Marla and my brother Gary are in front of one of my very favorite places, the “Hawaiian Tropical Botanical Garden.” We visited the Big Island Island in September to visit high school friends in Kona and my brother on the Hilo side. The gardens are a must-visit for flower and plant lovers only 8 1/2 miles north of Hilo on the Hamakua Coastline.

The 40-acre garden cascades down a river gorge toward the sea and is a rare treasure trove of over 2000 tropical plants. This is the gorgeous “Chandelier Plant’ and an orange “Pagoda Plant.”

I am literally transported to a place of indescribable beauty and peace. This is a very unusual Bromeliad called, “Pink Quill.”

The trail system in the gardens brings you close access to an amazing array of tropical plant species from around the world. It is best to walk slowly, savoring the beauty of this truly unique place as there are many hidden wonders.

Marla descends into the lush green river gorge.

“Torch Ginger” growing up from a lush bed of ferns.

Red “Beehive Ginger.”

A “Banana Flower.”

Delicate “Cat’s Whiskers, or Java Tea.”

I love the exotic nature of orchids and there are literally hundreds of varieties in the garden.

A species of ginger peeks out from the ferns.

The amazingly exotic “Black Bat flower” is unlike anything I’ve seen! A bit scary isn’t it!

A delicate”Rose Grape” bloom.

“Yellow Shrimp Plant.”

A type of Anthurium.

“Tahitian Ginger.”

A beautiful pink bloom.

The wonderful symbiosis of large plants reaching for more sun and clinging to tall trees is something to behold.

I don’t believe I’ve ever seen a blue fern before.

Water cascades down the “Onomea Waterfall” into a pond before emptying in the ocean.

“Heliconia.” hang like totems.

A sleeping gecko.

Red Ginger Plant

I spotted this “Giant Lau Lau” plant almost hidden in the foliage.

An unusual “Miagos Bush” (Osmoxylon linear) from the Philippines.

I will post a part 2 on the Hawaiian Tropical Botanical garden in the future.

PHOTOS: DICK GENTRY. NOT TO BE USED WITHOUT PERMISSION.