Oahu's Waimea Valley Botanical Garden is a hit

North Shore Expanse, Oil on canvas, 6" X 8"
Painting can be purchased for $95 plus s/h: from the artist, Jenny Floravita

I'd like to share with everyone our great experience at Oahu's Waimea Valley Garden: http://www.waimeavalley.net/

One warning is that when you click on the front page there music, so don't open this site at work!

The garden is a lovely tribute to a forgotten way of life in the Hawaiian Islands. You can either explore on your own or take a guided tour. There are craft stations and examples of what life might have been like in the valley over a hundred years ago. The garden walk is simply beautiful and in the back, you can swim by a waterfall. The botany is divided into sections, like South America, or Canoe plants, which were the plants that early Polynesians brought with them as necessities in their sea travels to plant in the newly inhabited Hawaiian Islands.

The garden offers a pretty good gift shop. I bought some gorgeous ceramics as gifts as they were made in the islands. The "made in Hawaii" crafts are in the front section as you walk in and the prices are very affordable. You won't find work like this in Waikiki and certainly not at these prices!

The shop also offers a good selection of books on the history of Hawaii. If you get hungry after your walk, there is a decent snack shop. I rarely eat burgers but Patrick and I did split a burger that had a taro bun and it was good!

And you know that gardens always need support! So next time you're on Oahu, venture out of Honolulu and up to the North Shore. When you come to Waimea Bay, you'll see signs for the garden. It's right there in the valley behind the famous big wave spot!

We loved it so much that we went twice! I'm sure I'll blog on this garden in more detail in the future...so much to share.

www.floravita.com