My home is about 2 1/2 miles from the coast and
consists of 2 acres. What I own is almost a long rectangle,
with a DRY stream bed running down the middle of it. My home
sits on a small triangle of land along the main valley road.
Behind it drops to the stream bed and of course goes up to
the top on the other side. Before planting on these sloping
hill sides I build terraces. As I said I live in a desert. I try to measure
rainfall in my rain gauge, but it is made for an area with a
lot more rain. Most of the rain that does fall here is very
light and hard to measure. As I write this in August of 2001
we have had maybe a total of 2 inches of rain for the
year. I have divided my land into different geographical
areas. Right around the house there is no rhyme or reason
for what is planted. But as you wander from the house I have
an area for : 1-African and Madagascan plants. I must have moved a few tons of rocks so far. Some
were on the land and just had to be relocated. Others came
from where ever I could find them. I own a pickup truck and
as I drive around the island I pick up any rock on the road
shoulder that I can lift. I have a few favorite spots. One
is a hillside of dirt and rock. When ever it rains rock that is
loose falls to the road. I drive the area once or twice a
month to see what has fallen. The soil is very much clay. And on the flat areas I
build raised beds mixing compost and "dry mix" (the sand and
gravel used to make concrete. I buy it by the 1/2 ton in my
truck for about $22. A yard of compost costs about $28, and
a yard of cover mulch is $10. Sometimes I have to buy "top
soil" for $35 a yard. The terraces are by default "raised" beds and get
similar treatment. Watering is with drip emitters. If you want to see "my" palms click on the above links
(numbers 1 to 4) The links below are to other palm areas on
O`ahu, or to interesting web sites. 6-The INTERNATIONAL PALM SOCIETY home page.
