A six foot praying mantis can take you by surprise.

             Passionate individuals following their heart, design the most interesting gardens. Yesterday, I stumbled upon one quirky example, owned and designed by Dr. Virgil Place in Hawaii. It is on Kona, the Big Island, and it is named Pau Mau Place.  The public is welcome to tour this Botanic and Sculpture garden, even bringing a picnic lunch if that appeals. 

Children will be enchanted by the larger than life bronze sculptures of native bugs and exotic animals.  They can sit on the tortoise and spiders and have their picture taken in front of a six-foot high praying mantis. Actually adults like that too. It could be next year’s Christmas card.

I'm not sure sitting on this bench is restful.

I was captivated by the scent and beauty of the Singapore plumeria. Native Hawaiian plumeria drop their leaves during the winter months, even though the temperatures don’t vary much throughout the year. They look like a bunch of sticks in winter.  Singapore varieties bloom year round, which is why Dr. Place imported them.

Dr. Place’s purpose in making the public garden was to prove that a garden could grow on the desert side of the island. There is a wonderful botanic garden on the rainforest side. Brackish water from a 400-foot, deep well is used to irrigate. 

Fifty year old Singapore plumeria bloom behind the spider.

Dr. Place’s determination is evident in the pictures at the visitor’s center. In the 1990’s both fire and an earthquake destroyed the garden.  There is no evidence of either now.  It is a marvel of nature; its ability of recovery.