinctive mountain definitely adds to the drama of the large cacti, like her tall Euphorbia ammak varigata, that grow in the foreground.
Walking through her garden, I spotted several outstanding specimens. The desert candle (Euphorbia acurensis) is a huge and stunning plant. Covered in fine spines, it stands more than 8 feet tall. According to Christine, top-heavy specimens like this often require support to protect them from high winds. This one has fallen over several times.
She has learned over time to respect the spikes that many cacti develop. The thorns, spines or prickles that appear on most cacti are modified stems, leaves or buds that have developed sharp points to deter animals from eating them. This makes them somewhat hard for gardeners to handle.
“Working with cactus requires a lot of cardboard and thick gloves,” Christine remarked when describing moving large thorny specimens.
In addition to flowers, some of her varieties also produce edible fruit. Her Cereus pervianus, for instance, produces small but tasty fruit that turns red when ripe. This one is, of course, related to the night blooming cereus that produces dragon fruit. To support her dragon fruit she cobbled together a makeshift tower from collected sticks for it to grow on.
Her fire stick cactus (Euphorbia tiruccailli) is both thornless and flowerless but is a large and stunning presence in the garden. Many interesting smaller succulents and cacti fill spaces between and among the big guys. The Peruvian old man (Eposta lanata) is a well-known variety that is joined by a small barrel cactus and a mammillaria zielmanniana in a central bed. The Euphorbia lactes “crested” or frilled fan looks like an underwater brain coral specimen. A tiger aloe and the gray-green panda plant with brown edges on her tomentose leaves adds interest to another bed where the orange flowers of the notocactus hazelbergii provide a bit of color.
Overall, it’s an amazing assortment, attractively arranged in a gorgeous setting. Christine’s wonderful garden offers ideas for saving water in a time when that should be a major concern for all of us.
To learn more about drought tolerant plants and meet Bob Zeller and his friend, Prithi Nirmal Kumar Jain who cultivates moringa trees, check out the upcoming talk at the Kailua-Kona Public Library on from 10-11 a.m. on Aug. 26.
Diana Duff is a plant adviser, educator and consultant living in a dryland forest north of Kailua-Kona.
Gardening Events
Today to Aug. 31: “Creative Agroforestry for Food Production in Landscapes” Two week long workshops on Regeneration Agroforestry. Taught in Hawi, North Kohala offering an opportunity to gain new skills and knowledge to transform agricultural practices. For more information go to alohasyntropica.org.
Monday: “Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers Monthly Meeting” from 7 to 9 p.m. at West Hawaii Tropical Fruit Growers office 81-6393 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. White wooden building on makai side across from the Department of Transportation yard. Topic and Speakers to be announced. Park in front or on the north side. For more information contact Brian Lievens President West Hawaii Chapter at 895-8753 or greenwizard@hawaii.rr.com.
Saturday: “Work Day at Amy Greenwell Garden” from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Meet at the Garden Visitor Center across from the Manago Hotel in Captain Cook. Volunteers will be able to help with garden maintenance and are invited to bring a brown bag lunch. Water and snacks provided. Call Peter at 323-3318 for more information
Farmer Direct Markets
Wednesday: “Sunset Farmers Market” 2 to 6 p.m. in the HPM parking lot at 74-5511 Luhia Street in Kailua-Kona (across from Target)
Wednesday &Friday: “Hooulu Farmers Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay
Friday: “Pure Kona Market” 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
Saturday: “Keauhou Farmers Market” 8 a.m. to noon at Keauhou Shopping Center
“Kamuela Farmer’s Market” from 7 a.m. to noon at Pukalani Stables
Sunday: “Pure Kona Green Market” 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Amy Greenwell Garden in Captain Cook
Tuesday through Saturday: “U-Pick greens and produce” 10a.m. to 4p.m. Tropical Edibles Nursery, Captain Cook.
Plant Advice Lines
Anytime: konamg@ctahr.hawaii.edu
Tuesdays &Thursdays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES in Kainaliu – 322-4892
Mondays, Tuesdays &Fridays: 9 a.m. to noon at UH-CES at Komohana in Hilo 981-5199 or himga@hawaii.edu