Waimea, has some of the deepest, richest, oldest soils on Hawai’i Island.
The town has a history of verdant agriculture and old fashioned ‘Waimea style’ floral border, and this is precisely what Helen Burlingame wanted for her garden., Lamaiki, The style is reminiscent of an English perennial flower border with banked heights from the lawn to low perennial borders reaching the tallest heights at the property’s edge.
This year-round blossoming border, in the English style, will be a lush full composition of hardy, shrubby foliage and blossoming backbone (foundational) plants: locally available plants which have the cadence of English perennials, as well as more experimental newly introduced perennials.
This local edible landscape features the owner’s favorite tropical and semi-tropical fruits, most suitable to her climate and volcanic shallow soils.
​A couple I know bought a home on Bainbridge Island. The yard had fruit trees, and they planted more. They planted a very fine garden, and began to bring fresh vegetables and fresh homemade pies to their neighbor. They got to know and like each other, and the neighbors loved their garden. Together, they tore down the fence, enlarged the garden, and planted more fruit and nut trees.
They began to share fresh vegetables and pies with the two neighbors at the back border. The same thing happened! They tore down their fences and enlarged the garden and planted more food trees. They now enjoy a huge common garden, and often share meals and good times. That’s to me the best life of all!
This is a model of three very small yards that, while not tearing down the fences, connected with lots of food and sharing around them.